Kevin Dunn - They're Hanging Me Tonight
Country, Folk, Americana
Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
Overall Impression: British recording artist Kevin Dunn delivers a stirring rendition of a cowboy classic, with his cover of the great Western balladeer Marty Robbins' "They're Hanging Me Tonight." One of the more hidden gems on Robbins' 1959 album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, this Low/Wolpert penned tune has haunted country and western fans for decades. Dunn injects new life into this vintage song, giving it a more "Bakersfield sound" by expanding on its sparse instrumentation, adding electric tremolo guitar and distant harmonica to a spartan arrangement, further enhancing the tune's themes of desolation and despair. Dunn's voice is in fine form here, conveying those themes in a weary and weathered baritone that's in stark contrast to the brightness of the original, achieved by drastically lowering the key from the F to B major. Kevin Dunn's "They're Hanging Me Tonight" will delight traditional country enthusiasts as well as folk and Americana listeners, thanks to the clear reverence for the source material and its earnest and somber nature.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production, great mix. Great choice to tackle this particular song. Everyone is familiar with Big Iron and El Paso, but sadly much of Robbins' catalog goes unnoticed, lost to the annals of time. Outstanding arrangement, loved the additions you made to the instrumentation, as well as the choice you made to forego the drums. The tremolo guitar gives it a slightly more contemporary feeling, and the lonesome harmonica awash in reverb really adds to the overall intended atmosphere. Another great choice here, was dropping the key to fit with your natural voice. Admittedly, it's been years since I'd heard this one, and when I listened to it now I was a little stunned by how bright Marty's voice seemed. The dark nature of this tune really lends itself to your lowered key. You really captured the true essence of the song, and elevated it. Tremendous work on this track. I really enjoyed it, and it was a pleasure to review!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Country, Western Ballads, Traditional Country, Country Folk, Outlaw Country, Americana
Artist target suggestions: Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, George Jones, Ernest Tubb, Charley Pride, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Charlie Rich, Hank Snow, Sonny James, Johnny Horton, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Glen Campbell
Interested in having your Song Reviewed by our Professional Staff? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Song Reviews under the Special Offers menu!
About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre, from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers