Having developed over fifty years a nicely conversational lyrical style, King has a knack for lining out a scene in a few well chosen words. Not every song is equally great, and some rely a little too much on cliche, but every so often an especially stark stanza reaches out of the speakers to smack you on the head. For example on "Numb," King sings
I don't care if your tears fall in my whiskey
I don't care if he hurts you more and more
I don't mind that drunken clown
Pushing that old man around
For I'm as numb as the knob on the door.
That's about as succinct as country weepers get. The best songs on Saw Mill Man hit with this same soft punch, especially "Cheap Motel," "Wino," and the miserable hard-luck song "Saw Mill Man." On "Long Time Now" and "Peggy," King raises the ghost of authentic rockabilly, the half-crazy kind that got kicked off the radio (or co-opted) by the rise of rock and roll. It's a hoot to hear a new recording in 2005 that could have come directly out of a Bobby Sisco session for Mar-Vel in 1955. Some, like the worst-party-ever vignette of "Wrong Time To Be Right" and the funereal murder ballad "Under The Snow" sound especially great in King's weary baritone.
Overall, what seems at first blush to be a slightly muddy set of moderately interesting old-timey country songs reveals itself after repeated listenings to be a set of archetypal country songs sung by a man who, if life had been just a little different, might have had a real shot at being on the Opry stage next to Carl Perkins and Buck Owens. I don't know if it's something in the water or something in the whiskey, but Cast King of Old Sand Mountain has made a bleak and affecting debut album. I hope there's more where this came from.
Cast King's Saw Mill Man is available directly from Locust Music
Article comments
1 - billy king
to whom it may concern; My dad (Cast King) recorded at Sun studiobefore Elvis and Johnny Cash arrived. Eight of these songs are now in a collection on Bear family records in West Germany. Sam Phillips was a clever man but not smart enough to sign my dad. Too bad for both. I would like to see him picked upy a major recording company and maybe get some airtime, he deserves it god bless and thanks for the great reviews the old sawmill man appreciates it!
2 - Tom Russell
FANTASTIC!!!!!!
3 - Billy King
My name is billy king, the son of "Cast King. I'd like to thank everyone especially all the Cast king fans who have listened to his music and gave all the nice comments.My dad and I recorded many songs here at my home, most of which were recorded in 2007. if any of you are interested in hearing these songs on a brand new CD contact me [Personal contact info deleted]
4 - J. Fowler
Ney Billy King, your contact info has been deleted, but I would love to purchase any music you have to sell by Cast King!!! Saw Mill Man is one of the best records I've bought in years...
if there is anyway you can post your info again that would be amazing. Thanks!!!