You’d think guitar man Kenny Vaughan had been playing with this combo for years. He has musical history with the rhythm section of drummer Dave Roe and bassist Jerry Roe. But it’s a first-time matchup for Vaughan and singer/songwriter and fellow Telecaster enthusiast Stan Martin. Nashville studio veteran Dave Roe’s idea to bring them together was right on time. Their mutual respect and the creative spark they ignite in each other as guitar players is easily heard on an album that is a candy store for Tele nuts. They’ll flip over the faux steel guitar on the title cut and fat, juicy rolls laid out on “What Made You Think.” The way the two get up to things on “All Mine,” you’d think it was a Fender demo. Most important, all that great picking is done in service to some of Martin’s best songs to date. “Dos Tequilas” is a Tex-Mex number that’s perfect for drinking, dancing, or crying in your beer. “My Dream” is a splendid pas-de-deux between the guitarists, an Orbison-worthy ballad sung beautifully by Martin. Martin’s country music is the genuine article with twang to spare and this album confirms his place in the big leagues as a genuine triple threat.” - Rick Allen

Vintage Guitar Magazine

Stan Martin Long Nights Twangtone The new album from Stan Martin continues his run of finely-honed Telecaster infused twang laden neo-country. This is Martin’s sixth album of Bakersfield bound country. He is a master of the understated craftsmanship as singer, writer, producer and musician on this and previous albums. Although he is a talented picker he is not a show-off and is happy to trade guitar licks with the similarly minded Kenny Vaughan. The latter appears on all but one of the tracks here. Add to that the father and son rhythm section of Dave and Jerry Roe and you have a formidable team of musicians who know well how to serve a song to best effect. Those songs, all written by Martin, are largely tales of lost and found love. They are delivered with humour, insight and a degree of honesty that shows an understanding for the frailties, possibilities and pitfalls that every relationship offers us all. One thing immediately apparent is the sense of melody inherent in the songs. An ingredient that is often missing in the overly riff driven hard rock of much of today’s overblown country music. Song after song feels like an old friend and all the more welcome for that. There is an atmospheric and appropriately named instrumental (El Tarantino) that fits easily in context (not unlike those that graced Way Out West, the album Vaughan made as part of Marty Stuart’s band, The Fabulous Superlatives). This all hints at a wide spectrum of influences and also mirrors some of the great and more expansive country music that was given exposure on the airwaves in the late 80s and early 90s. The ten songs have a lasting appeal that will delight any of Martin’s fans and for those who have yet to have the pleasure of his company this is a great place to start to appreciate Martin’s talent. His last album was his best yet, up to that point, but this one is likely to grab that top slot. And why not, with such tales of betrayal south of the border as Dos Tequila. Then there is the reflection of the ballad, My Dream, wherein there is a wish for one’s love to be returned in equal measure. Long Nights is long on strong hooks and intertwined guitars and background vocals by Dave Roe. Another goodie is Play With Fire which again effectively features Roe on vocals. The whole album plays though as a piece without any filler or less interesting songs. This, then, is an album to savour and to return to and a reminder why so many of us miss top-notch music that, while it may not be breaking barriers or changing the musical landscape, is rather played for its own sake. The sake of the song.”

Stephen Rapid, Lonesome Highway

Stan Martin Long Nights Twangtone Records If all was right in this world, or at least somewhat right, the song “Long Nights” by Bay State-based singer, songwriter, and guitar slinger Stan Martin as found on his new album of the same name would be climbing the Billboard country charts. But Martin is not “Bro,” as in Bro-Country, nor is he a syrupy slickster contemporary country type. Given the current state of mainstream country music where it isn’t all that country at all given what came before it, Martin is an artist who continues to ply his trade in twang in a time warp hanging onto the Waylon, Buck, and even ‘90s Alan Jackson flavored sounds. For the country music faithful who like it more on the trad side, that’s a good thing as a new Stan Martin record is as reliable, in the country scheme of things, as a trusty pair of Levi’s. Long Nights is such an album. For the making of it, Martin headed appropriately to Nashville and enlisted the services of such “A” list studio musician types as fellow guitar slinger Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives) and bass ace Dave Roe who has played with everyone from Johnny Cash to Dan Auerbach. How cool it is to hear a guitarist the caliber of Martin going one on one with the vaunted Vaughan as on the instrumental “El Tarantino” from the new album. The other nine compositions on Long Nights, all originals and spanning the title track which leads off the album to closing song “All Mine,” are Martin at his finest writing songs with regular folks appeal. And speaking of the title track, it is such a radio-ready piece of tunage it defies logic that it will never find a home on country radio. The song is also par for the course from Martin who never fails to deliver a country nugget of that caliber on every solo album release, Long Nights being no exception”

