Album Review – Vince Gill & Paul Franklin’s “Sweet Memories”
Cast aside the calamitous nature of all the troublesome current events and the caustic thoughts they lend to, and cue up this fine specimen of authentic country music that will steal you away to a sublime place where all is right in the world like only the best of country music can do. Because this, ladies and gentlemen, is the best of country music.
It’s been said before, but the release of this tribute record to Ray Price is a great occasion to underscore it once again: Making great country music is not rocket science. Just follow the lead of all the old greats, and the music will do the rest. Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, and 30-time CMA Musician of the Year nominee Paul Franklin prove that so demonstrably with this album, it renders all counter arguments as moot, and with cover material no less.
Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys is a master class and defining work of classic country music. But what it isn’t is a reenactment. Both Ray Price and Vince Gill are tenors, but where Price’s tone was more full and woody, Gill’s is more clean and favored to the falsetto. Where some of Ray Price’s production during the Countrypolitan era got quite schmaltzy and string-laden, with the steel accompaniment here from Paul Franklin, it’s all kept very sincere to traditional country.
Some of Ray Price’s signature songs such as “Heartaches By The Number” and “For The Good Times” aren’t even on the album. A song like “Weary Blues From Waitin'” is likely more identifiable with Hank Williams. Ray Price wasn’t a terribly prolific songwriter, but only one song of his (“Your Old Love Letters”) made the cut. Vince Gill and Paul Franklin instead favored semi-hits and obscure selections so that much of the material still feels new to the audience despite being tribute songs.
What seemed most important to Vince and Paul was finding songs that they could use as launching pads to showcase some rather incredible vocal and instrumental performances, which are packed into Sweet Memories from stem to stern. On songs like “Danny Boy” and “I’ll Fight The World,” Vince Gill doesn’t wuss out or request a lower key when it comes time to sing the high notes. He fearlessly climbs the ladder and nails them. And of course you could stomp on Paul Franklin’s toe with a steel toed boot and slap him in the face with a rubber chicken, and he still couldn’t hit a sour note.
Also give credit to Vince and Paul’s collaborators Tom Bukovac (electric guitar), Dennis Crouch (bass), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Steve Gibson (electric guitar), John Jarvis (piano), Greg Morrow (drums), Wendy Moten (harmony vocals), the late Michael Rhodes (electric bass), Jerry Roe (drums), Derek Wells (electric guitar), and Andrea Zonn (harmony vocals), who all help articulate the vision for this album into sweet reality. Former Grand Ole Opry announcer and country music historian Eddie Stubbs was also involved helping to pick out songs.
Just as important as finding cool songs to showcase, Vince and Paul also made sure that all the songs fit together seamlessly so that Sweet Memories would be a cohesive listening experience, even though the songs come from different eras. This is definitely one of those albums you press play on and leave it running, with no slackers in the bunch. Vince Gill and Paul Franklin are master craftsman of true country music, and why they’re not pumping out more of these kinds of records is the only thing left to question.
There’s a strong case to be made that Vince and Paul sound even better here and turn in something that will withstand the test of time even more than some of the original songs they’ve collaborated on together. Such passion and love was put into these recordings to the point where not a note feels out of place.
The legacy of Ray Price is rendered alive and bursting with appeal through these recordings, thanks to Vince Gill and Paul Franklin.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8.4/10)
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August 4, 2023 @ 10:11 am
First of all Vince Gill and Paul Franklin are both beyond first-rate. I’d expect nothing but awesomeness from them. I hope to be able to purchase and hear this remarkable album. Legends like this are keeping real country music ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!
August 4, 2023 @ 10:26 am
Can the ACM and CMA just give Paul his awards already.
August 4, 2023 @ 11:36 am
If i were Mr. Franklin, would just smile and encourage the ACM and CMA to give their awards to another.
Mr. Franklin is the Creme De La Creme.
He is at the top of his game.
This album is fabulous.
Love Paul’s rhythm on the pedal steel.
He & Vince are dynamite.
August 4, 2023 @ 12:08 pm
RJay,
That is what I have thought for years. Paul is a great guy.
August 4, 2023 @ 10:57 am
“I’m a little verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves!” Love this!
August 4, 2023 @ 11:11 am
Textbook Honky- Tonk music. This is exhibit A.
I remember Dale Watson once stating that the Night Life album by Ray Price was his desert island album of choice. This made me buy it.But even before that great album, Price was making history with a most legendary revolving door band. So many legends came out of that band.
Trigger wrote a great article on the Cherokee Cowboys way back in 2013 and it does a decent job explaining why that band was so important in Country music history.
Vince and Paul are doing a fine thing here. AOY material for sure.
August 4, 2023 @ 12:03 pm
I remember Dale Watson once stating that the Night Life album by Ray Price was his desert island album of choice.
That’s from Live in London…England. Was just listening to it on Wednesday when driving home from Isbell concert. GREAT live album.
August 8, 2023 @ 7:20 pm
Night Life is indeed a great album, and it’s amusing that all of its songs are basically anti-honkytonk. They all criticize the honktonk thing as lonely, self-destructive, and immoral. And it’s all delivered in perfect honkytonk style that has rarely, if ever, been equalled.
August 4, 2023 @ 11:33 am
“Some of Ray Price’s signature songs such as “Heartaches By The Number” and “For The Good Times” aren’t even on the album.”
I had to look elsewhere for the track listing, but it seems NONE of Ray’s signature songs are on the album–save for “Danny Boy”, which is really only associated with Ray Price by fans of Price or country music from that era.
