What a Dream It's Been (Cow Island, 2013)
Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
Reviewed by Lee Zimmerman
That said, Big Sandy's decision to open the set with the reggae rhythms of Baby Baby Me seems somewhat incongruous, a description rarely used to describe the band's varied template. As the set proceeds, the usual mix becomes evident, whether its the jaunty back porch hoopla of This Ain't A Good Time, the '60s-sounding rave-up Missouri Gal or the croon of tunes like (You Mean) Too Much To Me and Don't Desert Me. Truth be told, these songs are culled from the band's previous repertoire and refashioned, an appropriate way to commemorate 25 years of making music. Nevertheless, the low-key arrangements find Big Dandy himself moving more towards front and center, somewhat surprising considering the fact that the Fly-Rite Boys still retain equal billing.
Ultimately, the group remains a guilty pleasure, one that ultimately makes its best impression live and onstage in front of an audience that can bop and rock like it's still 1960. Yet, those in need of a hoot and a holler will find "What A Dream It's Been" far better than any other nocturnal pastime.
CDs by Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys


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