Jeannie Kendall

Personnel: Jeannie Kendall, Alan Jackson, Steve Gulley (vocals); Bruce Watkins (guitar, mandolin); Cody Kilby, Ron Block, Dan Tyminski, J.T. Corenflos, Bryan Sutton, Pat Flynn (guitar); Rob Ickes, Sonny Garrish (dobro); Stuart Duncan, Larry Franklin (mandolin, fiddle); Adam Steffey,
Glen Duncan (mandolin); Ron Stewart, David Russell (fiddle); Gary Prim (piano); Barry Bales, Jason Moore, David Smith (bass); Kenny Malone, Milton Sledge (percussion); Darrin Vincent, Rhonda Vincent, Carl Jackson, Royce Kendall, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, DeAnna Cox, Johnny Long (background vocals).
Producers: Brien Fisher, Mike Stults, Ken Irwin.
Includes liner notes by Jim Bessman.
Personnel: Jeannie Kendall (vocals); Alan Jackson (vocals); Bruce Watkins (guitar, mandolin); Cody Kilby, Dan Tyminski, Pat Flynn , Ron Block, J.T. Corenflos, Bryan Sutton (guitar); Rob Ickes, Sonny Garrish (dobro); Larry Franklin, Stuart Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Glen Duncan , Adam Steffey (mandolin); Ron Stewart (fiddle); Gary Prim (piano); Kenny Malone, Milton Sledge (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Jim Bessman.
Recording information: "Mack's Place", The Ozarks; American Studio; Buck's Place; Emerald Studio; Mack's Place; Skaggs Place Studio.
Photographer: Jim McGuire .
Unknown Contributor Role: Union Station.
Although this has turned out to be the solo debut from veteran country artist Jeannie Kendall, it didn't start out that way. The project started in 1998 as an acoustic, bluegrass-inflected effort by both Kendall and her father Royce, who had been performing and recording together as the Kendalls since the 1970s. But Royce died not long after the sessions began, and the incomplete recordings were shelved for several years while Kendall took time off. When she returned to the studio to finish the album, she brought with her a host of friends and fans to help out; these include Alan Jackson (who contributes nice harmony vocals on "Timeless and True Love"), Rhonda Vincent, Alison Krauss (along with various members of Union Station), and Ricky Skaggs. But the best and, of course, most touching moments on the record are those in which Kendall is accompanied by the voice of her late father -- especially on the gorgeous "Train of Thought" and an otherwise rather workmanlike version of "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight." Jeannie Kendall's voice, always a joy to hear, has mellowed nicely as she's aged, and her solo debut treads a nice middle ground between new sounds and old, and between acoustic and electric flavors. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson