Disco de Alabama: “Cheap Seats”

Descripción (en inglés) :

Alabama: Jeff Cook (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Randy Owen (vocals, guitar); Teddy Gentry (vocals, bass); Mark Herndon (vocals, drums, percussion). Additional personnel: John Willis (acoustic & electric guitars, talking guitar, electric sitar); Josh Leo (acoustic & electric guitars); Bernie Leadon, Biff Watson, Mark Casstevens, Bill Hullet (acoustic guitar); George Marinelli, Dan Huff, Brent Rowan (electric guitar); Bernie Leadon (banjo); Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle); Marcus Hummon, Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson (harmonica); Jim Horn, Jim Nelson (saxophone); Charles Rose (trombone); Bill Cuomo (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Carl Marsh (synthesizer); Larry Paxton (bass); Craig Krampf (drums, percussion); Sanctuary Choir, Young Musicians Choir (background vocals). Producers: Larry Michael Lee, Alabama, Teddy Gentry, Josh Leo. Engineers include: Jeff Geidt, Ed Turner, Timothy Dobson. Recorded at Emerald Sound, Nashville, Tennessee and Cook Sound, Fort Payne, Alabama. By the time CHEAP SEATS was released, Alabama was in decline. The new wave of country artists such as Garth Brooks and Clint Black was taking over the airwaves, and Randy Owens and the boys were on the wane. However, this 1993 release stands up the musical standards of Alabama's previous work; its merging of C&W, gospel and pop-rock is just as consistent and clever as ever. In general, CHEAP SEATS mixes Southern-fried rock tunes such as "Still Goin' Strong" and the title track "The Cheap Seats," with delicate ballads including the sorrowful "Katy Brought My Guitar Back Today" and the introspective "That Feeling." As usual, themes of American pride, the plight of the archetypal rural man, love, and love's loss, weave their way through this CD's 11 tracks. A valiant effort, CHEAP SEATS is a commendable swan song.

This is one of the CD's I got for my 12th birthday, along with my first CD player, so I'll try to keep my review from being clouded by nostalgia. I think the album is solid from top to bottom: it's a fair representation of Alabama's sound in the early 90's, with plenty of slick ballads and upbeat, uptempo songs. The best cuts are The Cheap Seats, Still Goin' Strong (with a horn section!), That Feeling, and of course Reckless, the first single.

2 points:

1) Angels Among Us is a classic, but you should be aware that the version on this album is NOT the popular single version. The vocals here are slightly different. The popular vocal reprise version is on Greatest Hits Vol. III.

Alabama give`s you some "good rockin tonight" songs, and other`s that just kick``s the surface a bit. But overall this Cd is a good treat. Track 1 Still goin` strong is not Alabama at their best, but more average. Then there is Track 2 TLCP ASAP, with a weird tittle. An ok listning, but nothing more. When Track 3 kick`s in as the ballad Kathy brought my guitar back today, the quality is up at least one level. It`has a relaxable atmosphere all trough the song, and has hot potensial as an example of the "good old school" of ballad tradition. Track 4 On this side of the moon is a letdown, and doesn`t take of in the right direction. It sound`s like you have heard it before. Anyway Track 5 Cheap Seats is a good old standard rocker, with gut`s and glory to kick up some sparks here and there, and set`s some qualty standard`s which some of the other tracks has problem to follow. Track 6 Reckless is also up there above average "quality", with a catchin refrain. Track 7 That Feeling is an letdown which does`nt bring me "that feeling", sorry to say. Track 8 This Love`s on Me bring back the standard in way, but not`s realy up there. Track 9 Clear Water Blues, has nothing to with Blues to do, and are the worst track on the whole Cd. Track 10. A better word for Love is in the same league, sorry to say. Track 11. Angel among us, is a ballad to, but is a big step in the right direction, but ballad`s are not Alabama`s strongest force when it come`s to good songwriting. Anyway as a hole this is very average, but has some song`s that kick`s in the right direction a little bit more tha average, Probably 3 1/2 star`s Cd.


	Política de privacidad Condiciones de Uso Contacte con Nosotros