The Dillards
'
Rodney Dillard
/
Dean Webb
Mitch Jayne
Steve Cooley
lineup recorded two albums for
Vanguard
in the early '90s. While 1990's excellent
Let It Fly
was primarily a
country-rock
effort, their next album,
Take Me Along for the Ride
, had more of a
folk-rock
outlook. That isn't to say that everything on this CD falls into the
category.
"Food on the Table"
and
"Against the Grain"
are among the
offerings, and the lively
instrumental
"Wide Wide Dixie Highway"
is a perfect example of the type of straight-ahead
bluegrass
that
the Dillards
became famous for in the early '60s. But if any style is ultimately dominant, it is
-- and those who enjoy hearing
as folk-rockers will find a lot to admire about tracks like
"Banks of the Rouge Bayou,"
"Move On (Life of the Common Man),"
and the sociopolitical title song (which is about those who feel like they are on the outside of the American dream looking in). One of the most interesting tracks is a cover of
the Beatles
"In My Life,"
which receives an unlikely
makeover. Of course, there are still some
purists who resent the fact that
have recorded anything other than
traditional
straight-ahead
-- people who have that mindset wish they would stay away from
. They would lament the fact that
isn't typical of the album on the whole. But then,
probably would have become bored if he had to play
acoustic
100 percent of the time. And for those who have eclectic tastes,
' versatility is a plus. Although not quite essential,
was a solid and rewarding addition to
' catalog. ~ Alex Henderson