Alex has been prolific in the recording studio over the couple of years that I have known him.  He has recorded several very entertaining home produced solo acoustic CD’s that featured some of the songs on his latest studio effort "Tale By The World" and his fine 1999 release "Not At Home On The Range".  He has also recorded a couple of CDs with his daughters as Daddy and the Divas and a solo effort for Bonnie.  I’m not sure if the early CD’s are still available, but if they are and Alex offers you a package deal on some of them, you should take him up on the offer.  They are all worthy of hearing and owning.

Alex has assembled a first rate group of musicians for "Tale By The World" including Chris Gage, Marvin Dykhuis, David Heath, Kevin Deal, Paul Pearcy, Eleanor, Bonnie and a host of others.  All contribute in making this a beautiful CD to listen to. Their talents are undeniable.  David Heath and Steve Starnes produced and the sound is pristine throughout.

The CD starts with a country rocker "Life’s Lonesome Highway", which is a darker variation on Robert Earl Keen's "The Road Goes On Forever".  Newlyweds win the lottery, but their joy soon gives way to greed and murder.  The tone is set for the CD with excellent musicianship provided by Eleanor on violin, Kevin Deal on harmonica, Alex with some nice acoustic guitar and a great lead electric guitar that is not credited on the liner.

"My Kind of Girl" follows and continues the upbeat "alt-country" style as in the first track.  The chorus provides the title for the CD. The first two tracks highlight the album’s only weakness…Alex’s voice.  OUCH…that sounds much harsher than I meant it to sound.  There are many great songwriters that can’t sing, BUT Alex is definitely not one of them.  He has a great voice.  He can sing swing swell, he is fine on folk tunes and his harmonies are excellent.  I think he could join Asleep At The Wheel and make a great group even better.  However, his rather thin voice has a high pitch and some of these songs need a deeper tone to be totally effective.  Is my petty complaint enough to prevent me from recommending this CD? Absolutely NOT, read on.

For me the album starts to soar with "Apache Wind", a great song about two friends camping on the battle site of their Apache / white settler mortal enemy ancestors. The song presents both side's positions and has a haunting, catchy chorus that I find myself humming frequently. Alice Spencer sings beautiful harmony vocals with Alex, and Mr. Gage provides a great guitar solo.

"Never Gonna Get Texas Out of You" is one of Alex’s performance standards and it’s one of those fun songs about our great state of Texas that we all love to hear and sing along with.  Eleanor’s fiddle swings out the melody and a rolling piano (Mr. Gage again) keeps your feet tapping.  This is the type of song that suits Alex’s vocal style perfectly, as does the next track "Fannin County Fair", the only song on the CD not penned by Mr. Whitmore.  It is a nice folk tune by James Michael Taylor. Peggy Mitchell Taylor adds some nice harmony vocals.

"Hard Row to Hoe" is a rocker with great lyrics about a hard luck / hard life family. Mr. Gage shines again with several brilliant blasts on guitar that helps keep the tune moving and rockin’ along.  "By My Side" features Eleanor’s beautiful violin and more of Ms. Taylor’s lovely harmonies, a nice ballad about a lost love.

"In My Dreams" is a ballad of lost opportunity.  A guy sees the girl of his dreams but never pursues her because of the old "she would never go for me" attitude.  Alex’s lyrics expertly portrays the sadness of longing for an unattainable love.  Eleanor’s playing effortlessly slides back and forth from violin to fiddle on a single note showcasing her classical training and her country roots.

The trio of songs that close the CD are among the most beautiful songs I’ve heard all year.  "Just to See Your Smile" is a road song about a guy returning home to the love of his life.  It features some nice mandolin and the lyrics accurately reflect his longing for her touch and her smile. "Waiting Restlessly for Morning" has Bonnie playing a haunting cello that accents the hurt and pain in the lyrics about a sudden and unexpected breakup.  The closer, "Spanish Fantasy", has beautiful classical guitar by Mr. Dykhuis, exotic percussion and great lyrics about a shadowy senorita that haunts the singers fantasies.  A stunning ending for the CD.

There is a lot to appreciate on "Tale By The World".  Alex has proven himself again to be an excellent songwriter and performer, and he can be very proud of this recording.  I expect to hear several of these songs done by other artists, because we have so many talented songwriters around that know and relish good songs.  I recommend that you catch Alex live and hear his talents firsthand.  And while you’re there, pick up this CD if you enjoy versatile and intelligent song writing performed by a talented crew of artists.  You won’t regret it.

Written by Jim Hughes, November 2001

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