Linda Lay & Springfield Exit

It’s nice to see that the Mountain Fever label is behind Virginia-based bluegrass vocalist Linda Lay, and this is her debut solo album. However, she has decades of performing experience that started with her family band and performing with guitar at the Carter Family Fold. She mastered autoharp, then formed (and played bass) with innovative bluegrass band, Appalachian Trail, for over 20 years. In 2000, Linda toured with the “Masters of the Steel String Guitar,” and in 2003, she recorded a solo project for the Cracker Barrel record label and then another with guitarist husband David Lay, banjo-player Tom Adams and mandolinist David McLaughlin in a group called Springfield Exit. In 2004, Linda and David Lay reorganized Appalachian Trail with several new members.

For her 2022 album, Linda is joined by David Lay (guitar), Bryan McDowell (fiddle), Darren Beachley (Dobro), Nick Falk (percussion), Sammy Shelor (banjo) and the album’s co-producer/engineer Aaron Ramsey (mandolin, guitar, Weissenborn guitar). David, Darren and Aaron provide harmonies to Linda’s lead vocals.

While I would’ve preferred at least a dozen songs on the album, the ten they’ve arranged present a particularly potent vision for their contemporary bluegrass built around Linda’s stylish, powerhouse vocals. She taps lyrically intimate and melodically compelling material from the likes of Kieran Kane, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Townes Van Zandt, as well as highly-acclaimed bluegrass writers Mark “Brink” Brinkman and Tim Stafford.

Opening with a Ted Harris song that Charley Pride made famous, Linda sings with high-spirited feeling, “It's the happiness of having you that makes my world a place worth living in.” “The Mountain” is a plainspoken story of home. “Lightning,” “White Line” and “Blue, Blueridge Mountain Girl” have plenty of bluegrass energy, while “Lost in the Shuffle” is a classic country scorcher. Her grassified treatment of Blondie’s “Standing in My Way” is an interpretive twist as she assertively sings, “Too many people tell me what to do, what to think, and say. Now it's time for me to do what I want. You better get out of my way. I'm moving out, getting out of here.”

Written by Mark Brinkman and Mike Evans, “The Jingle Hole” is an eerie song based on a true, little known, tale from the American Civil War about a deep, vertical cave opening near Bristol, Tn. Because of the amount of fighting and bloodshed there, the region became known as “The Bloody Third.” Locals started calling the cave opening “The Jingle Hole” when prisoners were tortured by being directed to hang from an iron bar over the bottomless pit. As a soldier’s spurs would jangle against each other, the sound gave the cave opening its gruesome name. Throughout Linda Lay’s radio-friendly set, albeit a bit short, strong vocalizing and playing give listeners something to grab on to and leave us wanting more. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report) - Roots Music Report

The voice, so pure and effortless on her recordings, sounded scratchy as an old Carter Family 78. “I’ve got a really good case of a sinus infection that I probably let go too long,” Linda Lay said in a March 1 interview from her mother’s house on the Virginia side of Bristol.

Lay expects to be long recovered by the time she brings her country and bluegrass act, featuring Lonesome River Band banjoist Sammy Shelor, to Floyd Country Store on March 19. The occasion: Her self-titled CD’s debut.

Linda Clayman Lay, 59, grew up in the heartland of country music. Clayman Valley lies just outside Bristol, site of the famous Bristol Sessions, and not far from the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. She learned music the Appalachian way, not from professional teachers and sheet music.

“I actually grew up playing music,” Lay said. “I learned from my dad, and played with my dad in the family band. The Carter Fold’s probably 20, 30 minutes away. It was always fun to spend Saturday nights going to the Carter Fold. I mainly liked to flatfoot so I would go and dance. I spent a lot of weekends at the Carter Fold and got to know Joe and Janette.”
Joe and Janette Carter were children of A.P. and Sara Carter, who, along with Maybelle Carter, formed the first family of country music.

Lay’s first band, Appalachian Trail, returned to the Fold for a couple concerts a year. In Appalachian Trail, Lay found her voice, becoming the band’s lead singer. During her 20 years with Appalachian Trail, she also found her husband and musical partner, guitarist David Lay.

In 2002, “Linda’s Mercantile Store” was released on Cracker Barrel’s Heritage Music label. Linda and David went on to form Springfield Exit with former Johnson Mountain Boy David McLaughlin, performing at the Library of Congress, the National Folk Festival, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Adding to her roots music credentials, Linda Lay and Shelor released a CD in the Crooked Road Music Series, produced by the Virginia Folklife Program, a program of Virginia Humanities. The latter organization also selected her as a Master of Bluegrass Singing.

