| Have You Forgotten? - Darryl Worley | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
The minute I heard "Have You Forgotten?" I knew I had to hear the rest of the CD it came off of. Already a fan of the singer of the song, Darryl Worley, I instantaneously loved the song and the sentiment behind it. It isn't a song about the Iraq situation but more of a reminder of why we sent troops to Afghanistan.
Upon hearing the song, Darryl's label DreamWorks Records knew they'd have to rush out an album to give fans something with the song on it. Since Darryl's last record I Miss My Friend had just released its second single the label decided, with Darryl's help, to select some non-single tracks from the first two albums in addition to four new songs. After the new songs were recorded, the label then decided to add the first six singles of Darryl's career and make the Have You Forgotten? CD a "Best of" so far type of record.
And what a wonderful record it is. No matter what your politics may be regarding Darryl's massive hit title track, the rest of the album is filled with some of the best country music to come out of Nashville in the past 10 years.
"I Will Hold My Ground" is the first of the other three new songs included on the CD. It is a song that is similarly themed with Have You Forgotten," only that Darryl is singing about standing and fighting for what he believes in despite the fact that he doesn't like confrontations. He sings that he won't back down or give in... he'll fight for what's right and hold his ground.
"POW 369" is one of the songs that I loved off of "I Miss My Friend." I had and inkling that it would appear here as well for it has the theme of respecting the military and veterans. This song, also recorded by stylist Doug Stone for his last CD, is a steel guitar drenched ballad about a man who rethinks his road rage upon reading the license plate of the "victim."
When I hear the new track "I Need A Breather" I feel like I have been transplanted to a place where there are no job constraints and just a time to relax and have fun. The melodies of the song remind me of any Jimmy Buffett song, along with Garth Brooks' hit song "Two Pina Coladas."
The Mark Nesler-penned "Those Less Fortunate Than I" is a wonderfully reflective song about not taking too much stock in your own life to neglect that there's almost always someone who's worse off than you are. I always hoped the song would be a single from that CD and perhaps just maybe it'll see the light of day with a "second chance." Despite what happens with the song, it is one of the best Darryl has recorded so far in his brief career.
"Shiloh" is a somber song about remembering those who fought at the bloody fight during the Civil War. It's a song that isn't likely to be a single but it does remind us of the impact of war and what it does to the generations that follow.
"Tennessee River Run" is a likely contender with "I Need A Breather" for summertime single. The song opened up I Miss My Friend and still sounds great here. If there's any complaint to the song it is that it is almost a rewrite of Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee" from years ago. That being said the song is fun and sure to make many people smile and help 'em have fun.
When you add in the six hit singles, All but one ("Two Many Pockets") Top 40 hits, Darryl Worley's Have You Forgotten? is a wonderful album. Those people who have been eying Darryl's previous two albums but never buying them will have more reason to buy this one. Even without the hit singles, this "rushed" CD would've been a stellar collection of tunes. Have You Forgotten is truly one of 2003's most important albums.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of DreamWorks Nashville.
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble,
with the exception of "Have You Forgotten?,"
courtesy of Darryl Worley's Official Website.
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