Diamond W Wranglers – Exploring Our Country Side
Following the sad passing of the great Jim Farrell, fellow TruckersRadioUSA show host and Roots musician Orin Friesen has returned to his roots, in a way. Friesen was part of the original Prairie Rose Wranglers. That group provided the “roots” for the blossoming of the Diamond W Wranglers. Now the new trio has returned to using “Wranglers” with “Diamond W.” Joining Stu Stuart, Friesen brought his son, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer Jesse with him. Their extraordinary musicianship and melodious harmonies remain intact.
In exploring their Country side the “Diamond Dubs” haven’t ignored their Western one. On this release there are two Stu Stuart originals (“Carolina” and “I Knew You”) and a cover of Ian Tyson’s “The Gift,” all of which are CD picks. Country tracks we’ll name are a cover of Gene & Paul Nelson’s “Eighteen Miles and a Dozen Roses,” Metraca Berg & Gary Harrison’s “Strawberry Wine,” Alan Reynolds’ “Ready For The Times To Get Better” and Stuart originals “Walkin’ On The Moon” and his novelty “Honky Tonk U.”
Various tracks are supplemented with the musical gifts of Rob Loren (formerly of Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys), Joel Day (from Hank Thompson’s Brazos Valley Boys) and Michael Martin Murphey player Paul Piper. Fourteen tracks, highly recommended.
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– by Rick Huff
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Diamond W Wranglers – Exploring Our Country Side