Hornography salutes guitar maker Scheerhorn

Hornography (Left of Center Records)

One of my favorite albums back in the early Seventies was “Mike Auldridge Dobro,” just a wonderful collection of songs and primo pickers on the old Tacoma label. It’s one of those albums that literally got played until the grooves pretty much wore out — at least to the point where the high-frequencies eventually disappeared.

I had always been a bit fascinated by the sound of a Dobro, mainly through the playing of Josh Graves on my Flatt & Scruggs LPs and listening to Bashful Brother Osward backing up Roy Acuff on the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts. But Mike Auldridge, on this particular album, just took the resophonic guitar to a level I’d never before heard. It was terrific. In the Eighties, maybe early Nineties, I picked up another Auldridge CD, Eight String Swing, which was also a great listen.

Frankly, that’s the last Dobro CD that’s come into my possession that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Even resophonic maestro Jerry Douglas’s highly acclaimed CDs just don’t connect with me.

Unfortunately, I feel the some disconnect with Hornography, a CD that came out earlier this year as a tribute to resophonic guitar maker Tim Scheerhorn. I’ll have to admit, I was pretty anxious to get this disc in my player. The sound of Scheerhorn’s instruments has become legendary and heard on a lot of hits — but never before in a project like this featuring great players who use Scheerhorn’s masterpieces.

Track One, featuring Rob Ickes, certainly heightened my excite. What a rousing and inspired version of the old Bill Monroe parking-lot classic, “Wheel Hoss.” I was pumped. But, after Ickes and his company of stellar musicians had ended their peformance, the CD just fell flat. Not that it didn’t reach some peaks, but nothing in the “Wheel Hoss” range.

I particularly enjoyed “Autumn Sunset” and “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” ironically, two cuts that feature Scheerhorn, himself, playing the instruments he’s made.

While I personally was less than thrilled with Hornography, I have a feeling that resophonic guitar fanatics will absolutely embrace this project. And, it’s impossible not to praise the concept of the CD and undoubtedly the spirit of the musicians who flocked to the studio to be a participant. It is an admirable tribute to a master craftsman.

Hornography Track Listing

1. Wheel Hoss – Rob Ickes
2. 2 In 24 – Randy Kohrs
3. Walkin’ To Rockford – Bruce Bouton
4. Is This America – Mike Witcher
5. Fishtail – Andy Hall
6. Drivin’ The Nails – Lou Wamp
7. River Of Tears – Shannon Hayes
8. She’s Crazy About Me – Justin Moses
9. Hot Toddy’s Snake Oil Into – Todd Livingston
10. Hot Toddy’s Snake Oil
11. Autumn Sunset – Tim Scheerhorn
12. Cattle In The Cane – Lee Hiers
13. Carter’s Blues – Jack Ferguson
14. Primo Duetto For Reso & Viola – Billy Cardine
15. Dust My Broom – Randy Kohrs
16. Turnaround – Jimmy Ross
17. What A Friend We Have In Jesus – Tim Scheerhorn