Although not pressed on thick wax 78's (that's 78-RPM records, for  the modern audience), Steve Forbert's "Any Old Time" captures perfectly (sans hisses and pops) the sound of those glorious old records.  Forbert's scratchy, homely voice is warm as a country summer, comfortable as an old quilt; he wraps it around Jimmie Rodgers tunes with an obvious reverence and affection that brings the music to grand, glorious life again.

"Waiting on a Train" is possibly Rodgers' most popular and best-remembered tune; it opens the disc in a true-to-the-20's manner, as though the old Yippees are back, yodeling into bullhorns as a needle records their voices to wax.  By the fourth track, title tune "Any Old Time," it's kick back on the porch with a glass of lemonade time.  The tinkling of the ragtime piano, toe-tapping bass beat, wheeze of the accordion; it's all good.        

There's a touch of the modern to these old tunes, though, with drums and electric guitars; it's not stuck in the past.  Forbert is giving a touching and cheery tribute to the great Rodgers, not merely mimicking his music.  The music is, however, stripped down and as true to its pure old-timey roots as one can get without being the Yodeling Brakeman himself.  Accompanied by his own acoustic guitar and harmonica; Charlie Chadwick on upright bass; Bobby Lloyd Hicks on drums; Bill Hullett on electric guitar, banjo, ukele, mandolin, dobro, and acoustic guitar; Bobby Ogdin on keyboards; Ken Lovelace on fiddle; Garry Tallent on electric guitar and bass on "Rough and Rowdy Ways"; Will Kimbrough on electric guitar on "Rough and Rowdy Way" and "Gambling Barroom"; and Tim Coats on jaw harp and auto harp; Forbert truly captures the sound of a bygone era and makes it work for today's audience.        

It's true that many of these tracks have been recorded by others throughout the years, notably Merle Haggard (whose devotion to Rodgers showed up more than once in his recordings); but rarely has anyone taken such pains to re-capture the real feel of the songs.  Forbert takes us back to hear a new sound; it's not a sound that most mainstream-tuned ears will like.  It's rough, it's raw, and he does yodel (very few artists attempt to sing Rodgers without taking on the yodel).  It's a delight for fans of the old ragtime sound; it's a rare treat for Rodgers enthusiasts.  But I think of all it's actually necessary for country music fans, just to see where the music has been, and where it came from.  Jimmie Rodgers was the father of modern country music.  Forbert treats him, and his music, with the respect he and it deserve.        

Forbert's been recording for a long, long time.  According to his very impressive and extremely detailed website (http://www.steveforbert.com/), his first album came out in 1978.  This is the first I've heard from him.  I'm going to listen to more.