Kenny Chesney - Triple Feature CD

Triple Feature CD music Lady Antebellum prefaced the release of Need You Now by issuing its title track as a single; it reached the top spot on the country charts and stayed there for five straight weeks. It was their second number one, and they wasted no time following it with "American Honey," which appeared a mere two months before this set was in stores. This singing/songwriting trio -- lead vocalists Charles Kelly and Hillary Scott, with multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist Dave Haywood -- understand how Nashville works, and they know how to work it. On their sophomore effort, they stick very close to the formula of their debut: a slew of mid- and uptempo love songs, a sad ballad, and a couple of rocked-up good-time tunes, all self-written with some help from some of Nashville's most respected writers. Kelly's baritone is emotive, expressive, and deep in the pocket, no matter what he's singing. He shines on the soft rocking "Love This Pain," which could have been a single. Scott's voice is a little less distinctive, but she does possess a unique form of phrasing and reaches deeply into her protagonist's personal situations, whether it's the celebratory good-time girl in "American Honey" or the wildly-in-love mature woman on "Hold on Tight." The group party anthem on the set -- an obligatory addition these days -- is "Stars Tonight," which contains more than a few clichés, but has a killer guitar riff and an infectious chorus. With co-production from Paul Worley, Lady Antebellum prove there is no sophomore slump on Need You Now. Here, the band's seamless, polished, and savvy brand of contemporary country is even more consistent than it was on their debut; it's virtually flawless in its songwriting, production, and performance. ~ Thom Jurek Audio Mixer: Clarke Schleicher. Recording information: Quad Studios, Nashville, TN; Warner Studios; Warner Studios, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Miranda Penn Turin.

Triple Feature buy CD music GREATEST HITS contains 12 hit songs and 5 newly recorded tracks. Digitally remastered by Denny Purcell (Georgetown Masters, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee). How does a guy without a gimmick establish a multi-album career successful enough to warrant a greatest-hits album in the market-based world of modern country music? Ask Kenny Chesney, whose GREATEST HITS nicely caps off the '90s portion of his output. He's got no boot-scootin' two-steppers, no novelty tunes, and no neo-trad veneer. As this compilation shows, Chesney has always chosen to simply play it straight, offering tender, romantic ballads ("Me and You," "All I Need to Know") and uptempo tunes that merge country roots with a decided pop-rock sensibility ("She's Got It All," "Back Where I Come From"). His flexible, unmannered singing style effectively wraps itself around whatever emotion the tunes--generally written by a stable of Nashville heavyweights--might require. Personnel includes: Kenny Chesney, Randy Chesney (vocals); B. James Lowry (acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars); Tim Hensley (acoustic guitar, banjo); Don Potter (acoustic guitar); Clayton Mitchell, J.T. Corenflos, John Jorgenson, Michael Severs, Brent Rowan (electric guitar); "Cowboy" Eddie Lang, Jim Bob Gairrett, Sonny Garrish, Mike Johnson (steel guitar); Joe Spivey, Nick Hoffman, Rob Hajacos (fiddle); John Hobbs (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Barry Beckett, Phil Naish (keyboards); Larry Paxton, Steve L. Marshall (bass); Eddie Bayers, Chad Cromwell (drums); Curtis Young, Harry Stinson, Wes Hightower (background vocals). Producers: Kenny Chesney, Norro Wilson, Buddy Cannon, Barry Beckett. Compilation producers: Buddy Cannon, Norro Wilson, Kenny Chesney. Personnel: Kenny Chesney (vocals); B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar); Tim Hensley (acoustic guitar, banjo, background vocals); Don Potter (acoustic guitar); John Jorgenson, Michael Severs, Brent Rowan (electric guitar); Cowboy Eddie Long, Sonny Garrish (steel guitar); Rob Hajacos, Joe Spivey (fiddle); John Hobbs (piano, organ, keyboards); Phil Vassar (piano, background vocals); Bobby Ogdin (piano); Phil Naish, Randy McCormick, Barry Beckett (keyboards); Eddie Bayers, Chad Cromwell (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Curtis Young, Harry Stinson, Shannon Brown, Wes Hightower, Liana Manis (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Kevin Beamish. Recording information: Emerald Sound Studios, Nashville, TN; Soundstage Studios, Nashville, TN. Editor: Chris Rowe. 596522