Crooked Road CD Series [Back]

Mullins Family Anthology:
Let Your Light Shine Out

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Drawing from the rich musical style of singing from both the Brethren and Freewill Baptist traditions, the family has sung at more revivals, funerals, memorial services, and community gatherings than could possibly be documented here. In 1999 Annabell mused,

In fifty years, there’s not many rocks that we haven’t walked over, or many roads that we haven’t been down, t he singin’ is the basis of our life.  I believe it would be a terrible punishment if I couldn’t sing.  It is so much a part of me.

The truth in that quote is best demonstrated in Annabell’s unique lead and split lead vocals on a trio of songs included here.  The spiritual “Come and Get Me Jesus,” the title track, “Let Your Light Shine Out,” and the ethereal “Turn Back, Turn Back.”  The last of these three was written by the Reverend Enoch Rose of Dickenson County.

Other notable tracks included in this anthology are “The Snow-Covered Mound,” a song that was at one time so often requested that the family ended up recording four versions of it.  The haunting, “Dream of Mother and Father” along with “A Happy Place For Me,” “Give Them Flowers While They Live,” “How We’ll Sing in the Gloryland” and “ If the End of the World Were Today” all feature the quartet style vocal arrangements that further defined the Mullins family’s very particular sound.

The family, like so many other local groups, often patterned much of its sound from the original Carter Family.  You can hear Carter-inspired guitar and autoharp on “Let Your Light Shine Out,” and the Carters’ influence can also be heard on the tracks “If You Have Friends in Gloryland” and “Lord We Need a Friend Like You,” with its simple guitar and vocal arrangements.

Four family originals- “The Country Just Beyond,” “A Wondrous Place to Rest,” “My Space Craft Journey Home,” and “Take Me Along”- all penned by grandfather Hie Mullins, round out the remaining original vinyl remasters in this collection.

February of 2005 found the current members of the Mullins family sequestered in a studio in Castlewood, Virginia to record new tracks for this collection.  With some impressive musical accompaniment by good friends Mike Mullins on lead and rhythm guitars, Timothy Powers on mandolin, and Greg Stanley on upright bass, the family has embarked on the beginning of a new chapter in the Mullins story.

Six songs from that session have been included in this collection.  The traditional “God Answers My Prayers,” and “Just A Few More Days” are both old time family standards.  “God Is Real” is a song that was lead for many years by Dad, and has now been passed down to his daughter, my sister, Anita Mullins Vanover.  “Amazing Grace, Oh What A Blessing,” an original song my father actually penned in the coal mine, is now nicely led by my brother, Billy Keven Mullins.  Mom sings a beautiful lead on “Just Passing Through,” a tune that has become one of her most requested by many church audiences.  Closing out this set is a new song “The Pilot,” an inspiring tune written by our cousin and long time collaborator Ron Short of Big Stone Gap, VA.

The turning of the 21st century saw the passing of three original members of the Mullins family.  Annabell passed in March 1999, followed by Dad in April, 2000, and then Grandpa Hie in 2001.  And although they will be missed, it is a good thing to know that their spirits are at rest, now abiding in a land of peace. Annabell once said,

We’ve always had music, that was just a part of us.

There’s never been a week- don’t guess a week of my life that singin’ of some sort wasn’t there.  I guess that’s what made our family close. Even as the children came along- and the grandchildren- and the great-grandchildren. It’s still handed down.

How will the next chapter of the Mullins story unfold?  As long as there is a family and singing, the outlook remains hopeful.

The story continues…

Jim Scott Mullins - Summer, 2005.

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