Dave's Review

Producers: Wayne Haun and Buddy Spicher
Website: www.thelewisfamilymusic.com
Song Titles: "Family And Friends," "I Feel Like Traveling On," "Old Chunk Of Coal," "Walkin' And Talkin'," "The Old Family Table," "God's Little People," "Slippers With Wings," "The Family Bible," "Which Came First (The Chicken Or The Egg)?," "I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap," "Meet Me There," "Hallelujah Turnpike," "I'm Building A Stairway To Heaven," "Just One Rose Will Do," "His Life Is An Open Book," "Joshua," "I Plan To Meet You There," "So Many Years, So Many Blessings."

If you are a Lewis Family fan, you'll want to buy their new CD just to get the 12 page insert. Formed in 1951, the group's history spans the entire second half of the 20th century. The booklet describes each of the decades, including Little Roy's talents as an 8 year old child prodigy banjo player in the 1950s and Lewis Phillips' similar talents in the 1970s as a five year old who could play the "Wildwood Flower." Information about how Pop and Mom Lewis met, the Lewis Brothers quartet, and other interesting trivia is also included.

Of course, there's more to this project than reading material. The 18 music tracks include 10 of the Lewis Family's previous hits plus 8 new songs. "Family And Friends" has a biographical lyric, referring to some of the songs the Lewis Family has sung in the past, plus a line addressing the group's spokesman, "Little Roy, grab your banjo." Pop Lewis gets in on the fun, playing a harmonica solo and singing lead for "I Feel Like Traveling On" and "Just One Rose Will Do." Third generation family member, Lewis Phillips takes the group in a Country direction when he sings "His Life Is An Open Book." By and large, though, the bulk of the vocals come from siblings Little Roy, Polly, Janis, and Miggie. The 1978 Billy Joe Shaver (The Apostle) classic, "Old Chunk Of Coal," gets their special treatment, along with many other tunes.

Musically, Little Roy, Lewis Phillips, and Travis Lewis provide the core instrumentation on bass, banjo, guitar, and autoharp. Their instruments have been augmented in the studio by Buddy Spicher on fiddle, Bruce Watkins on guitar and mandolin, John Hammond on drums, and producer Wayne Haun on piano. The extra musicians do their part to give the recording a fuller sound, but don't alter the basic Lewis Family sound.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Lewis Family project without a comedic moment. "What Came First?" offers a possible answer to the age-old question about the chicken and the egg. While you listen to the rest of the project, you'll just have to imagine the faces Little Roy would be making!

by David Bruce Murray