Ray’s early honky-tonk classics–“Crazy Arms,” “You Done Me Wrong,” “City Lights,” “My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You,” “Invitation to the Blues–or later landmark countrypolitan songs–“For the Good Times,” “I Won’t Mention it Again,” “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”–None of them are included here.
This Vince Gill-Paul Franklin collaboration is probably a fine album, but I suspect that if I listened to the albym without seeing the package and title and without having read about it, I probably would not deduce that it’s a Ray Price tribute.
August 4, 2023 @ 12:14 pm
This album really doesn’t contain ANY of Ray Price’s “signature” songs–from early honky tonk classics like “My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You,” or “Nigh Life” to later landmark countrypolitan recordings like “For the Good Times” or “I Won’t Mention it Again.”
I suppose “Danny Boy” may count as one of his signature songs, due to his weird, over-the-top rendition, though I don’t think anyone outside of Ray Price fans or fans of late ’60s country music identifies that Irish ballad with Price.
This Vince Gill-Paul Franklin collaboration is probably a fine album, standing on its own, but if I heard the album without being told its title or the back story, I don’t think I’d deduce that it’s a Ray Price tribute.
August 4, 2023 @ 2:57 pm
The world could use more Paul Franklin and Vince Gill collaborations. I’m loving listening to this so far. Their earlier collaboration, Bakersfield, is a fantastic tribute to Merle Haggard and a regular in my lineup. The thing I love about projects like this is that they take songs that sound “old,” and modernize them just enough to appeal to a newer audience, which, in turn, gets folks to check out the old stuff. Sounds great, and is awesome, pure country. The steel guitar on each of these tracks is top-notch; Paul Franklin has got to be one of the top two or three best steel players of all time.
August 4, 2023 @ 3:18 pm
Just listened to this driving across the NY Thruway. Great album, good song choices (I like the idea of taking lesser known songs), masterful singing and playing by Vince & Paul! Just an enjoyable album to sit back and relax with….
August 4, 2023 @ 3:40 pm
I don’t have any money to give!
August 4, 2023 @ 11:10 pm
wow.
i think that (insert name here- solo, duo, trio, band) should be strapped to a chair and made to listen to this until they admit that their whole act is a charade.
can’t remember the last time i smiled when i listened to a song. “kissing your picture” is pure happiness for me, as a writer and a musician/vocalist. what an art it is to give a sad song (lyrically) a nice uptempo feel. changes the game.
this is how it’s done, son.
i am so happy and proud to have had paul play on my record…he doesn’t know it, and believe me, he don’t care…
August 5, 2023 @ 12:07 am
Paul Franklin is the peak, the zenith, the apex in country music. I cannot wait to get hold of this album.
August 5, 2023 @ 10:28 am
Pure class.
August 5, 2023 @ 4:38 pm
Never a big fan of the “tribute record”. Always seems like a no-win proposition for the artist: stay faithful to the originals and you’re accused of merely duplicating something that’s already been done better; stray too far from the originals and you’re accused of butchering the classics. No shade towards Gill and Franklin intended here….they’re both amazing musicians whose fondness for the material and rock solid performances make this a worthwhile listen. Just leaves me a little uninspired. I always thought Vince’s early records on RCA — where he leaned toward more of a country pop style — were his best. The so-called “mini album” Turn Me Loose and the outstanding Things That Matter just seem to work better for me. After he hit with “When I Call Your Name” he gradually moved toward more of a straight country style that, to me, was less distinctive.
August 5, 2023 @ 7:42 pm
Listened to the whole album today as well as Vince/Paul Bakersfield album. Both are fantastic. Neither of these guys have to prove anything, they’re not looking for big sales, number ones or awards. They’re at the stage where they can just do whatever they want for fun. I for one benefit from their luxury. 👍
August 6, 2023 @ 10:18 am
Any opinions on this question?
Vince Gill is one of the most respected guitar players in country music.
Why do you think he feels a need to always have Nashville studio pros do a lot, or most, of the guitar playing on his albums?
Thanks for the review. I look forward to listening to it.
August 8, 2023 @ 7:22 pm
Because Vince, the rising tide, likes to lift all boats. Chalk it up to generosity.
August 8, 2023 @ 7:25 pm
Thanks but I don’t think that’s the reason.
But I really don’t know?????
August 8, 2023 @ 8:13 pm
“Because Vince, the rising tide, likes to lift all boats. Chalk it up to generosity.”
I wanted to post this exact sentiment 2 days ago, but thought, no.
Really think this is the reason.
August 9, 2023 @ 7:37 am
Dead Duck,
My .02 cents: Vince is a terrific lead guitarist, I agree. I watched him close up play a Les Paul and take leads all night at a Timejumpers gig. He is more than capable of playing all the guitars on his albums, if he wanted to, but if you look at the production, he favors multiple musicians and always has. My guess is he’s thinking, I’m doing the vocals and I wanna let some of my buddies play on this too. And if he feels particularly inspired to rip out a solo, he will. Sometimes I think he’s content to play some acoustic rhythm guitar and let a Brent Mason do his thing, or perhaps let his pal Paul Franklin kill it on the steel.
I sum it up this way: he’s a confident player but doesn’t care to dominate, he’s content to play but allow others in too. Team player, all the way. That’s how he was in the Timejumpers. He never hogged his time in the spotlight with them, he had no qualms about sitting back on rythym and harmony vocals frequently. Might be one of the most talented but humble guys in the business. Class act.
August 9, 2023 @ 3:36 pm
I saw him sit in with the Allman Brothers one night in NYC and you could tell how much everyone on stage enjoyed it. I love his playing and he never plays one note more than he needs to if that makes sense.
He seems like such a class act.