Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Nathan Stanley’s “Sandy Ridge Wind” is a classic country music gem written for Stanley by talented songwriter Kerry Belcher. It’s the latest resounding success for Dove winner Stanley as he continues carrying on his family’s tradition of making exceptional music into a new phase of his career. His grandfather Dr. Ralph Stanley is one of the undisputed titans of 20th century American music, not just country and bluegrass, and the younger Stanley’s music and songwriting doesn’t leave a blemish on the name. Others might wilt in such a shadow, but Nathan Stanley’s “Sandy Ridge Wind” refuses to be confined to shadows and instead blooms under the bright light of his passion and skill.
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He eschews the bluegrass style of his family in favor of a stolid classic country sound. Stanley structures the performance as, essentially, a duet between his voice and the song’s pedal steel. His singing leads the way, without question, but the pedal steel playing fills the necessary gaps to give “Sandy Ridge Wind” a broader canvas than otherwise possible. The overall structure of the song, as well, will satisfy any listener. Stanley grounds it in fundamentals and the audible skill on display with each turn of the arrangement makes for a memorable experience.
Belcher composed the song’s lyrics with Stanley in mind, there’s no doubt, but there’s a lot more going on here. It is as much Belcher writing for themselves as it is for Stanley and the song’s patient message of never forgetting who you are and where you came from is resonant. Any adult past thirty can find at least slivers of personal truth threaded through this lyric. He dramatizes the words with just the right amount of dramatic effect, blending in as much as possible with the arrangement, and it gives the song a level of completeness that many other modern efforts in this vein do not reach.
The accompanying video for “Sandy Ridge Wind” is a more than worthy companion piece for the song. It boasts a cavalcade of visual images, in personal settings and otherwise, befitting the track and the song clearly dictates the editing. This isn’t a song weighed down with the extraneous and the promotional clip shares the same aesthetic. He doesn’t run on too long in any way and that focus is another appealing factor.
Stanley conveys genuine authority with his vocals. His singing isn’t ever strident, however, as he maintains a steady emotional keel from first line through last. He knows when to pick his spots, however, and consistently delivers when the song’s payoff lines come. This is a vocalist who understands where he can have the biggest impact on the song. It isn’t through vying with the players for sonic superiority in the mix but, instead, shaping his singing to accentuate what the players are doing, as they do for him. It’s touches such as this that make Nathan Stanley’s “Sandy Ridge Wind” a standout moment in a career filled with such moments. Listeners will remember it long after its final notes fade.
Loren Sperry
