This album has a fascinating history; it originally started as a plan to write one song with a semi-autobiographical feel, but three weeks later ended up as a script to a play and seventeen related songs; the result is a musical story loosely based on Kimmie’s version of reality whilst a child. For the listener, this translates as a superb and fanciful tale of a family and the journey they take through a period of their life. The whole play was performed for an invited audience a few years ago, with Joe Ely taking the lead role, but 2006 sees the release of the studio version of the songs, with an excellent list of musicians taking part including Ely, Beth Nielsen Chapman and even Willie Nelson providing some guitar.
Whilst this is a ‘concept’ album, and it obviously works best a sequence of songs, there are some really high quality singer/songwriter pieces, with ‘Rhinestone Highway’ and ‘Angels Unawares’ really standing out.
This disc has real charm, it’s a great story and there are some strong songs and performances from some excellent musicians – it’s not for everyone, but those who do dive in will find much to enjoy.

Act One
1 Small Town Girl
2 Life is Just a Circus Anyway
3 West Texas Heaven
4 Mama Believed in Miracles
5 Angels Unawares
6 Wake Up Sleepy Town
7 Daddy's Song
8 West Texas Tango

Act Two
9 Our Father's Face
10 The Wind Was Talking
11 Card Houses
12 Daddy Took the Small Town Girl Away, She's Starring
13 Look at You
14 Rose Loves the Carnival
15 Take it with You
16 Rhinestone Highway

£13.49