Sideline, the renowned bluegrass ensemble, brings new life to the classic song “Is It True,” originally written and recorded by Jim & Jesse McReynolds 71 years ago. The group’s latest single, released under Mountain Home Music Company, pays homage to the original while incorporating elements from Harley Allen’s version, which banjoist Steve Dilling first encountered.
Dilling, who brought the song to the band, highlighted its unique structure: “What caught my attention was the rarity of harmony in the verses and solo vocals in the chorus—typically it’s the other way around.”
The sextet, composed of Skip Cherryholmes (guitar), Steve Dilling (banjo, harmony vocals), Kyle Windbeck (bass), Matt Flake (fiddle), Nick Goad (mandolin, harmony vocals), and lead singer Bailey Coe, creates a rich musical dialogue between the fiddle and mandolin during the chorus. This arrangement distinguishes Sideline’s interpretation from both the original and Allen’s versions, offering a vibrant, straight-ahead bluegrass sound.
“We applied our drive and energy to it,” explains Cherryholmes, “and let the lyrics do the rest of the work. It is also one of the very few — if any — Sideline songs with a trio throughout the whole song, and Bailey nailed the lead part. High-powered and exciting!”
Notably, this is one of the few Sideline songs to feature a trio throughout the entirety, with Coe delivering a powerful lead performance. The result is a high-powered, dynamic rendition that blends the old with the new.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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