Vince Gill And Paul Franklin

MCA Recording artist Vince Gill and steel guitarist Paul Franklin will release a new album called "Bakersfield" on Tuesday, July 30th. Gill and Franklin will pay tribute to the "Bakersfield" sound by performing songs from Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.

The album was tracked in two days at Gill's home studio, backed by a band made up of John Hobbs on piano, Greg Morrow on drums, Willie Weeks and Brad Albin on bass, J. T. Corenflos on electric rhythm guitar, and Time Jumpers' Kenny Sears, Larry Franklin, Joe Spivey on fiddles and Dawn Sears on harmony vocals. Vince himself also played the electric guitar fills and solos.

"This is just as much a guitar record for me as it is a singing record," said Vince. "But it was fun for me to sing a whole record of the greatest songs ever. I guess what I'm real proud of is that when it's one of Buck's songs, I sing it very much in that vein. And the Haggard songs are very much in the vein he sang. With Buck's songs, you won't find much vibrato in my vocals, and with Merle's, it will come down to a low note and that quiver."

Paul Franklin adds, "This may be Vince's greatest project. What a showcase! I've heard him sing for 30 years, but he sings licks on this record I never heard before."

Merle Haggard wrote the albums' liner notes. He said, "Vince and Paul offer a great new touch on a great old sound. It was great, certainly to hear my music done with the great touch of Vince and Paul. I feel highly complimented. But it was especially great to hear what they did with Bucks stuff. Some may not notice, but I for one knew how great Buck really was, first as a musician, then as an artist. I can only give the entire project a big ole double, thumbs up! Well done guys, the West Coast takes a bow."

Full track listing:

1. Foolin' Around (made famous by Buck Owens)
2. Branded Man (made famous by Merle Haggard)
3. Together Again (made famous by Buck Owens)
4. The Bottle Let Me Down (made famous by Merle Haggard)
5. He Don't Deserve You Anymore (made famous by Buck Owens)
6. I Can't Be Myself (made famous by Merle Haggard)
7. Nobody's Fool But Yours (made famous by Buck Owens)
8. Holding Things Together (made famous by Merle Haggard)
9. But I Do (made famous by Buck Owens)
10. The Fightin' Side Of Me (made famous by Merle Haggard)

Fans can preorder "Bakersfield" at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame, www.VinceGill.com or via www.Amazon.com.

By Misti Douglas

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