Dan Ferguson, SRI

GuitaristMag-Dec14-Cover.jpg  GuitaristMag-Dec14-TopRevelations.jpg”

— , Guitarist Magazine-France

Vintage_Guitar_Dec_2014_review.pdf Stan Martin Whiskey Morning  Stan Martin is a keeper of the traditional country music flame. He’s a Don Rich/Danny Gatton-schooled Telecaster-loving guitar picker, a virtuoso who is not a showoff. And he’s a skilled writer and musician who is unabashedly, unapologetically country.  Martin’s original songs have a moving, sometimes comic, honesty. He retains a romantic toughness, as with some of Waylon Jennings early 1970s tunes written before the outlaw stance became a circus act.  As usual, Martin is supported by well matched players like steel player Pat Severs. He adds Dobro to complement the melancholy of Martin’s languid waltz, “Damn This Town,” then returns to the steel to trade light-hearted-but-serious licks with Martin’s Tele on “Reasons For Drinking You Gone,” the honky-tonk dance tune that follows.  A darker, almost sinister rocker, “Running Away” hints at the mood of the album’s powerful closer, “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” which is one of the best tunes Martin’s ever released. It’s big and dramatic without being overblown or overwrought.  This song is a dramatic example of how Martin’s playing resonates emotionally as much as musically. And that’s what the really good ones are going for. – Rick Allen- Vintage Guitar  ”

— , Vintage Guitar Magazine Dec 2014 issue

Nov-Dec 2014 issue Acoustic_Mag-Cover.jpg   Acoustic_Mag-Oct-Nov-Dec_14.pdf  ”

— , Acoustic Guitar Player-France

Lonestar Time: Stan Martin- “Whiskey Morning”   Stan Martin and his faithful Telecaster are back in the limelight with album number five in a discography full of great country music. The offspring of a tradition that is now shared heritage almost exclusively from the independent market, the so alive and vital “Whiskey Morning” is a collection of clear country songs between California and Texas. With strong ties to the more traditional Music City heritage, the trip is all the more surprising considering Stan Martin comes from the east coast and was raised in South Boston, Massachusetts. “Whiskey Morning” was almost inevitably conceived; recorded old school without additions or digital enhancements, played with great heart and passion and co produced with bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash and Dwight Yoakam). The names involved are veterans of a thousand sessions who capture the essential spirit along with the simplicity and sincerity inspiring the raw sound to be credible and effective. The rest is accomplished by the talent and the skilled composition of Stan Martin, the author of all the material on the disc in tribute to his country legends and their roots. Honesty and high sensitivity are the common denominators of a selection that approaches from time to time to Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, George Jones, Dwight Yoakam and Kris Kristofferson while maintaining a pleasant contemporary aura. From the great acoustic ballad, “Damn This Town” to a series of pedal steel and telecaster  in “Running Away”, the classic bittersweet charm in “Singer of Songs” and the connections between country and pop of “The Note” help in outlining the more than clear intentions and desire of Stan Martin to act as a true traditionalist. Music to sip and enjoy in its entirety. www.stanmartin.net   -Remo Ricaldone – Lonestar Time  ”

Remo Ricaldone, Lonestar Time

 Raised in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, Stan Martin’s music sounds more like the country music of Nashville. His first EP: “Wicked Heart” (2001) served as an attention grabber. The previous studio albums: “Cigarettes and Cheap Whiskey” (2002), “Love Ain’t That Tough” (2009) and “Distilled Influences” (2012) also delivered the pedal steel soaked country tunes of this versatile singer/songwriter. But with his new album: “Whiskey Morning” (2014) he is doing this all again in the superlative.  Stan Martin wrote eleven songs for this new album and he executed a sincere tribute of the great ones in this musical genre. The experienced listener will discover the influence of Merle Haggard or the sobbing voice of Dwight Yoakam (or even Chris Isaak) in these honky tonk songs and also legends like Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams have left clear traces in the work of Stan Martin, as in the song: “Come On Trouble” that you may hear on the attached video.  Also, there are sad country ballads that deserve notice with the songs “If”, “Singer of Songs” and the title track “Whiskey Morning”, just like the very danceable country rock via the song “Little Bit Right”, something similar of Raul Malo on melodramatic “The Note” and Buddy Holly-rhythm on: Wrapped Around Your Finger”. “Damn This Town” is a nice old fashioned sounding Waltz, and after has you dancing on the delicately, gently swaying “Reasons for Drinking You Gone”.  Bass player Dave Roe (Johnny Cash and Dwight Yoakam) not only coproduced “Whiskey Morning” with Stan Martin he also played bass guitar for the album.  The pedal steel guitar is played by Pat Severs and the accordian by John Deadrick (Dixie Chicks and Patty Griffin) provides for an extra cheerful note, while Michelle (Mrs.) Martin provides vocal support. If you still want to enjoy more of the good old country sound then we propose this plate of Stan Martin be hereby warmly recommended.  (valsam) www.rootstime.be”

