Lulled By The Moonlight (studio album)
by Mickey Newbury

Three cheers for Mickey. "Lulled By the Moonlight" is the singer-songwriter's 12th studio album, and the first album of new material since the excellent "After All These Years." It was self-produced and self-released to website club members in 1996 before his label Mountain Retreat thankfully reissued the album in 2012.

A lot had changed at this point. Newbury emerged from retirement with a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal disease of the lungs. He only had a few years before the disease would take his life.

Here, Newbury pays tribute to the 19th century American master songwriter Stephen Foster, with his namesake in the title of the opening track and lyrics from "Beautiful Dreamer" as the title of the album. The cover artwork is "Jeanie with the Long Brown Hair," inspired by the Stephen Foster song of the same name.

The new Newbury material is remarkable and timeless. Improved recording technology works to Newbury's benefit. Gone are the hokey production values that were on his 70s albums, aside from interludes from his earlier albums. It's all classic pop, blues, jazz, gospel and folk here. "Blue Sky Shinin'" is lifted directly from his 1979 album "The Sailor," yet it fits right in here remarkably well. Newbury also sings a new version of "The Future's Not What It's Supposed to Be" from Frisco Mabel Joy that does not stray far from the original.

Highly Recommended.

Track Pick: Ramblin' Blues/Workin' Man
Gems: Just Another Lovely Day, Shades of '63, Captured in Blue