Manchester based band John McCane and The Last Of The
Breed are one of the leading bands on the British country
music scene. Recipient of several British country music
awards including the prestigious U.K. Country Radio Awards,
John picked up the Listeners' Choice Award for the track
"Who's Gonna Hold Me"
from this album at the 2004 award ceremony which took place
in February 2005.
Straight From The Heart is
the third CD released by John containing a mixed bag of
12 tracks featuring a diverse selection of appealing covers
and original songs. Alongside the already mentioned "Who's
Gonna Hold Me" which was written by British
songwriter Lorna Flowers we can also find John and Lorna
combining their songwriting talents for "Touch
Me With Your Tenderness". Another fine gem that
John had a hand in writing with Last Of The Breed band member
Pete McDonald is the emotive "Second
Time Around", a song about lost love and how
a new love can pull a body out of that downward spiral of
despair. Picking up the pace, John's own western swing styled
"The Lady" lifts
the spirits with this tale of a fun loving girl.
The first track to hit the listener is a great honky
tonker "Holdin' Heaven",
closely followed by the Curly Putman/Bucky Jones weepy
"Couldn't Love Have Picked A
Better Place To Die". Sonny Throckmoton's "Last
Cheater's Waltz" has long been a popular number
in John's set-list during his live shows and finally many of
his fans will be pleased to see it included here. Harley
Allen/John Wiggins' "Spread A
Little Love Around" sits well as does "I
Do But I Don't", and the Tommy/Jimmy Swarbrigg
composition "Kiss Ass Country"
appeals to many.
Straight From The Heart
offers a traditional country music style in its purest form
with a generous helping of steel licks. A seasoned
performer, John's strong voice has a richness that makes
everything sound effortless. So give this album a spin, let
the sounds swirl in the air around you while you take in a
deep breath.
Just one last note…from the back cover it appears
that John has a budding drummer in the making with his
three-year old son pictured at the helm of his very own
drum-kit. The future of country music looks safe!!!
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