Family Shiloh: “At The Cold Copper Ranch” (2022) CD Review

The new album from Family Shiloh, At The Cold Copper Ranch, is really the result of two families. First, of course, there is the Pennington family, led by Colby Pennington on guitar and vocals, and Kimberly Pennington on vocals, along with their children and other relatives. Then there is the Smith Family, led by Mike and Kali Smith, along with their daughters, who run the Cold Copper Cattle Company in Burnet, Texas. The Smiths commissioned the Penningtons to writes songs about their ranch, and this album is the result. The album features all original material, and yes, these songs are all about the ranch and cows and so on, and also about family. Family Shiloh is made up of Colby Pennington on acoustic guitar, vocals and harmonica; Kimberly Pennington on vocals and whistle, Jonah Pennington on guitar, vocals, bass, organ, percussion and harmonica; Chloe Pennington on vocals, fiddle and piano; Adeline Pennington on vocals and fiddle; and Patience Pennington on vocals. Joining them on this recording are Brent Pennington on bass, Andy McAllister on drums, Damien Llanes on drums, Dave Biller on pedal steel and guitar, Billy Horton on standup bass, Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Marty Muse on pedal steel, Paul Glasse on mandolin, Christopher Gregory on guitar, and Dejan Nikolic on accordion.  Also, the Smiths join Family Shiloh on this release, providing some hand claps.

The album opens with “Cold Copper Theme,” which has a delightful country sound, a relaxed, classic style featuring some smooth and sweet vocal work. They immediately put us in the place of this ranch, with the whole vibe of this song, in addition to the lyrics. “Anyone who knows me/Knows just where I’ll be/Sitting at the end of the day/Yes, I’m here by the water/Of the old Cold Copper/You can bet that’s where this cowboy’s gonna stay.” This song also mentions two other songs, “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Home On The Range.” This is a wonderful song, working to put us in a good, mellow mood, almost like a dream, and it features some nice work by Dave Biller on pedal steel as well as some beautiful vocal work. That’s followed by “(It’s Gonna Be A) Longhorn Day,” a livelier number with a good groove. And here we get those hand claps from the Smith family. “Somewhere in the getting there/The trail turns serpentine/But keep your tail upon the trail and live that longhorn dream.” Then “Dunn Lucky Dice” is a little goofy. It’s about a longhorn auction, with Bruce McCarty and Dale Hunt as the auctioneers, and is also sort of a love song. Dunn Lucky Dice, by the way, is the name of a cow on the ranch.

“Kansas” has such a pleasant vibe about it, and features some good work on fiddle by both Chloe and Adeline Pennington. And Marty Muse delivers some sweet work on pedal steel. “You’re not alone in being lonely anytime.” That’s followed by “In Lieu Of You.”  I love Mickey Raphael’s melancholy harmonica work at the beginning of this track (and throughout it). “I’m all booked up/With the hours I spend looking at the moon/Wondering what I’ll do/In lieu of you.” This track also features some excellent work on guitar, and is another of the disc’s highlights. Then “Look At All Them Cows” sports a playful title, but there is also an endearing sweetness to this song, and to their vocal delivery. “Sunshine Soul” is a fun, bright, peppy number about seizing the moment. It features some nice work by Paul Glasse on mandolin, and by Dejan Nikolic on accordion. “Delta Lucky Ace” is a song about a specific bull at the ranch. This one feels a bit goofy, a bit odd to me, especially the strange adulation for the animal in lines like “All the girls gonna fall in love/So raise your glass/To Delta Lucky Ace sitting on his throne.” Right? Isn’t that weird? Or is it just me?

“Burnet County Backroads” is a song about enjoying the country life. “O, I love how the hot wind blows/Up and down Burnet County backroads/It’s time to unwind and to unload/This city strife and to let it go.” There is always something appealing about leaving the stress of the city behind, and to relax far from the bustle. Of course, I know I’d grow bored soon, but songs like this make me momentarily forget that fact. That’s followed by “A Thing I Do,” a song about singing, about writing songs. “And I don’t put a bridge in every song/‘Cause many times I build one/And burn it and it’s gone/So I’ll get back to doing what I do/Exactly what that is, I’ll sing it one more time for you.” Jonah Pennington delivers some good work on harmonica, and I love those gorgeous backing vocals. Then “No 4C Blues” is a good country blues number featuring  some excellent vocal work from Chloe and a lot of great guitar work as well. When this track kicks in, it becomes quite fun, soon beginning to rock. “Meet me on the back porch/Baby, we’ll take in the view/Well, there ain’t nobody frowning/Because there ain’t no 4C blues.” I assume 4C stands for Cold Copper Cattle Company. This is one of my favorite tracks.

“Come With Me” has a different vibe right from the start, as it begins with some pretty work on piano. Chloe Pennington not only plays piano and delivers a wonderful vocal performance on this track, but she also wrote this one. “Come and ride the range with me/Live a life of liberty/Breathe it in and let it be.” I also love that pedal steel work from Marty Muse. There is something incredibly appealing about this song, its theme and its sound. The album then concludes with “Cold Copper Reprise,” which is a continuation of “Cold Copper Call.” “Some things never change/Like this life on the range/And the way I feel about you.” Halfway through, it feels like the track is ending, but it then continues in a somewhat different direction, with some great stuff on harmonica by Mickey Raphael.

CD Track List

1. Cold Copper Theme
2. (It’s Gonna Be A) Longhorn Day
3. Dunn Lucky Dice
4. Kansas
5. In Lieu Of You
6. Look At All Of Them Cows
7. Cold Copper Call
8. Sunshine Soul
9. Delta Lucky Ace
10. Burnet County Backroads
11. A Thing I Do
12. No 4C Blues
13. The Last Herd
14. Come With Me
15. Cold Copper Reprise

At The Cold Copper Ranch was released on April 29, 2022.