“The Best of the Vetco Years” by Dave Evans & River Bend

Dave Evans & River Bend
The Best of the Vetco Years
Rebel Records
3.5 stars (out of 5)

Outside of James King, Dave Evans is likely the most expressive singer in bluegrass. His Rebel recordings for the past many years are some of the most cherished and frequently played within my collection. He has never released a less than stellar recording.

This collection goes back almost thirty years to present most of the tracks Evans recorded for the Vetco label. The mastering of this set places Evans’ voice well in front of the fine but unremarkable instrumentation.

What makes this collection notable is that these early recordings of a relatively unschooled Evans are widely available for the first time. Why Rebel elected to hold back six cuts from the Vetco sessions is unknown, but the fifteen numbers included are more than appreciated.

The album starts with Evans’ “Highway 52,” a love song of sorts for a gal, rambling, and a certain path through the southern United States. “99 Years is Almost for Life” is where one realizes that Evans as far back as 1979 had something special in his voice; the song fairly aches. There is no shortage of tracks that keen listeners will appreciate: “Carry Me Back to the Bluegrass” is one that even prairie pickers will understand, while “When the Snow Falls on my Foggy Mountain Home” will be understood by all who have heartbreak and regret in their lives.

Timeless favorites including “Barbara Allen,” “The Train that Carried my Girl from Town,” “Dark as the Night, Blue as the Day,” and “Short Life of Trouble” will provide familiarity amongst the largely unknown songs from Evans’ own pen.

If you haven’t yet experienced Dave Evans’ brilliance, this collection from Dave Evans & River Bend is a fine place to hear it while it was being formed.

by Donald Teplyske