Mary Sarah
Album: Bridges - Great American Country Duets
Label: AGR Television
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.marysarah.com

As the title implies "Bridges - Great American Country Duets" features one artist teaming up with a host of others to work their way through classic country songs. It's not a new concept and normally involves one country legend, teaming up with a host of others and occasionally introducing a new name into the mix. Well, at least as far as this side of the Atlantic is concerned, this album turns that idea pretty much on the head, with a comparative unknown being the featured artist. You have to think that Mary Sarah is either really good at making friends or she's got a seriously good A&R person.

Not that eighteen year old Mary Sarah, doesn't have a lot of performing behind, including regular shows to four to six thousand children when she was part of the Kidz Bop thing when she was only twelve and at fifteen was invite on stage by The Oak Ridge Boys, who naturally appear on this album, to perform her accapella version of "Where The Boys Are" when just fifteen.

Of course if you're going to perform with the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Tanya Tucker you've got to be able to hold your own or the album is going to be pretty disappointing from a personal point of view and it has to be said, that Mary Sarah really does hold her own and more importantly does it across a number of country styles and bouncing off a number of different vocal approaches.

"Bridges" took two years to put together and I must say it doesn't appear that any time was wasted as she works her way through a country songbook like an accomplished pro and still manages to stamp some of her own personality on it. For me there were two unexpected highlights, the sign off track, described on the packaging as a bonus, "I'm Sorry" which is the only non-duet on the album and the aforementioned "Where The Boys Are", this time performed with its writer, Neil Sedaka.

"Bridges - Great American Duets" is one hell of a calling card, it gives Mary Sarah one heck of a lot to live up to, but I, for one, wouldn't bet against her and if classic country is your thing, I'd make a beeline straight for this one.

Neil King