Truckin' Country

Along with Dale Watson's recent The Truckin' Sessions, this album represents something of a renaissance for that long-neglected but oft loved country and western offshoot - the trucking song.

Sonny George is based in Nashville, works as a trucker at times, and is as authentic as they come and dedicated to his music. His previous album Sonny George's Country And Western Roundup - Volume One, is testament to that. His is a singular vision, and while his deep voice may be limited in range, it is well-suited for the job it has to do. This time out, his blend of rockabilly, country and blues has been recorded in London as well as in Nashville. He uses a fine array of musicians including (Morrisey associate) Boz Boorer and Darrel Higham as well as The Maverick's Nick Kane on guitar and Fats Kaplin on pedal steel guitar among a host of others.

The sound is straight ahead twang with Cash-like rhythms and drive delivered with conviction and humour. The songs deal with the rigours of the road and the variety of humanity encountered thereon. 'The Ballad Of Big Joe', for instance, is the tale of a large truck driving transvestite who saves a busload of schoolchildren before losing his own life. Beneath its bizarre novelty subject matter is a genuine plea for tolerance and understanding.

There are also a couple of Surfesque no-wave new wave instrumentals in 'Wild Catter' and 'Jacknife', and in 'Big Iron', a more direct re-working of an old favourite that, like the album as a whole, should appeal to rockabilly fans and all those who find much of the sounds coming from Nashville these days a mite overly polished.

This is raw, rough and ready music and, like Sonny George himself, it stands tall and proud.