Ranch Romance: Jo Miller (guitar, vocals), David Keenan (guitars, mandolin, vocals), Barbara Lamb (fiddle, vocals), Nova Devonie (accordion, vocals), Nancy Katz (acoustic bass, vocals).
Additional personnel: Tim O'Brien (guitar), Mark Ivester (drums, percussion).
Primarily recorded at Ironwood Studios, Seattle, Washington.
All songs written or co-written by members of Ranch Romance except "Yes, Yes, Yes" (S. Gostick), "Break My Heart Again" (P. Rowan), "Swing Twain, (Jammin With Jimmy/Three Guitar Special)" (J. Bryant/ L. McAuliffe), and "Can You Really Let Go Of Columbia?" (M. Simos).
Personnel: David Keenan (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Barbara Lamb (vocals, fiddle, background vocals); Nova Devonie (vocals, accordion, background vocals); Jo Miller, Jody Miller (vocals, background vocals); Tim O'Brien (guitar, acoustic guitar); Nancy Katz (upright bass, background vocals); Mark Ivester (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixers: Jo Miller; Kevin Clock; Nova Devonie; Tim O'Brien.
On this, their third album, Ranch Romance recovered some of the energy that was missing from Blue Blazes. The program opens with the defiant "Wheatfield Annie" and then proceeds to the high-octane rockabilly of "Baby's Gonna Come Back Home," and though things slow down with the prairie lament "Sweet Comfort in the Blues," they pick up immediately afterwards with a Cajun stutter-step on "Happy to See You." Guitar whiz David Keenan, who had had an on-and-off relationship with the group since its first album, is finally a fully acknowledged member of the band at this point, and his rapid-fire licks enliven "Yes, Yes, Yes" and the jazzy instrumental "Swing Twain." (He also takes over the lead vocal slot on the forgettable "Have I Ever Let You Down...Completely.") The album ends with a lovely Tex-Mex ballad entitled "Can You Really Let Go of Columbia?" Very nice. ~ Rick Anderson
Professional Reviews
Stereo Review (4/94, p.93) - Performance: Art House Chic / Recording: Good - "...an inventive twist of western-swing-meets-jazz that earns points for effort if not always execution...the group excells at instrumental, structural, and style-switching surprises...and at times off-kilter lyrical jaunts..."
