American Tranquility

Phil Coulter began his career as a prolific songwriter for everybody from Them to the Bay City Rollers(!). Indeed, if his output went no further than "Puppet on a String" and the much-covered "The Town I Loved So Well," he would be assured of an honored place in the Celtic pop-rock pantheon. However, during the '90s he made a not-too-sudden turn and produced several nicely arranged easy-listening/New Age projects, most of which still sell incredibly well. After essaying Irish and Scottish themes on the many other Tranquility albums, he and his ensemble are heard here in a songbook of American melodies, including tunes by Stephen Foster. Among the selections are "Shenandoah," "Beautiful Dreamer," "The Streets of Laredo," "The Green Leaves of Summer," "The Yellow Rose of Texas," and "There's No Place Like Home." Fans of country-and-western-style, piano-led instrumentals will love American Tranquility. --Christina Roden