Fletcher Jowers
Cowboy
Western and Gospel Music
Real Western Music Reviews
A Reveiw by Mark Holt on "Church at the Wagon"
There are voices that as soon as you hear them, they transport you to another time. Authentic, western, cowboy, ranch music are what Fletcher Jowers sounds like. He has one of those voices that is comfortable, like your favorite pair of worn, dusty boots. Fletcher reminds me of Sam Elliott ( Conager, Tombstone, "Beef it's whats for Dinner" ) and Ken Curtis ( Sons of the Pioneers, and later Festus on Gunsmoke ). Their voices are as recognizable ( and as Western ) as their faces. You hear those kinds of voices and you just know it's western ! You say to yourself, "I can relax now and enjoy. This is going to be a real western"...
"Church at the Wagon" is a cowboy gospel project. Fletcher has presented his brand of cowboy music throughout the country for several years. He has recieved several awards for his writing and recording of authentic cowboy music. "Church at the Wagon" contains nine original songs, along with Marty Robbins'.. "Masters Call"
The project's title cut is a story about a wagon cook "Coosi", who buys an old Bible from a peddler just before leaving out on the trail, bound for Abilene. He proclaims "We'll have church at the wagon".....
My personal favorites are "Ol Snake" , a story of a preacher making a deal with some cowboys that he will ride "Ol Snake", the meanest bronc on the place, in return for their church attendance. It all happens, and "Ol Snake" becomes the top horse in the string.
I also liked Fletcher's cover of Marty Robbins' "Masters Call". Marty could just plain write a song ! Fletcher does a great job with it.
The gut string guitar work on this album is really, really, well done. Tommy Allsup is the lead guitar player, and Tommy's guitar work really transports the feel of this CD "south of the Rio Grande." The mix and production on this CD is way above average. Besides Fletcher Jowers, other musicians listed are Tommy Allsup, ( lead guitar, rhythm guitar, harmony vocals ), Bobby Boatright, ( fiddle ), Donny Catron, ( rhythm guitar, harmony vocals ), Mark Abbot, ( bass fiddle, harmony vocals ), Mark Petty ( engineer ). It was recorded at ASC Recording, Dallas, Texas.
Fletcher Jowers and the group of backup musicians on this album just set a tone and feel for these songs, that make this album a nice, subtle, cowboy gospel listen....
Song Listing:
1) Chruch at the Wagon 2) Your Never Alone 3) Old Camp Meeting Ground 4) A Brand New Life 5) The New Range 6) John Three Sixteen 7) Ol Snake 8) A Memory of Jim 9) God Gave Us The Horse 10) Masters Call
1) Chruch at the Wagon 2) Your Never Alone 3) Old Camp Meeting Ground 4) A Brand New Life 5) The New Range 6) John Three Sixteen 7) Ol Snake 8) A Memory of Jim 9) God Gave Us The Horse 10) Masters Call
Total playing time: 31:26
Links
https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/drc/finding-aids/jowers/
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https://www.allmusic.com/album/church-at-the-wagon-mw0000505056