Arty Hill

Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys
Bar of Gold
CIM 007

Bar of Gold, from Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys, based out of Baltimore, Maryland, includes some of the finest honky tonk this side of Hank Williams.

Arty is a fine singer and songwriter and this follow-up to 2005's Back On The Rail continues a string of well-crafted songs performed with an uncanny sense of time and attention to detail. Bar of Gold includes eleven Arty originals including the rocked-up "Step Back Mama", the early 60s-style shuffle "I'm Thinkin It’s Better This Way" and the dark and dirty "Nashville Moon." Drummer Jack O'Dell (formerly of Bill Kirchen’s Too Much Fun) contributes his original "I Might Have Been a Lawyer (But I Couldn't Pass the Bar)" and sings lead on Arty's "A Wreck of a Man." This release is rounded out with plenty of steel guitar from Dave Giegerich, fiddle by Heather Twigg, and Arty plays the lion's share of twangin' Telecaster.

Jason Ringenberg, who wrote the liner notes, has already named Bar of Gold one of his favorite CDs of the year and states "I doubt there is a better country record put out this year."

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Preacher Jack
Photo by Kelly Davidson

Preacher Jack
Pictures From Life's Other Side
CIM 006

Preacher Jack, the legendary boogie woogie piano player, was born and raised in the Boston area and has been performing his fiery renditions of classic country, gospel and rockabilly for over 40 years. In the 1980's Jack released two acclaimed albums on Rounder Records and subsequently released a number of brilliant recordings. Cow Island Music is proud to release these historic recordings from two long lost sessions dating back to 1982 and 1996.

The 1982 session was recorded by electronics wizard Richard Burwen and covers a wide range of material. The 1996 session was recorded on what would have been Hank Williams, 73rd birthday. Jack pays homage to Hank and also includes two soul stirring gospel numbers to end the session. Jack's passion and love for these songs shines throughout the recordings and we get an intimate glimpse into Jack's personality on the session and song introductions. Liner notes are by Elijah Wald

"The only thing that can surpass Preacher Jack's talent is his energy and passion for what he does" –George Thorogood

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The Starline Rhythm Boys
Photo by Jack Rowell

The Starline Rhythm Boys
Red's Place
CIM 005

If ever there was a band that deserved to be called "the real deal," that band would be the Starline Rhythm Boys. The Starline Rhythm Boys are a unique voice among American musicians. They hail from the Green Mountain State, Vermont, one of the few places in America fighting successfully to retain its heritage and simpler way of life.

Danny Coane, Billy Bratcher and Big Al Lemery have staked claim to a musical legacy deeply rooted in the country, bluegrass and rockabilly music of the past, yet their songs are as relevant and fresh as any music being made today.

Danny's been singing bluegrass, country and rockabilly in Vermont for over 40 years. Whether he's singing about the loss of his favorite bartender or just how good his gal's cooking is, you know he means it! Big Al's telecaster does most of his talking but his secret weapon is his voice. On Red's Place, Al's harmony vocals shine and his lead vocal's run from sweet and mournful on "It's Anyone's Guess" to rowdy and raucous on his original composition "Drunk Tank".

Produced by Sean Mencher, Red's Place, the Boys third release, represents a blossoming of the songwriting talents of bass player Billy Bratcher. With topics ranging from the elimination of jobs from American soil to the replacement of the family farm with the shopping mall to mourning the loss of the old filling station, these songs resonate with a longing for the simplicity of days gone by yet also reflect the Boys' fighting spirit. In addition to his fine songwriting talents, Billy can slap the stand-up bass along with the best of them.

The beauty and pride of Vermont shine through on the songs of Red's Place. From the ode to one's favorite bar ("Red's Place") to the memorial to one of Vermont's most beloved dairy farmers (A Memory of Fred) you can almost feel the morning dew giving way to bright sunshine.

The Starline Rhythm Boys played over 140 shows in 2006, all, with the exception of two, within Vermont. We think of them as the Vermont State Country Band. So join the great people of the Green Mountain State and support a hard working bunch of fellows who deserve to be heard.

