Country Side of Bluegrass by Janie Fricke

Janie Fricke, winner of the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist trophy in 1982 and 1983, adds a bluegrass tinge to several of her hits on this release, including the 1982 chart-toppers “Don’t Worry ’Bout Me Baby” and “It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Easy, as well as 1983’s” “Tell Me a Lie” and “He’s a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen).” She closes the album with a version of Johnny Cash’s signature hit, “Ring of Fire.”

While Janie’s vocals are still vibrant and songs such as “Tell Me a Lie” and “You Don’t Know Love” sound especially suited for a bluegrass remaking, this release offers nothing new for her fans. Country Side is essentially a repackaging of The Bluegrass Sessions, released in 2004. While the vocal quality and song selection are excellent, fans would benefit from fresh music from this superb vocalist.