• John Lilly & Ralph Blizard – Self-titled

    Artist:
    Album:
    Archive Posted On September 1, 2005
    0


    John Lilly’s Broken Moon album from 2000 quickly turned the West Virginia singer into the discovery of the year for some traditional and classic country music fans. A subsequent album confirmed his status in the upper echelons of old-time country performers. As it turned out, Lilly had 25 years of experience behind him. After recording two albums as part of Ralph Blizard’s New Southern Ramblers, which he joined in 1986, Lilly released an obscure cassette with Blizard in 1991. This remixed and remastered reissue, subtitled Old-Time Songs & Longbow Fiddle and recorded when Blizard was exactly double Lilly’s age (72/36), features traditional material (“Leather Britches”, “Richmond Blues”, “Trouble In Mind”), classic country songs (Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man”, A.P. Carter’s “My Dixie Darling”), and a few Lilly originals (the title song and “A Little Yodel Goes A Long Way”). Four live tracks from 1996 have been added, three featuring Blizard on vocals. Blizard plays his fiddle in a semi-improvisational style, and a few songs could have benefited from him holding back a bit, but the performances exude a sense of fun that’s refreshing.




    • ADVERTISEMENT

    • SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

    • SUBSCRIBE NOW


    Enjoy this article? Support No Depression.

    Help us continue to keep our web content free and accessible to all – without paywalls or invasive pop-up ads.

    Your support is important because it helps us cover our costs so that we can continue bringing you the independent music journalism you know and trust. Please consider subscribing or donating to No Depression now.



    Your Support is Essential

    As one of the last resources dedicated to covering roots music and related stories, we need the support of our readers. While No Depression is read in print and digital by over a million people annually, only a small percentage support us through subscriptions or donations. 

    Your support is vital in keeping No Depression’s website free and our coverage independent. Please consider becoming a subscriber or providing a donation. With your help, No Depressioncan continue to grow and cover roots music the way it deserves.

    Please consider becoming a subscriber or providing a donation. With your help, No Depression can continue to grow and cover roots music the way it deserves.