New Dreams and Sunshine

This one starts with Country rain, a bright, cheery song about how it's good to be back home again, and ends with Rise and shine, another upbeat song. In between there is a good mix of ballads and up-tempo songs, but the feel of the whole album is generally uplifting and cheerful. There is the occasional downbeat song, like We belong together (but we're not) and Thinking about you, but even on these songs, Rhonda is more wistful than sad. Upbeat songs to lift your spirits always follow those tracks.

There are no really famous songs here, although My blue tears (a Dolly Parton song) is perhaps the best known. It was a minor hit for Dolly in the early seventies and was later covered by Linda Ronstadt (with Dolly and Emmylou) for a proposed Trio album that was abandoned. That version appeared on Linda's Get closer album. As we all now know, the Trio project was resurrected some years later.

If you enjoy bluegrass, at least one of Rhonda's albums should be in your collection - and this is as good as any of the others.

Some of these tracks can be found on the compilation Blue tears, so if you only want one of Rhonda's albums, you might consider that instead - but be warned - you might enjoy it so much that you buy all her other albums anyway.


Purest form of country music.   November 16, 2001
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

For those that are purest when it is country music, Rhonda Vincent is an absolute must. Never has anyone put their very soul into singing this great music as does Rhonda Vincent. To say she has a great voice just doesn't do her justice. Rhonda's voice is a pure instrument that never strays from the perfect note. She is truely the very best.


Rhonda Vincent "Solo"   November 30, 1999
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is Rhonda's first solo CD. Though she has recorded others songs with her family. (Sally Mountain Show) The whole project is GREAT! One song in particular stands out over the rest. It is Carl Perkins' "Rise & Shine."