CD Review
Mississippi Chris Sharp
8/22/24

CD: Between the Lines
Artist: The Price Sisters

The Price Sisters are always something special, giving us wonderful sibling harmonies with a strong dose of Bill Monroe. Between the Lines brings a smorgasbord of fine songs within the tradition but interpreted for a new generation within the context of what sure seems to be the right band lineup. Leanna and Lauren have selected lesser-known songs from some of the finest songwriters, including Boudleaux Bryant, Benny Martin, Peter Rowan, Del McCoury, Cowboy Jack Clement, Paul Williams, Kathy Kallick, and the Delmore Brothers. That's an eclectic selection.

1. Midnight
2. I Can Read Between The Lines In Your Letters
3. The Harvest
4. Del and Pete Go To The Pickin'
5. There's A Song In There Somewhere
6. Tuel's Landing
7. 10 Cent Pistol
8. Deep River
9. What Am I Gonna Do
10. Rabbit In The Rosebush
11. The Gospel Ship
12. When I'm Not Thinking Of You
13. In Dreams
14. Don't Mind Me
15. Weary Lonesome Blues

Favorites are:

“The Gospel Ship,” a public domain song and a different Gospel Ship than most know; a dirge sang a Capella as a powerful duet; “Don't Mind Me,” a duet with a full band. It tells the story of a jilted lover's plan for revenge; “When I'm Not Thinking of You,” probably the most fun song on the CD, a great song about all the things she might accomplish if it wasn't for thinking about him; “Rabbit in the Rosebush,” a joyful fiddle tune composed by Leanna. Trevor's banjo work is outstanding but a bit too far back in the mix for me. Lauren's grasp of Bill Monroe is beautifully apparent. That big-old-time-band-everyone play-on-the-last-time-through is what we were all waiting for; “Tuel's Landing,” a mandolin instrumental composed by Lauren with a mournful minor bend; “The Harvest,” a Peter Rowan song and a lullaby with the full band. It'll put a tear in your eye; “There's a Song in There Somewhere,” a Cowboy Jack Clement song that cooks all the way through; 10 Cent Pistol” is a real shocker. This dark, dark song seems like it steps right out of Zoot suits, Reet pleats, spade sole shoes, Packard and Cord cars, long evening gowns, big band night clubs, backroom nineteen-twenties speakeasies, to the time when Loar signed mandolins were brand new. This, by far, is my favorite song on the CD. It surprised me all the way, the harmony, the dobro, Leanna's soft but intense, close-mic'ed vocals, and the band's unison phrases all worked to deliver an experience much greater than the song could in less capable hands. Perhaps that's why I liked it so much.

Between the Lines offers a lot of music for your music dollar. It scores very high on the want-to-hear-it-again meter.

Mississippi Chris Sharp
8/22/24