John Doe & The Sadies: Country Club (Yep Roc, 2009)

John Doe and The Sadies joined forces to make this beautiful old-fashioned country album. Country Club has three songs by The Sadies and one by John Doe & Exene Cervenka, but basicly this is a cover album of old country classics. They cover songs made famous by legends like Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylong Jennings, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and Tammy Wynette (just to name a few). The focus often seem to be on the country balladry, but uptempo numbers are there to lift your spirit if the idea of opening another whiskey bottle starts to become too tempting. Highlights include that John Doe & Exena Cervenka original It Just Dawned On Me (guest vocalist Kathleen Edwards adds some great female harmonies to the song), Kristofferson’s Help Me Make It Through The Night, Tammy Wynette’s ‘Til I Get It Right and Johnny Cash’s I Still Miss Someone.  John Doe gets through the vocal duties very convincingly and The Sadies does a great job as the backing band. However, it would have been more interesting, if they had chosen more obscure country songs instead of well-known classics. The best thing about cover albums is that they might introduce you songs that you don’t know, but you don’t get much help from Country Club on that department. It’s still one of the better cover albums I’ve heard during the last few years and it does a good job as a pleasant sunday morning record.

John Doe at myspace
The Sadies Website
The Sadies at myspace