Heather Berry & Tony Mabe “Before Bluegrass” (Blue Circle Records)

What a hoot that must have been for the Halls to come up with some new lyrics and melodies that sound like they came right out of the Bristol Sessions. Any CD is only as good as its songs, and the Halls really wrote some dandies for Heather Berry & Tony’s “Before Bluegrass.” This is your basic, three-chord compositions and many sound like they could be found in the Carter Family songbook. One, “Hound Dog Blues,” is a faithful clone of Jimmy Rodgers’ classic blue yodels.

Since this is “Before Bluegrass,” you would be correct in assuming that Scruggs-style banjo is not heard on this CD. Instead, there’s a lot of tastefully done clawhammer style that Mabe plays on on several tracks. Both Berry and Mabe also play the autoharp.

The artists explain in the liner notes that everything was recorded live — just the two of them making “parlor music.” No overdubs, no punching in and out, no electronic pitch correction and no effects. Just music — recorded as it was performed. (As in, sitting in your parlor.)

Both have been around music and the music business for several years. According to the Web site, heatherberrymusic.com, “at the age of 12 years old Heather started to perform with groups such as the Lewis Family, Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen, and the Easter Brothers. Over time she recorded several projects including a tribute to Waller.”

Mabe was born and raised in Walnut Cove, N.C. “His love for music began at the early age of 4 years old when he started playing Southern Gospel style piano,” according to the Web site.

“Now at the age of 20, his instrumental abilities include banjo, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, autoharp and piano. He says that his biggest influences are Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, Jimmy Mills, Allan Shelton, and Mother Maybelle Carter.

“Tony’s played for former bluegrass boy and legend Bobby Atkins and the Countrymen (when he was only 14 years old) and also with Blue Circle recording artist, the Jeanette Williams Band.”

Heather and Tony, married for about a year, have voices that are a perfect mold for their “parlor-music” trip back in time. Her’s is sweet as that proverbial dew on the rose; his is just rough and rustic enough to make one give praise there’s no room for vocal coaches in this wonderful style of music.

In a nutshell, “Before Bluegrass” and its newly wed performers are a charming fit.

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