Shelor met Lay in 2005 at a folk festival in Richmond. “I just fell in love with her voice,” he said. “She’s from the old school of country music with some bluegrass influence, and one of the most in-tune singers and powerful singers I have ever worked with. Other than the Lonesome River Band, that is my other priority band.”

Shelor mixed the Crooked Road CD, “Taking the Crooked Road Home,” at Mountain Fever Studios, in the Floyd County town of Willis. Mountain Fever is also the label for Lay’s new CD. Mark Hodges founded and runs the imprint.

“She’s such a sweet person, such a beautiful voice, great delivery,” Hodges said. “You feel what she’s singing. I reached out to her, I guess two years ago, and we started talking and she was interested in doing [a CD], and we started gathering material and songs. “It’s slightly eclectic but everything’s performed with a bluegrass slant to it. There’s some obscure songs that hadn’t been heard for years. She pulled them back out and put her own little spin on it. Aaron Ramsey was producing that with her and added his two cents in. I think they made the songs better than the originals.”

Released in February, the CD includes tracks by Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris.

“The Happiness of Having You,” by Ted Harris, is one of Lay’s favorites, capturing the joy of her marriage.

“We spend all of our time together, and still go traveling on the weekends together,” she said. “That’s probably one of my favorite tunes on the whole album.”

After living in Winchester for many years, the Lays returned to the Bristol area in 2021 to help with their aging parents. Linda stays with her mom in Bristol during the week, while David spends most of his time at their crop farm in Rogersville, Tennessee. Linda Lay is an assistant manager at a farm and feed store in Bristol.

Another of her favorites on the CD is “Standing In My Way.”

“That’s a very emotional song for me,” she said. “When I heard Charley Pride’s version, just listening to it made me tear up. It’s hard for me to think about it because it speaks to you in so many different ways, in your life, in your career, in your religion. You’re always your own worst enemy, standing in your own way.” Her vocal style is influenced by her late Appalachian Trail bandmate Carson Cooper. “His big thing was, make sure you say your words plain. If you don’t say your words plain, the audience can’t understand the song or the meaning.”

The Floyd Country Store show will reflect the CD’s mix of styles. “I’ll go from an old country classic tune to a standard bluegrass, a gospel tune, it’s just diverse. I don’t have a set style. I’m not a traditional bluegrass artist. I’m not a straight country type … I like the audience to get a good mix of music.

“When you come to the show there’s something for everybody. It’s easy to weave these songs together and it makes for an interesting show.” - Roanoke Times

SPRINGFIELD EXIT

"Springfield Exit"

Cracker Barrel

LINDA LAY

"Linda's Mercantile Store"

Cracker Barrel

STONY POINT QUARTET

"Band of Angels"

Cracker Barrel

Springfield Exit's self-titled debut doesn't sport endorsements by Alison Krauss or Dolly Parton, but it's easy to imagine them embracing the trio's sound and eagerly singing along. Sincere, soulful and stubbornly old-fashioned, this may not be your grandfather's country music, but it comes mighty close.

That it's also the product of well-matched musicianship shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with the lineup: multi-instrumentalist and former Johnson Mountain Boy David McLaughlin, lead singer and bassist Linda Lay and guitarist David Lay. A rarity to be sure, Linda Lay boasts a voice as lovely as it is affecting, sublime and stirring by turns. With the inspired but unfussy support provided by her husband and McLaughlin -- plus two guests, fiddler Rickie Simpkins and pedal steel guitarist Rickie Davis -- she evokes her Carter Family country roots amid vintage string-band sounds that still ring untrendy and true. Contributing to the band's repertoire is a wide variety of gifted tunesmiths, including Tom T. Hall, Hazel Dickens and Greg Brown, but the performances are uniformly sung and performed in ways that will set your clock back decades.

Linda Lay can also be heard on two additional new recordings. "Linda's Mercantile Store," a splendid showcase for her interpretative skills, is largely devoted to familiar country and folk songs, including the Hank Williams classic "Mansion on the Hill," Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again" and Tom Paxton's "Last Thing on My Mind." Frequently graced by Dudley Connell's guitar work, the performances are honest, heartfelt and, in light of what passes for country music these days, thoroughly refreshing.

The Stony Point Quartet finds Lay, McLaughlin, Connell and bass vocalist Billy Lux reviving a collection of southern hymns on its debut CD, "Band of Angels." Connell, also a former Johnson Mountain Boy and a current member of the Seldom Scene, shares the lead vocals with Lay, and it's a role for which he is perfectly cast -- check out the moving renditions of "Drifting Too Far From the Shore" and "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand" for ample proof. Punctuating the frequent admonitions and resonant harmonies is some fine picking as well, thanks to McLaughlin's inspired handiwork on guitar and mandolin.

All of these recordings are part of an intriguing 15-disc collection of roots music produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts for the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store chain.


