Charlie Cline & The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers - Lonesome Pines

(Old Homestead OHS-90088) 1978

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Charlie's first album for Old Homestead has a much better mix / production than on the two earlier Atteiram albums, and it doesn't feature as much multi-tracked fiddle. The LP is still a fine slice of traditional bluegrass though, with 10 of the 12 tracks being written by Charlie & Lee Cline.

The album features just two instrumentals: Commanche, a Monroe-inspired fiddle piece with a neat melodically-inclined banjo break from Chuck Carpenter; and a fine multi-track fiddle / banjo version of Old Joe Clark.

Thematically the songs cover familiar bluegrass territory about relationships, nostalgic yearnings for the old home place, etc. but generally have above average lyrics.

Highlights include the heartfelt When My Soul Is Free, reflecting on how death comes to us all; You Never Really Loved Me about a failed relationship where "...it breaks my heart to stay here, but I'm just too weak to go"; and You'll Never Out Grow Your Need For Love, which has intelligent lyrics and some Western Swing fiddle.

Lead vocals are shared between Lee and Charlie Cline, with Chuck Carpenter (I presume) singing lead on his Highway Headed North. There are some fine harmony vocals too on Cold As Winter Rain, and the soulful I Get The Blues.

There's a rare flat-picked lead guitar break on the nostalgic Many Years And Many Miles, and Sweet Love has a Don Reno influenced banjo break.

Less successful tracks include: I Belong To Jesus which has a bit happy-clappy / repetitive chorus but is somewhat redeemed by a decent mandolin intro and banjo break. Charlie's lead vocal on Blue Ridge Mountain are also a bit strained in places.

The artwork includes liner notes by Ivan M. Tribe, but there's no information on the musicians involved. I'm guessing then that the guitar on this LP is by Derek Sparkman, but could be wrong.

• Charlie Cline: fiddle, mandolin
• Lee Cline: bass
• Chuck Carpenter: banjo, dobro
• Derek Sparkman ??: guitar

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