Deke Dickerson sums it up well in the liner notes when he says "… by far the best new country music I've heard in ages…"

As the title track suggests, "Cross the tracks, Spill your facts, at Red's Place."

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The Starline Rhythm Boys
Honky Tonk Livin'
CIM 004

Honky Tonk Livin', the Starline Rhythm Boys follow-up to their debut release Better Luck Is A Barroom Away, was voted 2002 Album of the Year on the Freeform American Roots Chart. Out of print for the past few years, Honky Tonk Livin' is available again as a re-release on Cow Island Music. Produced by Sean Mencher of High Noon fame, Honky Tonk Livin' includes 14 original compositions as well as covers of previously unreleased songs by Wayne Hancock and Leroy Preston.

Here's what some folks have said about Honky Tonk Livin':

"To describe this superb CD by the Starline Rhythm Boys in such a restricted amount of space is impossible. I was not only surprised, but amazed, at how much they reminded me of myself and my first band, the "Starlite Ramblers." This brand new CD is not only great, it is awesome. I am a devoted fan of the original hillbilly music (the only true country music) and this new CD could have come directly from that era of music. Congratulations for giving your fans (and, especially, this fan) such an honest interpretation of the greatest music of all time." –Billy Lee Riley, Original Sun Recording Artist

"I have to admit real country does exist outside of Texas, but usually not very good country. The Starline Rhythm Boys are a true exception. This trio has the sound down like it should be." –Jason Shields, Texas Jamboree Magazine

"It's a nearly perfect re-creation of an older sound while maintaining a level of freshness and avoiding bland or moribund nostalgia. Honky Tonk Livin' proves in whatever era, as far as honky-tonk music goes, these guys are the real deal." –Steve Lemcke, Burlington Free Press

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The Starline Rhythm Boys
Better Luck Is A Barroom Away
CIM 003

The Starline Rhythm Boys debut recording, originally released in 2000, out of print for the past few years, is available again as a re-release on Cow Island Music. Produced by Sean Mencher of High Noon fame, Better Luck received extensive airplay and put music fans worldwide on notice that Vermont's Honky Tonkin' heroes are a force to be reckoned with.

"These boys remind me of the good old days, with a sound that's between Memphis and Nashville. It's good, clean and from the heart-and nowadays that's fresher." –Vassar Clements

"This is the Real Deal. The Starline Rhythm Boys know how to make it rock and let it swing. They dish it out full strength, adult dosage. I'll take all of this I can get." -Bill Kirchen

"If you're a fan of classic country and honky tonk music with elements of rockabilly, boogie woogie, bluegrass, western swing and hillbilly blues, you're gonna love the Starline Rhythm Boys." –Jim Hilmar, Vintage Guitar Magazine

"The Starline Rhythm Boys are Rollin' Danny Coane on true blue lead vocals and guitar, Big Al Lemery pickin' out his Telecaster life and Billy Bratcher slappin' the upright bass, providing all that bottom and time. They sure can play and everybody sings, really well. And don't file this one away with your oldies or nostalgic retro types. The Starline Rhythm Boys are playing the American Song – the one that almost got away. We should thank them for that." –Leroy Preston, founding member of Asleep at the Wheel

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Nate Gibson
Photo by Emily Gabrian

Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang
All The Way Home
CIM 002

Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang are back in the New England country and rockabilly fold and Cow Island Music is proud to present their new studio album, All the Way Home. With never a dull moment, this new collection of bops and boogies effectively captures the raw excitement of their live show and also the witty personalities that make Gibson and the Gang such likeable characters both on and off the stage.

The gang formed back in 2001 and the following year released their debut CD with the vocal assistance of local cowboy icon Rex Trailer, of Boomtown fame, and also the King of the Yodelers, Kenny Roberts. The group toured and promoted for two years but went their separate ways in 2004. Specifically, Gibson embarked upon a lengthy research project to uncover the history of Starday Records with the label President and Co-Founder, Don Pierce.