SPRINGFIELD EXIT "Springfiel ...
SPRINGFIELD EXIT

"Springfield Exit"

Cracker Barrel

LINDA LAY

"Linda's Mercantile Store"

Cracker Barrel

STONY POINT QUARTET

"Band of Angels"

Cracker Barrel

Springfield Exit's self-titled debut doesn't sport endorsements by Alison Krauss or Dolly Parton, but it's easy to imagine them embracing the trio's sound and eagerly singing along. Sincere, soulful and stubbornly old-fashioned, this may not be your grandfather's country music, but it comes mighty close.

That it's also the product of well-matched musicianship shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with the lineup: multi-instrumentalist and former Johnson Mountain Boy David McLaughlin, lead singer and bassist Linda Lay and guitarist David Lay. A rarity to be sure, Linda Lay boasts a voice as lovely as it is affecting, sublime and stirring by turns. With the inspired but unfussy support provided by her husband and McLaughlin -- plus two guests, fiddler Rickie Simpkins and pedal steel guitarist Rickie Davis -- she evokes her Carter Family country roots amid vintage string-band sounds that still ring untrendy and true. Contributing to the band's repertoire is a wide variety of gifted tunesmiths, including Tom T. Hall, Hazel Dickens and Greg Brown, but the performances are uniformly sung and performed in ways that will set your clock back decades.


Linda Lay can also be heard on two additional new recordings. "Linda's Mercantile Store," a splendid showcase for her interpretative skills, is largely devoted to familiar country and folk songs, including the Hank Williams classic "Mansion on the Hill," Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again" and Tom Paxton's "Last Thing on My Mind." Frequently graced by Dudley Connell's guitar work, the performances are honest, heartfelt and, in light of what passes for country music these days, thoroughly refreshing.

The Stony Point Quartet finds Lay, McLaughlin, Connell and bass vocalist Billy Lux reviving a collection of southern hymns on its debut CD, "Band of Angels." Connell, also a former Johnson Mountain Boy and a current member of the Seldom Scene, shares the lead vocals with Lay, and it's a role for which he is perfectly cast -- check out the moving renditions of "Drifting Too Far From the Shore" and "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand" for ample proof. Punctuating the frequent admonitions and resonant harmonies is some fine picking as well, thanks to McLaughlin's inspired handiwork on guitar and mandolin.

All of these recordings are part of an intriguing 15-disc collection of roots music produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts for the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store chain.


-- Mike Joyce - Washington Post Lifestyle

Mountain Fever Records is honored to share the worldwide release of the brand new single by Linda Lay, “The Happiness of Having You!” Listeners may remember her clear vocals from her time in Appalachian Trail and Springfield Exit, or from her recordings with husband, David Lay. Linda tells us about her experience with the song, “From the first time I heard this song it spoke to me and I could not get it out of my head. The song is about a relationship with your loved one and I am fortunate to have this kind of love with my husband. I hope it touches you as much as it has me. We all deserve happiness in our lives.” “The Happiness of Having You” was first made famous by Charlie Pride. This fresh version features the talents of Linda Lay (lead vocal and bass), David Lay (low tenor vocal and guitar), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Darren Beachley (baritone vocal and dobro), Aaron Ramsey (mandolin), and Bryan McDowell (fiddle). - Syntax Creative

Patuxent Music
Patuxent CD-268

Having three former members of the ultra-traditional Johnson Mountain Boys would seem to indicate that Springfield Exit might follow suit. While David McLaughlin, Tom Adams, and Marshall Wilborn do tilt it in the traditional direction at times, particularly McLaughlin’s Monroe-style mandolin, the ultimate product has more to do with a softer, gentler approach than the hard-driving roar of JMB. For every mournful “Lonesome Wind” from Buzz Busby’s catalogue or the honky-tonk stylings of Wilborn’s “That Was Then And This Is Now,” there is a folk-tempered tune such as “No One Knows” and “Still My Thoughts Go Back To You.” Countering the old-time edge of “Elkhorn Ridge,” with McLaughlin on clawhammer, is the lyrical flow of Chris Brashear’s “Listen To Me Mother.” Throw in “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” the Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” and Don Williams’ “Till The Rivers All Run Dry” and a pattern is forming.

Motivating and focusing the band’s sound are lead vocalist Linda Lay and guitarist/harmony vocalist David Lay. Mostly, it’s Linda. She has a wonderful voice, one that is very expressive. At times, she makes a good run at the bluesy side on the aforementioned Busby tune and the title tune, but she seems more comfortable with a lighter approach. As a result, the band adjusts accordingly, lightening up and pulling back to support that strength, as it should be. You should always play to the strength of the singer.

