When I first looked at the CD and saw a song called “Shiner Bock and Vicodin†I thought it had possibilities. Then I listened to the song, which featured a naked guy in a wedding, and knew that Stand Up Man couldn’t miss. Then I remembered that Grant Langston was the guy who dared to do a Country cover of “Fat Bottom Girls†and even made it work. Talk about an oddity, a Honky Tonk Freddie Mercury song sounds more like a bad porno, but it is hilarious. “Burt Reynolds Movie Brawl†is a tongue in cheek reference to the obligatory donnybrook that always seemed to be included in Reynold’s movies. In that song Langston referred to, “The guy in the L. S. U. T-shirt that looks just like Terry Bradshaw†and I almost drove my car in a ditch. Langston also provides a fresh perspective on aging in “The King of Sunset Hills,†which is the story of man who finds renewed vigor when he is sent to a retirement home as a “Thoroughbred champ turned out to stud… The doctors they cannot believe their eyes, he’s lost 14 pounds and his prostate’s the normal size.â€
If humor was all there was, Stand Up Man would fall short. Fortunately there is so much more. The melodies and musicianship are great and there is a mix of traditional country and modern roadhouse sounds. I highly recommend this CD, but I don’t recommend going naked to weddings. Do us all a favor and save the nudity for the honeymoon.
Check out the title cut.
This review also appears on Amber Waves of Twang
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!