| Inside Traxx - Various Artists | |
|
Reviewed by Kathy Coleman
Country music and NASCAR seem to have always gone together. Rednecks and fast
formula racers seem to compliment each other, and the image of Bubba and his cooler of beer
with his pals, gal, and kids at the dusty track on a warm summer afternoon is indelibly etched in
the mind. To celebrate that eternal union, Warner Brothers and Curb Records have combined
some hot names in country music with some hot songs to produce Inside Traxx, a 14-track
collection of fast country songs with a rockin' beat to listen to and enjoy at home and at the
track.
Although most of the songs here on Inside Traxx are re-issues, they're largely good ones.
The disc comes on strong with Travis Tritt's "Start the Car" (from the album No More Looking
Over My Shoulder), and whips into high gear from there. But the re-treads (pardon the pun) and
the few weak spots are easily overlooked in the presence of such gems as the seldom-heard Ken
Mellons' powerful baritone singing "I Can't Kick My Country," as well as what is probably the last song Dwight Yoakam recorded for Warner Brothers, "Sitting Pretty," (one of the only new cuts, and only available on this disc). Yoakam is the only artist featured twice, as the sly, sexy rocker "Fast As You" (from the album This Time) also appears here.
Among the seldom-heard/seldom-seen names are Brad Wolf, with his suberb "Strictly Business," Trini Triggs coming on strong with a cover of the immortal Chuck Berry classic, "You Never Can Tell," and the strong voice of Mark Tinney with "Gypsy Blue Tattoo."
Also on the disc you'll find Hank Williams Jr., with a cut from his new Almerica Club, "Go Girl Go," and Anita Cochran belting out "God Created Woman," from her self-titled album. Sawyer Brown do a turn on "Can You Hear Me Now," the title track from their upcoming new release, and Neal McCoy sings "What If." As well, there are oldies from Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw -- "Dare to Dream" and "I Like It, I Love It." (From "Burn" and "All I Want," respectively.)
On the whole, it's a cracking good listen, and a lot of fun. More original songs would have been nice, but it's more than worth the price of admission just for the new Yoakam cut, and it's terrific hearing Ken Mellons again -- he's one I'd like to see more of. It's an excellent combination of the artists and songs from Warner Bros./Curb, a good way to "sample the waters," as it were, and a place to pick up some of the oldies if you don't want to buy the whole
original album. As a "Best Of" collection it's pretty strong, and the overall theme is well-maintained.
We close the disc with John Michael Montgomery's "Friday At Five," a favorite for the
early weekend crowd, and we're off to the track. Start your engines!
Song List:
Album cover, used with permission of BNA.
Click on the button below to find the best price for this CD and purchase it from a retailer on the Internet.
