Jimmie Dale Gilmore (Windcharger)

Like the late Texas Troubadour Ernest Tubb, Gilmore has a voice like a creaking saddle and combines an unapologetic, down-home corniness with subtle irony. So it's not that surprising to hear him present the urbane "Mack the Knife," John Hiatt's romantic "Your Love Is My Rest" and even the Grateful Dead's literate "Ripple" right alongside deep-country odes like "Banks of the Guadalupe," "Goodbye Old Missoula" and "Georgia Rose." While "Mack the Knife" is the main conversation piece, the album is full of musical highlights, such as the lovely, romantic title tune, which features the unmistakable voice of Emmylou Harris. Her ethereal sweetness perfectly complements Gilmore's tangy tenor.

Bottom Line: Splendid