Back Trackin'
Website  www.leesims.com

Lee Sims began singing at five years old, listening to his mom & dad’s phonograph and singing along to the songs of Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hank Thompson, Johnny Horton and anyone else he could find in his mom & dads collection. His parents thought that he had a talent to sing and encouraged him to sing along. At the age of eight his dad would take him to local musicians jam sessions so he could get practice singing in live situations. At age twelve he started with music lessons on a lap steel, from that he went on to play guitar and start his own band.

Lee has been a studio singer for years singing commercial jingles and demo’s for many a song writer. This experience eventually took him to Tennessee & the Nashville network, where he was a finalist on you can be a star. Lee’s credits also include performing with such country stars as Waylon Jennings, Kenny O”Dell, Tommy Overstreet, Tanya Tucker, Buck Owens and George Strait.

Other members of The Platte River Band are, Bert Sims, brother of Lee, who has been playing bass for over 25 years and is one of the original members of the band. Bert was born in San Francisco but claims Lakewood, Colorado as his home.

Ron Cook has also been with the Platte River Band since it's inception in 1973. Prior to that, he worked with Lee as a drummer, starting in about 1965. During this course of time he has taken time out to play many different styles of music, from Rock to Show to Country. Also, he has played a number of various instruments during that period. Ron is fluent on steel guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals-lead and harmony.

This 12 track album contains 10 covers plus 2 original songs penned by band members Ron Cook and Bert Sims.

Covers include classics like Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," Haggard's "Mama Tried," and the wonderful "Statue Of A Fool," a song that did so much to make Ricky Van Shelton a household name some time ago. There's also a good version of Wood Newton's "Lillies White Lies," plus two songs on which Lee is helped out by the soulful vocals of Beth Avedis, Kenny O'Dell's "I Take It On Home" and Jesse Winchester's excellent "How Bout You," I love this one!

Other covers on here given the Lee Sims treatment are the calypso flavoured, "Lady In The Blue Mercedes," the western/swing of "Other Woman In My Life," "Brandy" and Carl Perkins classic rock and roller "Honey Don't."

Original songs include "Fishin'," a waltz written by Bert Sims about his favourite pastime, which is much requested on their live shows, and "Don't Rock The Boat," not the 70s pop song, but a country/rocker penned and sung by Ron Cook. This should go down very well with the linedancers.

This is a good album from Lee and his band and one that I very much enjoyed listening to. The album should also please both listeners and dancers alike, with there being a good mix of slow and uptempo songs..

Check It Out!

Review from metrocountry.co.uk CDreviews LeeSims