Upon completion of the research for that book, Gibson reassembled the Gang and began writing new material. And now, Cow Island Music is proud to release the Gang's much-anticipated follow-up album, All the Way Home. Much like their first CD, All the Way Home includes several original tunes, inspired by Nate's employers (as a trolley tour driver in Boston and a people greeter at Wal-Mart), crappy hunting dogs and also truck driving, but this time the Gang has also uncovered and then covered several obscure gems from the Starday catalogue. Another cover of note is the title track, All the Way Home, Gibson and the Gang's rockin' country version of Spinal Tap's first ever song.

The Gashouse Gang responsible for the good rockin' is Jeffrey Herring on guitar (also in the Two Timin' Four), the late Jon Johnson on the upright bass (Lenny and the Piss-Poor Boys, Bourbonaires) and Tommy Long's percussion (Dogmatics). Also heard on the record is the steel guitar sliding of Rich Gilbert (Frank Black, Blackstone Valley Sinners, Uncle Tupelo), the piano plunking of Steve Toebes (Bombastics), the sweet vocals of Stumbleweeds frontwoman Lynnette Lenker, the not-so-sweet vocals of Kevin Stevenson (Shods, Dragsville USA) and some trumpet blowing by Gibson himself.

After releasing and promoting the first ever records of country music legends George Jones, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Dean, Roger Miller, Dottie West and countless others (as well as reviving the careers of Cowboy Copas, Johnny Bond, Red Sovine and the Stanley Bros. to name a few), Don Pierce wrote the intro/intermission/outro and liner notes to All the Way Home to help promote Gibson's new record and their book.

Cow Island Music is pleased as punch to present you with this new platter.

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The Twilight Ranchers
Photo by Pete "DJPJ" Paraskevas

The Twilight Ranchers
Who Stole That Train?
CIM 001

Since forming in Boston in 2002, the Twilight Ranchers have been playing their potent blend of Hillbilly Bop and Boogie to smiling audiences throughout New England and beyond. Their debut recording, Who Stole That Train?, is full of infectious rhymes and rhythms that are sure to keep toes tapping and feet flying.

Released in 2005, Who Stole That Train? received airplay throughout the United States and Europe and made many 2005 top ten playlists. Here's what some folks have had to say:

"…this brand new CD, produced by guitar whiz/master mixer Sean Mencher (High Noon, Sean Mencher Combo) is titled Who Stole That Train? out on the Cow Island record label. What we have here is an excellent East Coast blend of classic honky tonk, western swing and danceable hillbilly bop. It's like a blast of hot steam, motivatin' your boots up and onto the dance floor! This 12 track slice of "hay barn heaven" will undoubtedly make a big dent in the Americana charts in 2005, so be sure and look for it & listen for it wherever cool cowboys and hep train engineers congregate! All aboard!"

Del Villarreal
"Go Kat, GO!
The Rock-A-Billy Show!"
WCBN 88.3 FM
Ann Arbor, Michigan

"Welcome the Twilight Ranchers and their debut release, Who Stole that Train?. A tasteful mix of covers and originals, this is a thoroughly pleasurable bop, the kind of easygoing honky tonk / swinging boogie that invites you to git up and git dancin' right now. Hailing from Boston way, Twilight Ranchers can both sing and play ( not always a given) and with the help of Producer Sean Mencher, have released a CD that is guaranteed to send you searching out your favorite western wear and singing along to such toe-tappers as "Who Stole That Train?", "Too Many Women", "Twin Guitar Roundup" and "Three Empty Bottles"... but you can't really go wrong, they're all good. This is a CD that you want to make room for in the CD player. What's especially nice about this CD is that it's relaxed. Both the music and the vocals have room to move and invite you along – no hurry, but lots of fun getting there."

Kay Clements
Host of "Roadhouse Twang" Radio Show
KWMR
Point Reyes Station, California

So get in on the action and order your copy of Who Stole That Train? today!

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