I've Never Been To Nashville

Tracklist

A1	Early Morning Train	1:38
A2	Fast Trains	2:57
A3	Goodbye Rainbow	2:56
A4	Next Time I'm In Memphis	3:01
A5	Mornings	3:57
A6	The Great Composer	2:57
B1	The Hole In Our Class Picture	2:30
B2	Good Time Lady	3:46
B3	1952	3:00
B4	Downtown Don Quixote	2:45
B5	In My Prime	3:35
B6	I've Never Been To Nashville	2:25

Notes

A thoughtful, craftsmanlike album from this Sacramento-area songwriter. A nice mix of country and folk, with a local bluegrass band, The South Loomis Quickstep Band, providing a lot of the musical backing. Many of the songs are a bit dense thematically, but overall it's a very listenable album, particularly the more country-sounding, pedal steel-driven numbers. Many songs explore loneliness and romantic yearning, and may cut a little closer to the bone than is entirely comfortable, but overall this holds up well. I'm a sucker for country novelty songs, so "The Great Composer" (about a guy who can't write good country songs anymore because he's too happily in love) is a highlight, as well as the title track, "I've Never Been To Nashville," about a songwriter who stays home rather than seeking fame and fortune in the big city. I'm assuming this one was fairly autobiographical, and while Dues shows a lot of talent, maybe he was too square-peggy for Music City -- but the music he left behind sure sounds nice!