Trisha Yearwood Album: “Real Live Woman”

Description :

Personnel includes: Trisha Yearwood (vocals); Dan Dugmore (acoustic, electric, slide & lap steel guitars, dobro); Al Anderson (acoustic & electric guitars); Darrell Scott (acoustic guitar, bouzouki); Richard Bennett, Johnny Garcia (acoustic guitar); Mike Henderson (acoustic slide guitar); Kenny Vaughan (6- & 12-string electric guitars); Sam Bush (mandolin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Steve Nathan (piano, harpsichord, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Steve Cox (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Keith Horne (bass); Greg Morrow (drums, maracas, tambourine); Tom Roady (percussion); Stephanie Bentley, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kim Richey, Matraca Berg, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Bob Bailey, Vicki Hampton, Kim Fleming (background vocals). <p>Recorded at Sound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee. <p>REAL LIVE WOMAN was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Country Album and "Real Live Woman" was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. <p>The last cut on Trisha Yearwood's ninth CD, REAL LIVE WOMAN, is called "When A Love Song Sings the Blues," and that's no coincidence. Drawing on stellar material from Matraca Berg, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kim Richey and even Bruce Springsteen, REAL LIVE WOMAN focuses on the downside of love, and Yearwood sings about it with the gut-wrenching emotion of someone who's definitely been there. <p>Though she brings in famous pals like Emmylou Harris and Jackson Browne to provide backing vocals, her own voice is the highlight here. From the Bonnie Raitt shadings of bluesy numbers like "Some Days" and "Wild For You Baby," to the falsetto of "Sad Eyes," to the pleading tones of "Try Me Again," Yearwood simply sings rings around her country/pop compatriots. Other highlights include the gospel-y "One Love," the funny, rollicking "Too Bad You're No Good" and the chiming "Where Are You Now." But the title track is the real find: it's the down-home affirmation of an average woman who's at complete peace with herself. "I offer no apologies/for the things that I believe and say," sings Yearwood. "And I like it that way." Like its title, REAL LIVE WOMAN is wise, sexy, earthy, strong and beautiful--and one of Yearwood's best.

Trisha Yearwood is my all-time favorite female country singer. Aside from the fact that she has an amazingly beautiful voice, I like her because she sells her music, rather than her looks and her body (although she is a very pretty lady). "Real Live Woman" is a wonderful album, with soft ballads and songs that really hit home. My personal favorites are Where Are You Now, Sad Eyes, I Did, Come Back When It Ain't Raining, and of course, the title track Real Live Woman. I normally don't buy a CD after hearing only one song from it, but I took a chance with this one and I'm glad I did! I am very pleased with this one. This album is excellent overall, and it is more country sounding than some of her previous efforts. I always though it would be impossible for Trisha to top her outstanding "Songbook: A Collection of Hits" album, but I think she may have just done it with this one. Add "Real Live Woman" to your collection today! It's a fantastic country album.

Trisha has always been a reliable artist: if you buy her CD, it's gonna be good - not always great, but good. "Real Live Woman" is, in my opinion, a "career" album. Though not as revolutionary, I feel that Trisha is very comparable to Emmylou Harris for the fact that she picks high-quality songs and wraps herself around them. Going back to Garth Fundis for production is probably the best move she made. Tony Brown did "Where Your Road Leads" (and did a good job, too) but his production has been fairly sleek as of late, so kudos to Garth for keeping the edge on this CD. Most of the songs include old Linda Ronstadt kronies, so it has that 70s Country-Rock feel to it. A bizarre cover is "Sad Eyes" by the Boss (relatively unheard of song until "Tracks"); it's certainly not one that I would have pictured her doing. Anyway, if you're a fan of Karla Bonoff, old Linda Ronstadt, Eagles, OR the current torch bearers like Kim Richey, buy it and don't hesitate. By the signs of the title track - first single, I probably wouldn't have bought it, but the Amazon audio clips blew my mind. The second single "Where Are You Now" is a perfect example of what the album is really like: well written, raw, powerful, and listenable (I know that sounds stupid, but there is music out there that possesses the first three traits without being enjoyable). Enjoy, everyone!

Coming off her weakest album to date, "Where Your Road Leads," Trisha returns to basics on "Real Live Woman." Thankfully forsaking middle-of-the-road Diane Warren pseudo-pop tunes for more tried-and-true country songs penned by such writers as the incomparable Matraca Berg, Trisha offers up a more country sound than on her last two or three efforts. The opener, "Where Are You Now," which was written by the dream team of Kim Richey and Mary Chapin Carpenter, is a killer. Trisha's voice is in tip-top form; loud and clear and expressive throughout the entire album. Her cover of Linda Rondstadt's "Try Me Again" is a sure standout, along with the Berg-Al Anderson tune, "I'm Still Alive" and the smooth-as-silk title track. Can't wait to catch these songs live, which will be tonight at Manhattan's Irving Plaza. A must have for Yearwood fans.

Amazing. Her best album since 'Everybody Knows'. Trisha takes her unique vocal powers further than can be imagined - this album proves that Trisha is unstoppable! Great tracks, including 'Sad Eyes' which leaves you feeling so happy, 'One Love', 'Come Back When It Ain't Rainin', with their tuneful melodies and 'Real Live Woman' - a song made for Trisha, make this a joyful CD. Without a doubt the most musically talented woman in Nashville right now.

I was disappointed with her last release, "Where Your Road Leads." Something just did not come together in that CD. But Trishia Yearwood has come through with a wonderful new CD. Its a little less a country but fans will not be put off. "I Did" really blew me out of the water. There is a song by Bruce Springteen ("Sad Eyes") and no less than three by Matraca Berg. Among those "I'm Still Alive" is amazing. Yearwood is a great performer and has chosen thoughtfully this time around. Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris and Berg have guest appearances. This CD is a must for all Trisha Yearwood fans.