Bluegrass ensemble Lonesome River Band has released a new song titled “Mary Ann Is A Pistol”, sung by new mandolinist Adam Miller. It is a sly subversion of stereotypes first recorded over a quarter of a century ago and reclaimed from the record collection of bandleader and award-winning banjo player Sammy Shelor.
Written by Dennis Linde, it’s an extended appreciation of a woman who’s “been a tomboy since she could walk,” shows no interest in turning more conventional, and still earns the unstinting admiration of its country boy narrator.
“The LRB has been doing the Jimmy Martin classic, ‘Mary Ann,’ since around 1985,” he notes. “And it’s been a mainstay in our live shows ever since. Last year, I was digging through a bunch of cassettes I had from the 80s and 90s — I still love the sound of them — and ran across one of my favorite records ever by Brother Phelps (check them out if you haven’t heard these albums), recorded in 1995. They did a rocking version of this Dennis Linde song, and the more I listened to it, the more it became a Bluegrass song in my head and a perfect song to follow the Jimmy Martin ‘Mary Ann.’ We hope you enjoy our version of ‘Mary Ann Is A Pistol’!”
The track includes Adam Miller on mandolin and vocals; guitarist Jesse Smathers; new bassist Kameron Keller; Sammy Shelor on banjo, and Mike Hartgrove on fiddle.
More about Lonesome River Band.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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