Recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, Steven Courtney's Band of Friends nails the acoustic Americana vibe again.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (37:23) !
Related styles: Folk: Modern Folk, Rock: Americana, Type: Acoustic

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Details:
The Steven Courtney Band of Friends is finding new audiences everyday. Everywhere the band travels, people of all ages sing, clap and dance to the band's infectious music! Performing concerts in "state of the art" auditoriums, local pubs, acoustic venues, run-down school gymnasiums, old-time churches, summer festivals and more -- this band always wins their audience. Steven Courtney Band of Friends has refined a sophisticated down home style all their own thatâs being celebrated enthusiastically by fans and media everywhere they go. The group continues to gain recognition as one of Americana musicâs most inventive, talented, and entertaining acoustic acts.

Album review: Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends Old Albums

Steven Courtney is well-known in central/southeastern Pennsylvania for his long-running and acclaimed career making music for kids and families. His strength has long been making music that appealed to his younger audience without boring their parents. Now he has made an album that is geared specifically for those parents.

The past few years has found Courtney gradually pursuing a rootsier, acoustic sound with his talented group (the aforementioned âBand of Friendsâ), and on his new disk, âOld Albums,â he stays with that sound. One of the things that I love about acoustic music is that it for me it puts the focus right where it should beâon the songs. Although a great performer, Stevenâs ability as a songwriter has always been central to his success and that doesnât change here. The title song, which kicks off the disk, sets the mood by not only recalling the great music much of us grew up listening to, but also the way we listened to that music: on vinyl.

Courtneyâs consistently strong originals are mixed with some well chosen covers, such as Elton Johnâs âBallad of a Well-Known Gunâ (from the rootsy âTumbleweed Connectionâ) and the Chuck Berry standard âJohnny B. Goode.â He also includes a couple of traditional tunes, such as the instrumental âDrowsy Maggieâ and the rollicking âMary Mac,â although it sounds as if Steven may have added a few lyrics of his own to the latter.

I also need to mention the rest of the band: Aldon Hoke (fiddle, melodica, banjo), Frank Portaro (bass, mandolin), Doug Walton (guitar, mandolin) and Mike McElravy (dobro, guitar). These guys support and add to the work of their leader without getting in the way. Nobody overplays, stepping out when it is their time to shine and moving back into the ensemble when the spotlight moves to someone else. Even without percussion the sound is strong and rhythmic, pushing the up tempo songs and giving the ballads a good foundation.

This is an excellent record by an excellent band. It leaves the listener with fond memories of the music they have loved and looking forward to new music from this veteran artist who obviously still has the spark to create new memories for his audience.