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In The Mood: The Love Songs - Alabama | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
Since their arrival on the country music scene in 1980, Alabama has consistently put together quality albums that both the fans and the radio programmers have loved. They have over 40 number one hits (on various charts) and as they enter their 23 year, the band has decided to retire from touring. To commemorate the tour, the band has issued their final album on RCA Records, "In The Mood: The Love Songs." It features 18 number one hits and is, indeed, a wonderful collection of all of their love songs.
In addition to the two new songs, those who purchase this CD can buy tickets to shows in their area before they are available to the general public. This is a new and innovative idea of using the internet to market tickets to the fans who want to see the band the most. The fans who want front-center tickets better be willing to pay for the seats as they aren’t cheap but do include goodies like a "limited edition" guitar.
Of the 24 tracks on this double CD, there are some memorable hits. "When We Make Love" is probably one of their most memorable hits and is from their 1984 CD "Roll On."
"Feels So Right" is touching ballad from Alabama’s album of the same name. It is a groove filled track about the way being in love makes you feel.
Newer fans will remember "How Do You Fall In Love" as one of the band’s latest hits. It is from their 1998 "For The Record" greatest hits CD. It tells a story that compares falling in love to that of the requirements that are needed to make a flower grow.
"Fallin’ Again" is an uptempo song about all the ways he finds to be able to fall in love with his longtime love again. On an album of mostly ballads it is good to hear this song in the midst of it. This song originally appeared on the "Just Us" record.
"The Closer You Get" is a song that still gets plenty of recurrent radio airplay. It a mid-tempo guitar driven ballad about a guy that falls deeper in love each time he gets closer to the woman he loves. It’s a nicely written ballad that stands the test of time.
"Here We Are" is an up-tempo song about the strong state of a long relationship. Written by Vince Gill and Beth Neilson Chapman, the song could be considered by fans as a statement of the band’s thanks for their long career.
"Face To Face" is a beautiful duet with K.T. Oslin. Written by Randy Owen, it is about the way that the couple feels around each other. It originally appeared on the "Just Us" CD from 1987.
"Take Me Down" is another of the uptempo love songs that seem to suit Alabama better than the slower ballads. This song has a heavy R&B feel to it and I can see why it was a number one hit. It has all the elements of a song; which means it simply makes you feel good.
"In Pictures" is from their 1995 album of the same name. It’s not so much a love song as as much as it is a song about the love a dad has for his daughter, even through the pain of a separation caused by divorce. This is one of the few songs on the CD that didn’t hit number one.
"Love In The First Degree" may sound a bit outdated due to its early 1980’s production but it still has a good message. It says that he can be charged of a lot of things but the only thing he’s guilty of is that he loves her. This is from their 1981 "Feels So Right" CD.
"There’s No Way" originally appeared on the "40 Hour Week" CD. It was the lone ballad to be released from the CD and the haunting chorus showcases Alabama’s sterling harmonies. This song is still in heavy rotation at classic country music radio stations.
Featuring the vocals of pop stars *NSYNC, the song "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" is the newest song on this collection, except for the two new tracks. The song became a hit and it is a beautiful ballad although it is a tad different type of song that Alabama wasn’t known for at the time. It also brought more fans to Alabama that weren’t even born until the late 1980’s.
"I’m In The Mood" is the first of the new songs and appears on the first disc. It is a swampy, sultry ballad about the way one feels when they are around the woman they love. It is a nice song that the band premiered on the CMA’s last year.
"The Living Years" is an ambitious remake that has the same sound that the original has. While that is a little disheartening, the song does have great lyrics and showcases a group that can take any song and make it sound good. My only complaint with the song is that it is a little too long with a time of just over six minutes long.
When you add all these songs together they make up a wonderful collection of love songs that will make any longtime fan glad to have a "theme" album. Those new to Alabama but not willing to pay more for the larger more-encompassing collection "For The Record," should pick this album up.
Song List:
DISC 1
DISC 2
Album cover, used with permission of RCA Records.
Soundclips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
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