For true country-meets-bluegrass fans, the 2012 New Year is already off to a promising start, thanks to the forthcoming release of Country Side of Bluegrass, the much-welcomed, bluegrass-infused album from country star Janie Fricke.
Set for official release Jan. 24, the 13-song disc offers listeners some of Fricke's best-loved hits, but with a bluegrass twist that is both fresh and familiar, all at once. Produced by Bil Vorndeck, the album’s bluegrass flavor is a seamless fit for Fricke’s emotive vocals, which boast a versatile-yet-signature sound that is undeniably characteristic of the classic artist.
Classic-Country Hits Get New Life via Bluegrass Spin
The record kicks off with a winding fiddle that provides the opening notes for “You Don’t Know Love,” a former top-five country hit on both the U.S. and Canadian charts that was contained on Fricke’s 1983 album, It Ain’t Easy. The up-tempo bluegrass spin, with its lush acoustic accompaniment, is a fit for this track, as well as many others on the new album, which finds the blond performer’s vocals in better-than-ever form.
On “Do Me With Love,” another top-five on the country charts, circa 1981, the tempo escalates again and the fiddle, once more, is a standout, as is the banjo, thanks to the care the songstress took in assembling her bluegrass instrumentalists, including David Talbot (fiddle), Randy Kohrs (dobro), Luke Bulla (fiddle/mandolin), Johnny Hiland (guitar), Bob Mater (drums), Jimmy Mattingly (mandolin/fiddle), Mark Fain (bass), Andy Leftwich (fiddle/mandolin) and Glen Duncan (mandolin/fiddle).
Country Side of Bluegrass also features a bluegrass rendition of “It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Easy,” a No. 1 in the U.S. and Canada in 1981, which Fricke considers to be the “top song” of her career, as well as a bluegrass remake of her first-ever No. 1, 1982’s “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby,” and the No. 1-ranked “Tell Me a Lie,” originally a country heartbreaker.
Janie Fricke Goes from Jingle Singing to Country Stardom
A two-time Country Music Association “Female Vocalist of the Year” and Academy of Country Music “Top Country Female Vocalist of the Year,” Fricke first came to the attention of music fans—albeit anonymously—when she was heard throughout the U.S. singing jingles for United Airlines, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Red Lobster, among others.
From there, the Indiana native and one-time elementary education major became a background vocalist on albums for music greats such as Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty, Tanya Tucker, Barbara Mandrell, Mel Tillis and Elvis Presley.
It wasn’t until 1977, however, that fans and those in the country industry alike took notice of Fricke as a solo artist. People began to wonder who sang the "Shut out the light and lead me" line in Johnny Duncan’s chart-topping “Stranger” single, and then started recognizing her voice in duets with country’s Merle Haggard and Moe Bandy, to name but two.
Pop-Country Singer Finds Solo Success on the Country Music Charts with Ballads
Thereafter, in ’78, Fricke made her solo entrance onto the country charts when she cut and released a pair of singles, “What’re You Doing Tonight” and “Baby It’s You,” both of which hit No. 21 stateside. It took producer Billy Sherrill, however, to help Fricke reach the upper echelons of the charts. The veteran studio producer, recognizing that her unmistakable vocal talent wasn’t pulling the chart positions it was capable of, urged her to focus on ballads. Fricke took his advice and the rest, as they say, is country-music history.
A two-time Grammy nominee, Fricke jumped at the offer to cut Country Side of Bluegrass, which—in addition to some of her biggest country hits redone—also includes classics such as “Please Help Me I’m Falling in Love with You,” a Grand Ole Opry-audience favorite, along with “Faithless Love” and the Johnny Cash smash, “Ring of Fire.”
Regarding the new CD’s creation, Fricke, via a December 2011 email communication, said the bluegrass project “was so much fun for me,” as well as an artistic challenge
“It’s a real departure from what I'm used to, because I'm used to the basic standard country versions,” she shared, “so it was quite a challenge. Some of the songs were so far out there that I wasn't sure if I could do it or not, because they were so far from the country version.”
‘Country Side of Bluegrass’ Album Shows Singer’s Versatility, Artistic Growth
Nevertheless, the longtime Texas-based Fricke--who lists Judy Collins and Joan Baez among her her early musical influences--pulls off each and every track, bluegrass style, with aplomb. And there’s no denying that her trademark sound, which found widespread favor in the ‘80s, thanks to its pop-country appeal, is a “hands-down” fit, never forced, when it comes to the bluegrass genre.
Even on Fricke’s country classics, such as “She’s Single Again,” which was a Fricke favorite of this scribe, as well as “I’ll Need Someone To Hold Me” (When I Cry)” and the former No. 2 country hit, “Down To My Last Broken Heart,” the acoustic-bluegrass arrangements, coupled with Fricke’s always-upfront vocals, effortlessly work. And with backing vocal help from the likes of Judy Rodman, Margie Cates and Chip Davis, the Country Side of Bluegrass never goes astray.
Released in a partnership with New Music Deals, the Country Side of Bluegrass CD is available for in-store and online purchase through Ernest Tubb Record Shops, at Fricke’s live shows and via her official website starting in January 2012. Fans also may pre-order the album via Fricke’s site prior to the official release date.
To see Fricke singing her bluegrass version of "You Don't Know Love," which is contained on the Country Side of Bluegrass, please click here.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
