TURNTABLE TUESDAY - Cass County - Don Henley

Just over a month ago country got a wake-up call from classic songwriter/ performer Don Henley. Most notable as a member of the Eagles, Don Henley has come home, literally, to give us more of his heart and soul in this solo project - Cass County.

While Cass County is his solo album, Don Henley went back to his musical roots and brought other great talents on boar - talents that while crossing genre's all bring a classic sound to the table. Mick Jagger and Miranda Lambert team up on Bramble Rose, where the pedal steel leads you into a waltz so smooth you don't feel your feet touch the floor. The Cost of Living features the iconic voice of Merle Haggard. I think Martina McBride was the perfect duet partner for That Old Flame, as was Dolly Parton with When I Stop Dreaming.

No Thank You (Vince Gill on harmony), Waiting Tables (with Molly Felder, Jamey Johnson and Lee Ann Womack), Take A Picture of This (Michelle Branch, Sally Dworsky, Gale Mayes & Angela Primm), That Old Flame (with Martina McBride), Praying For Rain ( with Molly Felder, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Ashley Monroe, Trisha Yearwood), Train in the Distance (with Lucinda Williams)  jump off the album with the Eagles flavor we would expect from a Don Henley project.

A beautiful blend of classic country with Eagles style is apparent on Too Far Gone (with Alison Krauss & Jamey Johnson),  The Brand New Tennessee Waltz (with Alison Krauss), Words Can Break Your Heart (with Trisha Yearwood), Too Much Pride (with Gale Mayes, Angela Primm). She Sang Hymns Out of Tune (with Molly Felder, Martie Maguire, Ashley Monroe and Emily Robison) adds a pinch of Dylan that only heightens the overall flavor of this album.

Where I Am Now sums up the album and I found the pairing with Trisha Yearwood on this a perfect match. A Younger Man is the only track Don Henley performs solo, allowing us to experience the clarity in his voice that only he can provide.

Co-produced with Stan Lynch, the album brings a sound we are familiar with from both of these talented songwriters. Don Henley never missed a drum beat in formulating this album. I'm giving Cass County: 

I recommend this video from with CBS Morning News with Anthony Mason:

If you've not picked up your copy yet, the Target copy has bonus tracks. Also available:
iTunes           Amazon         Website Store

Keep up with Don Henley via his:

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