All that said, this is a good and well-rendered album. They’ve made sure to cover as wide a spectrum as possible, including the anthem declaration of Ola Belle and Bud Reed’s “I’ve Endured” and the standard “Some Old Day,” and they’ve managed to craft a highly-distinct band sound and carry it through from track to track. (Patuxent Music, P.O. Box 572, Rockville, MD 20648, www.pxrec.com.)BW - Bluegrass Unlimited

One of my biggest gripes as a lover of bluegrass music is to hear terrific picking and singing on a CD only to hear that the band in question can’t replicate that sound – or even come close – on the stage.

Such bands would do themselves – and their fans – a great service by listening to Springfield Exit’s exquisite CD, That Was Then, and following its lead. There are no triple fiddles, no over-the-top production, no all-star pickers standing in for the band’s regular members. Just top-notch musicianship and sublime harmonies across the board.

Of course, Springfield Exit isn’t just any band. The marriage of three former members of the Johnson Mountain Boys and two from the much-loved Virginia band, Appalachian Trail, makes for some great listening.

Each instrument is played with authority, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise from a unit that features a three-time IBMA banjo player of the year (Tom Adams), four-time bass player of the year (Marshall Wilborn) and a guy who masters just about anything with strings (David McLaughlin). And don’t overlook some fine rhythm guitar work from David Lay.

But the real highlight here is the singing, especially the lead vocals of Linda Lay. She doesn’t have the following of those who are regularly nominated for awards, but she certainly has the chops. She sings with comfort and authority across a range of musical styles, sliding from tender ballad to growling blues with ease. From the opening notes of No One Knows to the swing of That Was Then and This Is Now (written by Wilborn) and the folk-rocky Peaceful Easy Feeling (popularized by the Eagles), Lay keeps the listener locked on her every word.
The best of the best in this collection is a cover of the Don Williams’ classic, Till The Rivers All Run Dry. There’s not an extra note or frill to be found. From first listen, and through dozens more, I’ve found Lay’s interpretation even more compelling than the original. Don’t be surprised to hear this one all over bluegrass radio.

Another favorite is Bob Dylan’s You Ain’t Going Nowhere. Wilborn is such a rock-steady bass player that it’s easy to overlook his aw-shucks vocals, especially when he has spent much of career in bands with terrific singers – first his wife Lynn Morris and now Linda Lay. His vocal here, the only song Linda doesn’t take the lead on, is fun and comfortable and though often recorded, the take is fresh and interesting. - Bluegrass Today

Cracker Barrel's 500 stores now have listening stations equipped with headphones where you can hear selections from their catalog of heritage albums that span bluegrass to Celtic, country to Cajun, and Native American to traditional jazz. Launched in collaboration with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the label celebrates regionally-inspired traditional music.

In 2002, East Tennessee country singer Linda Lay put out an especially pleasant package of classic country favorites called “Linda's Mercantile Store” (CB-101). Successful shows and rave reviews in support of that album led to the trio of Linda and David Lay, along with David McLaughlin, to stay together as a band called Springfield Exit. Guests include Rickie Simpkins (fiddle) and Ricky Davis (pedal steel).

Raised in Bristol, Virginia, Linda Lay was singing on stage with her father and uncles by the time she was only six. She and her husband used to perform with the band, Appalachian Trail, and they now have a vegetable farm and country store in the Goshen Valley of Tennessee. She sings and plays acoustic bass. David Lay is a talented harmony singer and solid rhythm guitar player. From east Tennessee, he has traveled extensively and has beena featured guitarist with the Masters of the Steel String Guitar. A full-time musician since 1978, David McLaughlin was a founding member of The Johnson Mountain Boys, a group twice nominated for a Grammy Award. He has played the Grand Ole Opry, the White House, Carnegie Hall, and on TNN. In the mid-1990s, he was with the country and folk duo, Crowe & McLaughlin. McLaughlin plays several instruments and sings harmony with Springfield Exit.

Springfield Exit's instrumental prowess, singing, and song selection make for a pleasant experience. “Miss Linda” has a magnetic voice, and she has an affinity for singing stories about life drawn from the pens of Tom T. and Dixie Hall, Dolly Parton, Hazel Dickens, Don Williams, Greg Brown, Dale Ann Bradley and Vicki Simmons, and others. Springfield Exit's country cookin' primarily simmers on a burner of slower to moderate tempos with toe-tapping rhythms. While certainly not bluegrass in its truest sense, the band has a relaxed and comfortable commercial sound with classic country sensibilities. Linda sings powerfully and with good vocal control. Songs are nicely arranged and are tastefully delivered. Springfield Exit will bring many hours of listening enjoyment to fans of acoustic country music with light percussion and pedal steel. (Joe Ross) - Jigtime- Joe Ross