CD Review — Don Henley’s “Cass County”

First published in February 2016 issue, Buddy Magazine

Don Henley, Cass County, Capital Records

We’ll all know on February 15 if one of the songs on Don Henley’s latest solo effort, Cass County, has landed the former Eagles member another Grammy. “The High Cost of Living,” with Merle Haggard having joined Henley on vocals, is nominated for “Best American Roots Song.”

A great song, as are all on this CD, but it’s “Take a Picture of This” on Cass County which has been getting regional and national airplay. This song takes a deep look at lost love. “I gave it everything I had, through the good times and the bad…”

Most of the songs on the CD offer those alternative views of good and bad times, masterfully using everyday words to see what Henley, and co-writer Stan Lynch on most, are saying, and to hear the wisdom in many of the lyrics. From “Praying For Rain” – “I ain’t no wise man, but I ain’t no fool. And I believe that Mother Nature is takin’ us to school. Maybe we just took too much and put too little back. It isn’t knowledge, it’s humility we lack.” Or from “Words Can Break Your Heart” — “It only takes a breath or two to tear your world apart.”

There’s four songs here that Henley and Lynch didn’t write — Tift Merritt’s “Bramble Rose,” with Mick Jagger and Miranda Lambert adding vocals; Jesse Winchester’s classic “Brand New Tennessee Waltz,” including Alison Krauss on duet vocals; “When I Stopped Dreaming,” the Ira and Charles Louvin classic made even more classic with Dolly Parton singing along with Henley; and Jesse Lee Kincaid’s “She Sang Hymns Out of Tune.” Joining Henley on other songs are Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, and others.

Henley named the CD for the county seat of his hometown Linden, Texas. He makes his primary home now in Dallas.

Cass County debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart.

For vinyl lovers, this project is also available on a long-play record set.

Mary Jane Farmer

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Category: - CD Reviews