http://www.kimberlymurraymusic.com
Texas-based, husband and wife duo Bob Manning and Kimberly Murray are real country, traditional and 110% pure, both are wonderful vocalist, songwriters and they also possess great chemistry as a duo. Murray’s album A World Away recently was voted Pure Country Album of the Year. It was certainly one of a select few highlights of my country year, and is set to become an album others will use as a benchmark to strive for.
As for Misery Rich, a follow-up to their debut duet album One Night Only! Manning kicks off the album in relaxed fashion, I have never heard him anything other. Possessing hints of Lefty Frizzell “Misery Rich, Whisky Pour” is a wonderful melancholy barroom ode, next up the couple put across a brilliant take of the Conway Twitty's 1980 hit “I’d Just Love To Lay You Down”. It left me hungry for more of the same, pulling at the leash if truth were known. Though real duets on the record are thin on the ground it didn’t pale my enjoyment for the couple, because they are two of my favourite people when it comes to real country. Their music is always pure, fresh as milk on your doorstep. Murray’s uplifting “I Heard Mama talking To Jesus” is a sheer joy, and with Manning pulling out all the stops his song “Praying For My Memories” produces some of the classiest vocals one could dare wish for. Like so many on the record I felt a great urge to press replay, their music has that effect on me. Big time!
The second duet is the fetching slow shuffling ballad “Between Chine And Nome (Texas)”, before to the sound of gentle coercing piano (Blake Padilla), steel guitar (Doug Jones) and electric guitar (Jim Denno; like Manning he also plays acoustic and baritone guitar) “The Cowboy Rode Away” (not to be confused with George Strait hit “The Cowboy Rides Away”) is steeped in the kind of western romance within its lyrics devotees of the idiom dream of. As already noted the album isn’t a wall duet record, but the couple do produce alongside a bunch of terrific solo efforts irony filled classic duet country ode “I Trust You”. It has the wife speak of how her husband loves the bottle more than her, and how the time has come for her to cut her losses and leave him with his bottle and bittersweet memories.
Murray comes into her own on “Longing To Be”, this as steel guitar that at times jumps off the wall and fiddle (David Varnado) are given license to roam to the delight of country fans, but in truth it is pretty much the same throughout. Tasteful and utterly clutter free. Bob, cool as ever drops into the groove instantly for “Figment Of My Own Imagination”, another quality duet, superb vocals, and with no one act hugging the limelight it fits the bill perfectly. Manning's vocal style like that of Murray is very much of his own identity, and unlike some country acts and I'm not talking bout Frizzell either he never over accentuates.
Forever unhurried, just like one of his greatest influences Lefty Frizzell, Manning with his deceptive style drains every ounce of emotion from the lyrics of a song. Most are co-writes with Murray, apart from two solo compositions from the latter (“Longing To Be”, “I Heard Mama Talking To Jesus”) and a couple with musician, engineer, harmony vocalist Padilla; plus one Duncan Warwick (editor Country Music People) who enjoys credit for his contribution on steel guitar and fiddle guided shuffle “Four Fingers Of Whisky”. It’s an ace cut, awash in fine playing and swing like feel Manning makes hay. Immediately followed by the darting steel, piano, accordion warmed “Your Bottle Called Me” which with fetching hints of neighbouring state Louisiana's cajun strain it lifts the tempo even more. Classic dance-hall country music, Murray’s opening burst arguably the best she performs on the record. To close Manning pours another down the hatch as he speaks of the sadness, and not glamour of neon lit nights as he sits all lonely with no company but an empty bottle and smiles for company. As was the case on all too many occasions for troubled soul, the late Gary Stewart, to whom “No One To Blame (Ode to Gary Stewart)” is dedicated. Talk about hearing a pin drop, Bob’s performance had me so focussed if there had been one on the recording I would have heard it!
Maurice Hope