Original released on LP A&M SP 6004
(US, 1978)
A Country Opera about the life in the Confederate States of America in 1861-1865. Twenty-eight page booklet that accompanies the LP gives a brief history of the turmoil, the characters involved, an explanation and lyrics to each song and outstanding photographs. Some of the photographs are real photos from those years from the Library of Congress. Others are photos of the singers/musicians in their characters outfits/setting and photographed in such a way, that it's hard to tell the 1860's era photo's from theirs. Feature characters are Jessi Colter as Polly Ann Stafford, Waylon Jennings as The Drifter, John Dillon as Matthew J. Fuller, and Steve Cash as Caleb Stone. Besides the above, musicians also included Bernie Leadon, Eric Clapton, Henry Spinetti, Dave Markee and Tim Hinkley. Great playing by all and some real nice electric slide guitar by Clapton on "White Trash" and with the dobro on "Kentucky Racehorse." Waylon does a nice electric guitar solo on "Dixie, Hold On." Bernie Leadon has a couple of electric solos and a couple of acoustic solos, all well done. Jessi, Waylon, John, and Steve all do a fine job taking on their individual lead vocals and have some real great harmony moments also. Produced and engineered by Glyn Johns, this was a labor of love for Paul Kennerley who wrote and composed all the songs. Story really doesn't glorify one side or the other. It's a look into the horrors of war, the cruelty man is capable of inflicting on one another, and of hope, no matter how bad things may have been. Great music and singing, great engineering, and outstanding packaging. (in RateYourMusic)
