Yep Roc Records (2008)

On Feb. 19, Jim Lauderdale released the second of three albums in a year with Honey Songs. Here he has assembled the Dream Players, comprised of renowned veterans James Burton, Glen D. Hardin, Al Perkins, Gary Tallent and Run Tutt, with backing vocals by Emmylou Harris, Kelly Hogan, Patty Loveless, and Buddy Miller.

When “ultimate” bands are assembled, talents and egos often eclipse any music produced. While Honey Songs manages to avoid this fate, the music works overtime to outshine the towering figures playing it.

“Honey Suckle Honey Pie” rambles in with Burton’s guitar and Tutt’s solid drumming, with protestant-style backing vocals doing a call-and-response to Lauderdale. After the encouraging “I Hope You’re Happy,” the waltz comes early with “Hittin’ It Hard,” a cautionary tale featuring Perkins’ pedal steel with backing vocals by Loveless.

The ballad “It’s Finally Sinkin’ In” is a cross-genre hit, and Hardin’s piano makes it. Perkins’ gull-like tones and Burton’s jazzy playing accentuate the melancholy. Elsewhere, the easy “Borrow Some Summertime” shows Burton invoking his Elvis years, while “Molly’s Got A Chain” is a song you imagine playing in any country bar.

“These Kinds of Things Don’t Happen Every Day” shows Perkins and Burton trading licks, while “I’m Almost Back” features sweet playing by Perkins next to Harris’ vocal. The steel guitars sound high, lonesome, and crystal clear. Burton plays conservatively, but is omnipresent and informs the sound in a big way.

Lauderdale’s songwriting finesse impresses on “Daughters of the Majestic Sage” and “Stingray.” The verses of the former feature a major-key progression matched with modal harmonies in Lauderdale’s vocal, giving the tune an exotic vibe. Burton cuts loose on “Stingray,” a tale of oceanic pollution. While the backing vocals come on a little thick, the line “I hope Atlantis has a back door” is great.

John Hildreth lives in Giles County, teaches at Radford University, and plays in the contra dance band Dot Dot Dash.