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Reviews

Welcome to a Review Page!
We solicit your considered reviews of both recorded and live music. If you'd like to have your new CD reviewed or contribute a review, please send your CD or ideas or submissions to Roots66 or
Bill Yates
Webmaster, Roots66.com
1911 Arlene Avenue
Oxnard, CA 93036-2704
 or Erika Harding
Roots Productions
60 South Anacapa Street
Ventura, CA 93001
Please note that we review music in the categories listed in the links above. CDs submitted for review are not returnable and no guarantee is made that a CD will be reviewed.

CD Review
[Pistol River Ballad] Pistol River Band

Western Ballad Opera



John Bizzack - songwriter, narrator, guitar
Ray Barnette - vocals
Arvel Bird - fiddle, mandolin
Bob Hatter - acoustic guitar, 18-string guitar
Marvin Adcock - songwriter, guitar
Andy Reiss - lead guitar, session leader
Mike Schrimpf - harmonica
Pat Sever - steel guitar, banjo, dobro
Pat Lassiter - bass
Peter Young - drums
John Rees - keyboard, piano, strings
1) Joe and the Man (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
2) The Rainmaker (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
3) The Second Chance Ranch (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
4) The Saga of "Doc" Peyote (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
5) The Epilogue: The Moral (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
6) Abbey, Morgan & Rueben (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
7) Morgan's Version (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
8) The Fires: Rueben Carter's Trial (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)
9) Epilogue (John W. Bizzack & Marvin L. Adcock, BSF Songs, LLC, ASCAP)

Review by
Johnny Emory, Western Music Foundation

The Western Ballad Opera is not only a fascinating new concept album, but also a remarkable story and tale of goodness, greed and evil set to the backdrop of the old west. There's a vulnerable heroine, an evil cattle baron, a delightfully humorous traveling medicine show, immoral river pirates, a mysterious rainmaker and a host of other characters that make a listener feel they've watched an entire movie instead of hearing a two "act" opera.

This is not literally an "opera," but it's certainly a musical and storytelling classic! The Pistol River band, made up of some of Nashville's best studio musicians presents this brilliant opus written by veteran songwriters, John Bizzack and Marvin Adcock, through the unique and ideal vocal performance by Ray Barnett. You'll smell the west as the Opera begins with a profound narrative set around an old west campfire and then seamlessly flow into the first of nine songs leading the listener through several twists and turns.

The Opera is set in two "acts". The first one introduces these fascinating characters and the events that shaped their lives. By the second act, the saga turns dark and what eventually happens will shock you and leave you wishing there was more. It's the first album I've ever listened to that left me utterly stunned.

There's books on tape and there's lots of story songs out there that will entertain and take you on a journey, but the fifty five minutes you'll spend with The Pistol River band telling you the saga of The Western Ballad Opera will make you play it again and again! You'll find yourself wishing for and keeping an eye out for for the sequel!

Copyright 2003 Johnny Emory

3/12/03

This review is copyrighted but may be quoted in whole or part provided credit is given such as "--Bill Yates, Roots66.com". If you post the review on a web site, please link to http://www.roots66.com if you can.


Last updated 4/16/03.
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