Keep It Country
06/06/11 20:38 Filed in: Kenny Paul
Kenny Paul has made 18 albums and 5 DVD’s. He is from Maghera, Northern Ireland. His albums are a mix of Irish, Country, MOR and 60’s music. This album “Keep It Country” has 15 tracks. Many of them will be familiar, so I will not dwell on the lyrics as most folk will know the words by heart. They include “Pretend You’re Happy”, “Stand At Your Window”, “How’s The World Treating You”, “The Older The Violin”, “Just One Time” and “Love Me When You Can”. All of these songs are complimented by pleasing vocals and enhancing musical backing.
The first track “Country Girl”. This song was a favourite of mine; (I bought the Faron Young vinyl version in 1959). This song tells of a country girl who is a gold-digger, she takes the man for every penny he has, and then she leaves him for another man. The last lines are ‘When you two are dancing cheek to cheek / Do you ever tell him ‘I bought the shoes on your feet’ ?/. Kenny does justice to this Faron classic.
The track “Memories Of You”. Written by Kenny, it is a story of lost love. She was his first love and it may be his last as he cannot erase her memory from his mind.
“Keep It Country” is another written by Kenny. Very catchy lyrics, which praises Country music, and within the song he shows his appreciation to the people who come to see him perform. I am sure this number will be very popular with his fans.
“Hills Above Drumquin” (Drumquin means ‘pleasant ridge’; it is a village in Co. Tyrone.) It is a song about his happy childhood in the area, and he hopes when his time comes, he will be laid to rest in the vicinity of the hills of Drumquin.
“Sweet Lough Neagh” (is a large freshwater lake near Belfast). He reminisces about the happy times he spent there and hopes one day to return.
“Belfast” is a song in a similar vein to the above song, with fond memories of the City, and no matter where his travels take him, he yearns to return. It is the most emotive track on this album.
Another song that impressed was “The Old Threshing Mill”. The mill employed the local men, which kept their families clothed and fed, but the mill is no more ‘No more in the valley we’ll hear that machine / For just like the corn crate they’re gone from the scene / But it makes me feel sad as I dream of it still / For I long for the dear sound of the old threshing mill /’
I think Kenny Paul has the vocal ability to be more adventurous in his choice of material. I am sure he would do justice to some of the songs in the present U.S. Country music charts.
It is a very pleasant easy listening album, admirable both musically and vocally.
Rita
The first track “Country Girl”. This song was a favourite of mine; (I bought the Faron Young vinyl version in 1959). This song tells of a country girl who is a gold-digger, she takes the man for every penny he has, and then she leaves him for another man. The last lines are ‘When you two are dancing cheek to cheek / Do you ever tell him ‘I bought the shoes on your feet’ ?/. Kenny does justice to this Faron classic.
The track “Memories Of You”. Written by Kenny, it is a story of lost love. She was his first love and it may be his last as he cannot erase her memory from his mind.
“Keep It Country” is another written by Kenny. Very catchy lyrics, which praises Country music, and within the song he shows his appreciation to the people who come to see him perform. I am sure this number will be very popular with his fans.
“Hills Above Drumquin” (Drumquin means ‘pleasant ridge’; it is a village in Co. Tyrone.) It is a song about his happy childhood in the area, and he hopes when his time comes, he will be laid to rest in the vicinity of the hills of Drumquin.
“Sweet Lough Neagh” (is a large freshwater lake near Belfast). He reminisces about the happy times he spent there and hopes one day to return.
“Belfast” is a song in a similar vein to the above song, with fond memories of the City, and no matter where his travels take him, he yearns to return. It is the most emotive track on this album.
Another song that impressed was “The Old Threshing Mill”. The mill employed the local men, which kept their families clothed and fed, but the mill is no more ‘No more in the valley we’ll hear that machine / For just like the corn crate they’re gone from the scene / But it makes me feel sad as I dream of it still / For I long for the dear sound of the old threshing mill /’
I think Kenny Paul has the vocal ability to be more adventurous in his choice of material. I am sure he would do justice to some of the songs in the present U.S. Country music charts.
It is a very pleasant easy listening album, admirable both musically and vocally.
Rita