(Golden Ring Entertainment) Truckin' and country music have gone hand in hand for decades now, and with countless country songs being written about the culture of trucks, truck drivers and the life they lead, it's become a kind of mini sub-genre within the genre. For The Long Haul is a collection of classic and newly written original songs about the truckin' way of life. However the disc has a surprise twist. What truly sets this one apart is that it's the first completely acoustic bluegrass collection of trucking songs.

The idea was originally conceived in 2000 by Big Al Weekley, a 20 year truck driver, musician and the host of a syndicated radio show. He contacted Bill Napier, the co-writer of the classic song "Truck Drivers Queen" about recording a truckers album, which he enthusiastically accepted. Unfortunately, Bill passed away unexpectedly a few days later, and Al put the project on hold, with the full intention of going forward with the project when the time was right. Two years passed, and Al felt the time was right to get the album recorded, and the resulting album is dedicated to Bill Napier.

Does the concept of truckin' songs recorded in an acoustic/bluegrass format work? The answer is a resounding yes, especially when such a strong set of songs and group of musicians are enlisted. The singers include Dave Dudley, Leroy Van Dyke, Don Rigsby, James King, Valerie Smith, Ken Orrick, Tony King, Chris Jones, Kevin Prater, Adam Poindexter and Big Al Weekley, himself. The musicians include Tim Crouch and Adam Haynes on fiddle, Don Rigsby and Kevin Praeter on mandolin, Dave Rowe and Tim Greene on bass, Adam Poindexter on banjo, and Bryan Sutton, Kenny Smith and Jim Haynes on guitar.

Another point to consider is that this isn't the style of bluegrass that immediately jumps into most people's minds when they hear the word 'bluegrass'- the high lonesome tenor sound of bluegrass artists such as Bill Monroe or Ralph Stanley. The legendary king of truck drivin' songs, Dave Dudley kicks off For The Long Haul with his deep burly voice, and a song he wrote especially for the disc, "Drivin' Trains." Though the arrangement's acoustic, a first for Dave, it has one foot planted firmly in more of a honky tonk sound with a chugging rhythm line, and classic truck drivin' song lyrics. Given Dave's big booming voice and the strength of the song, one barely notices the fact that it's 'acoustic'- this one's unmistakably classic Dave Dudley all the way.

Chris Jones delivers an outstanding "Diesel Smoke On Danger Road" that has a strong western flair to it. Ken Orrick's take on "18 Wheels A Hummin" is a lonesome trucker song, but it's not presented with a 'high lonesome' sound. A disc highlight is Leroy Van Dyke and his humorous "Who's Gonna Run The Truckstop in Tuba City (When I'm Gone)" which he presents in a breakneck speed semi-narrative style. Don Rigsby gives "Ravishing Ruby" a breezy, Tex-Mex treatment.

Among the more rootsy bluegrass sounds are two songs by James King, his cover of Bill Napier's "Truck Driver's Queen," and the foot tapping "Roll On Rubber Wheels."  Big Al Weekley adds two contributions, the breakdown style of "18 Wheels Roll On" and the lonely tale of the life of a truck driver's wife "Endless Black Highway," with it's lovely harmonies. Tony King tears through "White Freightliner" that includes For The Long Haul's  hottest picking. The disc's most arresting song comes from it's sole female singer, the outstanding Valerie Smith, on "Alone In The Still Of The Night." With it's dark and haunting melody, she tells her tale from the perspective of a female trucker who's broken up with her partner.

In what might appear to be an unlikely pairing of truck drivin' songs and bluegrass, For The Long Haul succeeds. It's neither 'traditionally' bluegrass, nor is it completely presented in the familiar 'truck driving song' tradition. What For The Long Haul does, is bring a fresh new perspective and sound to the theme of truck driving songs, while straddling the sounds of bluegrass. This new twist on two time honored traditions makes for a very satisfying disc, one that begs to be popped into the CD player while you're cruising down those white lines, whether it be in an 18 wheeler, or just an ordinary 4 wheeler- your car.

http://www.longhaulmusic.com