Carl Wade & Something Special is a multi-instrumental, multi-generational, semi-retro-traditional country-folk, quasi-bluegrass group whose songs cut across several musical styles
Rich vocal harmonies and tight imaginative arrangements set them apart.
They move effortlessly from lyrical love ballads to light, laugh-provoking songs about the uneasy truce in the of the sexes.
Much of their material comes from bluegrass.
Many of their songs date back to the golden age of country music but without electric instruments or drums
Some songs come from folk music~~ from old-time music,~~from western swing and a few from blues. And a few songs are original--though not necessarily theirs.
Many are "off-the wall" humorous songs that don't fit any of these genres.
All of their material has a fresh, exciting sound--arranged from the standpoint of what makes the song work best.
They tug the heartstrings, strike a nerve and tickle the funnybone!!!
Carl Wade & Barbara Shaffer don't write but htey have a lot of friends who are top notch writers and these friends lent them 11 out of the 12 songs on this album. The lone exception is the unusual (for America) version of St.Anne's Reel, which was taught to them by the late Seamus O'Dwyer, an Irish folksinger
They tug the heartstrings, strike
a nerve and tickle the funnybone!!!
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