, Rootstime

Stan Martin: Whiskey Morning  The Cream of the Crop!  Rick Allen, Vintage Guitar Magazine, said about Stan Martin, “He is a celebration of all that is best in country music”. And he is right. We have already had the opportunity to speak with Stan on Music Box, to pass his songs and say how much we enjoyed his previous album, Distilled Influences.  He is back with a new album, his fifth, Whiskey Morning. Album notes reveal:  -This CD was “a l’amcienne” in honor and tribute to all the legends of country music who are my heroes. We put some mics up, gathered the band in the studio and captured the moment on tape with NO digital enhancements-  All the tracks on the album are written by Stan Martin. Born in Boston – nobody is perfect…- Stan is, by his own admission (and cela the de’bonstonise…), the disciple of two legends: Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. But he owes as much to his mom who played with local groups of country and bluegrass.  At the age of 11, he was offered his first guitar and taught himself to play.  By 15 he was playing in honky tonks. He explains:   -I grew up as a poor child. I was never looking for a musical genre. I was raised and fed country music and this is what I play.  He played lead guitar for a country rock group, The Merles, and also for John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Boys. And he began to write and compose while refining his passion for playing the Telecaster.  His album, Cigarettes and Cheap Whiskey received a good reputation from the media and recognition from his peers that led him to share the stage with Patty Loveless, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Billy Joe Shaver, Jim Lauderdale, and Martina McBride.  For Whiskey Morning, he collaborated with legendary bass player Dave Roe (Johnny Cash and Dwight Yoakam), and also other elite – the crème de la crème – of Nashville musicians: drummer Dave Dunseath (Lee Ann Womack), pedal steeler Pat Severs (a monument of the Grand Old Opry, sideman of Bill Anderson) guitarist Mike Baker (Vern Gosdin and Dottie West) and accordionist John Deaderick (Patty Griffin and the Dixie Chicks).  What is best in country music according to Vintage Guitar? Yes. With a blink of an eye, but just a wink, to the country pop way of the Mavericks with The Note, Kris Kristofferson’s touch with Singer of Songs and Damn This Town. And a zest of country-rock with Running Away.  Stan Martin is true to his roots.  Because He still says, “People will always love; they will sometimes lose love and still drink…and people still love to listen about it in a song”. He adds:  Willie Nelson said the most sensible thing when he said: “music gives people a chance to enjoy something together.”  A chance also, as he sings in Whiskey Morning, to chase the devil that is in us…  Alain Sanders”

— Alain Sanders, Country Music Attitude-Music Box France

Whiskey Morning Twangtone Rec. 3,5 hats A new CD (his third if I’m not mistaken) with Stan Martin (who I heard at the Ydre Country festival a few years back) arrived a few weeks back. Stan has, as usual, written all the songs himself and also produces it together with Dave Roe. Stan writes in the liner notes that this CD was recorded in the “old school” way to honor the legends that are his heroes. The band played live and was recorded in the studio without any overdubs or digital changes. How’s the result? Well, a good mixture between faster and slower songs with very good musicians backing him up. There are a few real killer tracks here that I want to mention. Among them are the 4/4 shuffle song “Come on Trouble” which is one of the better. I also like the ballad “If”, “Damn this Town”. The standout track in my opinion is “Reasons for Drinkin’ You Gone”. Two other good tracks are the ballads “Singer of Songs” and title track “Whiskey Morning”. If you’re interested in acquiring this album you can contact Stan on his website www.stanmartin.net LARS THELL”

Lars Thell, Swedish Country Magazine