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Hermann Lammers Meyer -- The Good Old Days
Label: Desert Kid Records 
Album Review by Cheryl Harvey Hill

In America we call it honky tonk music; in Germany they call it “Kneipensongs.” Hermann Lammers Meyer of Aschendorf, Germany doesn't care what you call it as long as you let him sing it. For almost as long as he can remember he has been introducing new fans, and pleasing old ones, to traditional country music in Europe . What makes him unique is that he has often recorded and performed in Texas and/or Nashville as well. Some of his albums are in German, some are in English and some are both -- but all are wonderful or as they would say in German, wunderbar. The handsome Mr. Meyer is like really good homemade schnaps; very smooth and very traditional.

I lived in Germany for six years and I saw many German bands perform at various fests that billed themselves as "American country" bands. Some of them were quite good but they often sang the songs in English using phonetic cue cards and since they had no idea what most of the lyrics actually meant it was difficult for them to put a lot of feeling into the songs. But Meyer is different. He not only understands English, he writes songs in English and he has actually recorded with some of his musical heroes; Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, David Frizzell, Billy Walker and others.

Meyer is among the most played European country singers on the international Country Radio Airplay charts. His career has spanned three decades and he has won numerous awards over the years; among them is the European Country Music Association Artist of the Year, Singer of the Year and The Last Country Song was named Album of The Year in 1997. While recording his I'd Like To Live It Again CD in Nashville he was privileged, and fortunate, to have well-known session players Buddy Emmons join him on steel, Pete Wade on guitar, Buddy Spicher on fiddle and "Pig" Robbins on piano. Meyer says it was an honor to be able to record with musicians that had been some of his childhood music heroes.

Two songs from The Good Ole Days album, "Games People Play," a duet with Nashville singer Sandy Posey, and "Don't Forget To Remember," which became his fourth number one hit in a row, received international radio airplay and become hits for Meyer on the European Independent Country Radio Charts EMS from England. Meyer showcases his songwriting skills on the title tune, as well as on "The Drink," "Barstool Paradise," "Highway Heroes," "No, I'm Not Leaving," and he co-wrote on "Southern Comfort." He also includes some great tunes written by Hank Snow, Faron Young, Hank Thompson and a pleasing rendition of the old Bee Gees tune, "Don't Forget To Remember." I also liked his version of Randy Vanwarmer's "Just When I Needed You Most."

Meyer traveled back to Nashville to record this latest album and I'd say it was worth the trip. The end result is seventeen tunes that really are reminiscent of The Good Ole Days when country music was really country; with simple lyrics, great vocal harmony and lots of marvelous pedal steel.

http://www.english.hermannlammersmeyer.de/ 

http://www.hermannlammersmeyer.de/  

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