John Starling, originally from Alabama, begins this album with another southerner's hit, "Waiting for a Train," from Jimmie Rodgers. While Starling doesn't include the characteristic singing brakeman's yodel, he does impart his own remarkably distinctive voice to plenty of relaxed country hits with lilting melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. With a heart full of emotion, Starling milks the lyrics of their lament, love and hope. 

John's lead vocals and rhythm guitar grace all the tracks, as do Mike Auldridge's resophonic guitar and Tom Gray's bass. Friends for years, all three have the Seldom Scene connection. John left that seminal group in 1988 to concentrate full-time on his medical practice, before rejoining the band as its guitarist and lead singer for a second time from 1992-94. Starling's debut solo release (Waitin' on a Southern Train) showed his eclectic tastes for bluegrass, honky tonk, and classic country. He also put out highly-acclaimed albums in 1987 (Spring Training) and in 1990 (Long Time Gone). 

Now retired, John invited some of his best musical friends to collaborate on "Slidin' Home."You may recall that Starling directed the award-winning "Trio"album with Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. In a minor role, Emmylou sings with John on a song she co-wrote with Gram Parsons, "In My Hour of Darkness."I'm sure that John sees some of himself and can personally relate to lines like "But he was just a country boy, his simple tunes confess. And the music he had in him, so very few possess." 

Other choices he made for this album tap the reservoirs of some crafty and profound writers. I've heard Missy Raines and Jim Hurst sing a beautiful "Cold Hard Business"(on their "Synergy"album), but Starling's rendition is done with Jon Randall. An oft-covered song of passion, Leon's Payne "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me"takes a great deal of courage to present. My goodness, Starling still manages to impart his seductive charm to the song sung by the likes of Hank Williams, George Jones, Marty Robbins, Emmylou Harris, and Waylon Jennings. I never tire of a good hard-hitting familiar favorite, and it has been ten years since Waylon did it. At ten cuts spanning 33 minutes, the album is just a tad short. 

Interspersed between the mellow offerings are a couple tuneful instrumentals, "South Riding Tango"and "Irish Spring." Both feature the hot licks of two guests on the album -- Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin) and Rickie Simpkins (fiddle). For added embellishment to some selection, other guest musicians include Jon Randall, Kent Ippolito, Jay Starling, Pete Wasner, and Larry Stephenson. Auldridge also lays in some tracks of Weissenborn guitar or lap steel. For example, the former instrument is used to impart bluesy twang to "Those Two Blue Eyes,"a song we may best remember as a driving bluegrass number that Keith Whitley released on the Rebel label about 1972. The lap steel and piano perfectly voice their genial moods in Lowell George's "Willin',"a favorite song of John's (and recorded by Linda Rondstadt). The sleepy score of a truck driver heading home declares a strong sentiment - "Had my head stoved in, but I'm still on my feet, and I'm still willin'." 

John Starling closes "Slidin' Home"with one of his most tender sentiments that epitomizes the entire project. The sweet and endearing tune, "Prayer For My Friends,"comes from award-winning Tennessee songwriters Jeff Barbra and Sarah Pirkle. John acknowledges the wonderful people on whom he depends. "Our pathways are different but I love them no less .... I'm so grateful for the people I have in my life, they help me to do what is right .... In my heart here tonight, they're dear to my heart for all time ...." John's new album has laid-back textures, and he sings about life in a tender, kind and empathetic way. (Joe Ross)