Margaret Mabry – “The Falling Leaves”
I got this one a couple of years ago, now I didn’t buy it for the track listing – which I might add are all written by Margaret herself, but rather the fact that on this cover, Margaret kind of looks like my aunt. So, I was like “Well, what does she sound like?” – my money is riding on that she is going to have a rich, southern accent. Who knows? I’m gonna find out.
The album opens with the sound of wind blowing before we go into some guitar playing and Margaret begins to sing. The song, the title track, “The Falling Leaves” and you know what, she’s got that rich southern accent and she delivers a wonderful song. Next up, “Mama’s Bible” and I’m loving the steel guitar opening this song, this is true Southern Gospel and it’s wonderful. We’ve got that country vibe, and we’ve got that gospel vibe. I’m enjoying her harmony vocals on this one. “When the Count Begins” follows next, and the guitar playing is like rockabilly country, and Margaret sings a little bit differently, a bit more on a higher pitch and I’m liking this too. The A-Side closes out with “Movin’ On Up the Mountain” and it’s got that country sound to it, it’s not fast paced but it’s got a good rhythm to it.
The B-Side opens with “When My Feet Touch Down in Glory” and I really got to give it to Johnny Minick on guitar, because this guy understood the assignment and he delivers an absurdly great guitar solo in this song. Margaret’s vocals, accompanied by this group of talented musicians make a wonderful album. Next we go onto “When Daddy Read His Will” – and it is the longest song on this album, ringing in at five minutes and thirteen seconds. It is a slower paced song, but Margaret continues to deliver wonderful vocals, I do wonder if Margaret will have a spoken part in this song, and you know what, she does. Something about Gospel songs that include a spoken word part in it generally means we’re looking at a five out of five album. “Man The Boat and Come on Home” comes next, and this one features some piano playing and Margaret’s wonderful vocals. She does a few higher pitched notes at the end. The Album closes out with “Just One Step Inside” and it has that pure country sound on the guitar, before we go into a slow paced song with Margaret delivering those beautiful vocals. What a wonderful album.
Margaret passed away in 2015 at the age of 95. Her songs were recorded by Dottie Rambo, The Inspirations, The Florida Boys and Governor Jimmie Davis.
Catalog Number:
RSP 720
Credits:
Piano, Strings (Mellotron), Rhythm & Lead Guitar – Johnny Minick
Steel Guitar – James Findley
Drums – Todd Steffy
Bass Guitar – Tommy Steffy
Released:
197?
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