If anyone's going to tackle songs like "Blue-Eyed Elaine" and "Saginaw, Michigan" these days, it makes perfect sense that it would be a collaboration between singer/songwriter John Prine and bluegrass master tenor Mac Wiseman. Together, these legendary artists make the standards great again.
Collaboration of the Masters
John Prine is one of the most well-respected singer/songwriters in contemporary Americana, but this time around, he decided to hand the reigns over to the classics. Among the stand-out songs on this record are "Pistol-Packin' Mama," "Just the Other Side of Nowhere," and "Old Cape Cod."Wiseman, meanwhile, strays a bit from his legendary tenor to sing songs like "Saginaw, Michigan" more toward the middle of his range, which is entertainment in itself. For a man whose voice is worth its weight in gold, singing lounge tunes like "Old Cape Cod" is a bit of a departure, but it comes across very nicely, and Wiseman brings a certain authenticity to the record.
"Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine"
Together, Prine and Wiseman outshine the songs themselves, proving you don't have to be on the cutting edge to live up to the breadth of your legend. Both men are at the top of their game here, and even "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine" comes across as a great, great song.Stand-out tracks:
