It opens with the upbeat “Above and Beyond,” where Singletary’s voice is reminiscent of country star Joe Nichols. It is followed by the elegant ballad “One,” and they pay a fitting homage to Loretta Lynn and Conway with their soaring version of “After the Fire Is Gone.” Vincent’s vocals are as crystalline as ever.
Equally moving is the title track ballad, the fiddle-driven “American Grandstand,” and they have some fun on the mid-tempo “Slowly But Surely.” “As We Kiss Our World Goodbye” is another polished and heartfelt track.
Perhaps the best song on the collection is their stellar rendition of “Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man,” which is Grammy-worthy and CMA-worthy (“Vocal Event of the Year”) in itself. The same holds true for George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s “Golden Ring.”
The 12-track album closes with a duet of George Jones’ “A Picture of Me Without You” and on an upbeat note with “Up This Hill and Down.”
The Verdict
Overall, Rhonda Vincent and Daryle Singletary are superb on their new duet project American Grandstand. They epitomize the best qualities of traditional country music, and they bring them to a younger generation of fans and listeners. This CD garners an A rating.
American Grandstand is available on iTunes.
