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The Way It Was is the eighteenth album from veteran country
singer Joe Paul Nichols. The album was cut just as the title
suggests, The Way It Was...Nichols walked into the studio
and recorded it with a cross section of traditional country,
western swing and gospel music. The Way It Was boasts 12
tracks, with 5 new songs and 7 country classics. An agreeable
variety of numbers are well communicated to the listener
by the strong delivery of Joe Paul's lavished vocal range.
Helping out on backing vocals we find the sweet harmonies
of Dawn Sears, who I remember appearing at Manchester's
Apollo theatre singing backup for Vince Gill some years
ago. Amongst the highly efficient musicians playing here,
Hoot Hester is found playing a feisty fiddle and acoustic
guitar as well as adding backing vocals. Doug Jernigan contributes
the extravagant whining pedal steel, with Pete Wade stunning
guitar playing and Jeff Taylor adding a dash of panache...boldly
tinkling the ivories.
The title cut is penned by country music legend Leona Williams,
who also joins Joe Paul for his first duet on 'Each Season
Changes'. This rickety carnival ride of real country music
continues with sensational favourites such as 'My Shoes
Keep Walking Back To You', western swing with Hank Cochran's
'Tight As Twin Fiddles' and Rex Griffin's 'Little Red Wagon'.
The penultimate number sees a thrilling version of Doug
Kershaw's 'Louisiana Man' and Hank Cochran's gospel-esk
story song of a preacher returning from overseas, 'Your
Not Home Yet' closes this choice collection.
Beware!!! This album carries a stern warning; "Caution
Real Country Music." The Way It Was is a polished album
that can't fail to excite true country music fans.
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