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FRAILING the banjo in waltz time brings to life Good Morning Mr Railroad Man on the latest album of folk musician extraordinary Martin Simpson, who learned the American roots song from fellow guitarist Ry Cooder.
Simpson's concern for America's poor gives an edge to his version of Randy Newman's Louisiana 1927, which he recorded for his first album Golden Vanity in 1976 and has now revisited in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans.
Jackson Browne sings harmony, as does Kellie While on the ballad Batchelor's Hall and Kate Rusby on Simpson's own poignant composition, Never Any Good, inspired by his father.
Simpson lets his slide guitar do the talking in She Slips Away, composed after he sat with his mother the afternoon before she died.
A guitar virtuoso with a lyrical voice.
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