Lucille Starr - Lonely Street (Expanded Edition) (1969/2019)

Although a Canadian native, vocalist Lucille Starr is perfectly suited to interpreting the uniquely American country & western tunes that were becoming increasingly popular in honky tonks, truck stops, and most any ol' place that traditional country music was enjoyed. Along with Bob Regan (aka Bob Fredrickson) on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, and pedal steel, Starr (aka Lucille Savoie) formed the Canadian Sweethearts. As the pair had done on their Side by Side long-player in 1967, Starr's Lonely Street, released the following year, was recorded in Nashville, TN, under the direction of notable A&R man, producer, and songwriter Billy Sherrill. His choice of material is perfect for Starr's warm and supple intonations, bearing much the same feel that Sherrill would subsequently achieve with Tammy Wynette. The majority of the effort presents Starr in somewhat typical surroundings, such as Sherrill's lovelorn "Too Far Gone," Red Sovine's "Missing You," Jimmy Newman's "Bonjour Tristesse (Hello Sadness)," and "Cry, Cry Darlin'." Both "Cajun Love" and "Full House" are prominent upbeat originals from Starr and Regan, fitting nicely beside the freewheelin' rockabilly of "Who's Gonna Stand By Me?" While not as pronounced as on Side by Side, Regan's string work is equally impressive, especially on the hot and limber pedal steel licks heard during the aforementioned "Full House" and "Bonjour Tristesse (Hello Sadness)." After several decades out of print, Lonely Street and Side by Side were coupled with a handful of rare and hard to find 45s and issued as a single-CD package from Collectors' Choice Music.