Weekend Listening: The Notting Hillbillies "Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time".

This weekend’s selection is "Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time" by The Notting Hillbillies from 1990.

Burned out from spending two years touring "Brothers in Arms”, Mark Knopfler put Dire Straits on extended hold. In addition to focusing on soundtrack work, he formed The Notting Hillbillies with Brendan Croker, Guy Fletcher, Steve Phillips, and Paul Franklin.

They released just one album, but it's a blues, country, and folk tinged gem that has aged wonderfully. Reflecting Knopfler’s stock at the time, the album reached #2 in the U.K.

Barring one Knopfler composition "Your Own Sweet Way", which is the only track he sings lead on, and Steve Phillips’ “Will You Miss Me?, the album is drawn from covers and traditional songs such as "Railroad Worksong", "Blues Stay Away from Me", "Weapon of Prayer", and a beautiful take on Charlie Rich's "Feel Like Going Home" which closes out the album.

In his review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon gave it a deserved four stars commenting that the album was "a low-key, joyous run-through of mostly traditional, blues-based songs with a handful of originals” and that it was “a delightful record that doesn't overstay its welcome”.

I’m listening to the album now. It’s a beauty that is well worthy of your investigation.