In addition to his sterling reputation as a singer/songwriter, both alone and with wife, Julie, Buddy Miller’s guitar bonafides speak for themselves, including his work with Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant’s Band of Joy. Lauderdale, whose first album appeared back in 1991, has earned repeated acclaim for his solo efforts and individual collaborations with both Ralph Stanley and Robert Hunter. Together, the two longtime friends roll through a freewheeling, eclectic series of duets.
No one genre dominates the album, which beings with the rocking Lauderdale-Miller original “I Lost My Job Of Loving You,” filled with no-frills harmonies and Miller’s sharp, smoking guitar. The same applies to Lauderdale’s edgy tune “Vampire Girl,” featuring more raw Miller picking in a ’60s garage band context, complimented by Russ Pahl’s pedal steel playing. The pair surrounded themselves with a versatile band including Nashville fiddler-mandolinist Stuart Duncan, Dennis Crouch on bass, keyboard player Patterson Burnett, drummer Marco Giovino with Pahl doubling on banjo.
The country material shows similar ingenuity. “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town,” popularized by Doc Watson, dates back (at least) to Frank Hutchison’s 1926 recording. The arrangement, however, is pure, pulsating rockabilly. They do ample justice to “South In New Orleans,” a 1958 convergence of Louisiana rhythms and rumba beats recorded by Opry stars Johnnie and Jack. As Miller’s “It Hurts Me” draws from the Everly Brothers, Lauderdale’s ballad “Forever And A Day” reflects the Louvin Brothers’ keen harmonies and plaintive lyrics.
Other reference points include a thoroughly engaging acoustic run at “Lonely One In This Town,” an affectionate nod to the 1930 Mississippi Sheiks original. On the good-humored, easygoing “Looking For A Heartache Like You,” their countrified harmonies contrast with Miller’s guitar, which references Billy\ Butler’s bass string licks from Bill Doggett’s classic 1956 instrumental “Honky Tonk.” Two other superbly performed numbers are R&B covers. “The Wobble” was a 1959 Jimmy McCracklin single; “I Want To Do Everything For You” revives a 1965 Joe Tex recording. Given their individual track records and loose eclecticism, it’s no surprise Buddy & Jim is such an expansive, enjoyable effort.
This article originally appeared in VG‘s Feb. ’13 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.
