Disco de Tracy Byrd: “Greatest Hits”

Descripción (en inglés) :

Personnel: Tracy Byrd (vocals, guitar); Billy Joe Walker, Jr. (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); B. James Lowry, Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Pat Buchanan, Reggie Young, Steve Gibson, Adam Shoenfeld, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Kenny Sears, Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Joe Carter (harmonica); John Jarvis (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Glenn Worf, Mike Brignardello (bass guitar); Greg Morrow, Paul Leim (drums); Curtis Young, John Wesley Ryles, Neil Thrasher, Wes Hightower, Mike Taliaferro (background vocals). <p>Recording information: Emerald Entertainment, Nashville, Tennessee. <p>The first two songs on Tracy Byrd's GREATEST HITS make clear what a wide variety of material the Beaumont, Texas native has successfully tackled. "The Truth About Men" (which also features Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry, and Blake Shelton) is a great example of Byrd's trademark party songs. Celebrating the less-than-dainty behavior that often characterizes the male gender, the tune is driven by a beat that tears a honky-tonk page straight from the Merle Haggard barroom book. "Just Let Me Be in Love," on the other hand, is a Latin-influenced number full of nylon-string flamenco-guitar leads and lush synthesizer lines. Although Byrd's vocal performance is stone-cold country, the end result here sounds more like SHANGO-era Santana than Marty Robbins or Freddy Fender. Luckily, Byrd's big, rich voice and classic phrasing tie the various stylistic detours together. <p>In addition to several re-recorded versions of his biggest chart-toppers, the 2005 collection includes two previously unreleased tracks. "Johnny Cash" is an escapist fantasy in the vein of Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It," while "Revenge of a Middle-Aged Woman" is a hilarious two-stepping romp that will definitely make male listeners think twice about doing their woman wrong.

Byrd's introduction in the early `90s allowed him to ride the wave of modern country music ushered in by Garth Brooks, Clint Black and others. His initial hits were gathered on a pair of anthologies (1999's "Keepers: Greatest Hits" and 2001's "20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection"), leaving this new collection to summarize his more recent work. Apparently he hasn't had enough hits to fill a second volume, as he's taken to re-recording three of his earlier works ("Watermelon Crawl" "Keeper of the Stars" and "I'm From the Country") for inclusion here. Together with two new tracks ("Johnny Cash" and "Revenge of a Middle-Aged Woman"), that leaves only seven hits to be anthologized from recent albums.

That bit of bookkeeping out of the way, the hits are pulled from 2001's "Ten Rounds" ("Just Let Me Be in Love," "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo," "A Good Way to Get on My Bad Side" "Tiny Town") and 2003's "The Truth About Men" ("Drinkin' Bone," "Tiny Town," and "The Truth About Men"), and show Byrd to be a new-era country singer with a charismatic delivery. He excels on up-tempo good-time tunes that display a fine sense of humor, "Drinkin' Bone" and "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo" sounding more Jimmy Buffet lite than tear-in-your-beer honky-tonk, and ballads like "Tiny Town" more heart-warming rather than heart-wrenching.

3-3/4 stars if allowed fractional ratings.

Another great album of Tracy Byrd's. This album brings together all his great songs over a period onto one CD. I have been retracing Tracy's songs on radio and this album has helped with all those hits on it. A True country album that is a must in your collection. Thinking back to Watermelon Crawl, I'm From the Country, The Truth about Men, and so the list goes on of brilliant songs and what a voice...Highly recommended.

Beth

My Kinda Country

QBN-FM96.7 Australia

Tracy has pulled songs from most of his CD's to make up this package. While some fans might not believe that is a good idea, this listener likes having his hits all in one place. From Watermelon Crawl to The Truth About Men this is a feel good, have fun CD. There are a couple of new songs included Johnny Cash and Revenge of a Middle Aged Woman. Johnny Cash is a definate honky tonk crowd pleaser, it has a toe tapping beat and should get you out of your seat and wanting to dance. Revenge of a Middle Aged Woman is the tale of a woman upset with her cheating husband, it is another toe tapper that Tracy is known for recording.