James Alan Shelton - Standing Room Only

(Freeland Recording Co. FRC-CD-661) 1999

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This is a reissue of James Alan Shelton's first 'solo' cassette release, Echoes Of The Past which originally came out in 1990, a few years before he joined the CMB's. James described the album in the liner notes as: "This recording is intended as a tribute to the songs I grew up with and the musicians who played them"... which kind of 'fits' in with the original cassette title, and artwork which looks like it included an old Stanley Brothers poster on the wall. Perhaps Dick Freeland changed the title to 'Standing Room Only' to associate it more with James' role as lead guitar player in the CMB's?

As the cassette is now pretty much impossible to find, the CD is a welcome reissue though and although it resequences the track order, at least it has brought the album to a wider audience.

The CD is pretty much traditional bluegrass, and with backing by Alison Krauss, Adam Steffey and Barry Bales features top drawer picking and backing vocals. Other personnel included Tommy Freeman who had played with James in Flint Hill circa 1982 (in which James played guitar and dobro) and Blue Ridge; plus Shawn Lane^[1] & Marcus Smith, who both also played in Blue Ridge. (James played mandolin and banjo in the later outfit).

Not all of the lead vocals are as strong as the instrumental work, on the album, but it is still a decent enough effort and worth a spin.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] Yes - it is the same Shawn Lane who went on to play in Blue Highway.