Rodeo Waltz

The fall from a mega-company like Columbia Records to a small outfit like Sugar Hill would be a tragic blow for most folks in Nashville, but it may be the best thing that ever happened to the Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Janis Gill and Kristine Arnold, who grew up in Southern California as the Oliver sisters, have traded in the electrified country-pop sound of their CBS albums for acoustic country-bluegrass arrangements on their first album for Sugar Hill, Rodeo Waltz, which suits them far better. The country-folk approach really clicks for the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, perhaps because their voices and sensibilities are so intimate and delicate to begin with. The wooden echo of the picking by mandolinist Sam Bush, fiddler Stuart Duncan, and others has a gentle quality that fits the sisterly harmonies just right. Though the move from Columbia Records to Sugar Hill may have seemed like a setback at first, it has ultimately proven to be a positive shift for the Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Their transition to acoustic country-bluegrass arrangements on their latest album, Rodeo Waltz, has been a successful one, allowing their intimate and delicate voices and sensibilities to shine through. The addition of mandolinist Sam Bush, fiddler Stuart Duncan, and others has added a gentle quality to their music that complements the sisterly harmonies perfectly. This change in musical direction has been a defining moment for the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, showcasing their true talents and bringing them closer to their own musical roots. Overall, the transition to Sugar Hill has been a positive one for the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, allowing them to explore a more authentic and fitting musical style that highlights their unique talents and sensibilities.

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