I'm Alright

by Jo Dee Messina

Overview

On the follow-up to her self-titled breakout debut, Jo Dee Messina and her production team of Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore don't mess with what's not broke. Messina took two years to get I'm Alright to the fans, quite frankly because she was so busy touring in support of her hit record. Certainly a fencepost in the foundation blueprint for contemporary country records in the 21st century, I'm Alright contains ten cuts that either walk the line between country and straight-up radio-friendly pop or fall just to the country side of that fence. Messina has an enormous voice. While she doesn't have to stretch her contralto range much, her sense of dynamics is a near trademark, learned from the very best in the business. For proof, all one needs to do is go to the ballads, such as the Kostas and John Sherrill-penned "Because You Love Me," with its sense of restraint until the key moment in the refrain when caution is tossed to the wind and the singer delivers the proof in her conviction. The other tune Sherrill contributed to the set is the poignant "Even God Must Get the Blues," co-authored with Dene Anton. Messina's real musical companion in the tune is a lost and lonely Hammond B-3 organ -- which seems to have become a standard in contemporary country just as the upright piano was to the countrypolitan sound of the '60s -- and she walks with it, strolls with it, and dances with it through this socially conscious heartbreaker. But Messina can deliver party tunes, love songs, and break-up songs as well as anyone, as evidenced by the title cut that opens the disc. Driven by banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, and acoustic guitars, this one rolls with a backwoods back-porch vibe, and all is well with the world. Certainly the record is clean, perhaps a bit too clean, but the song selection is close to impeccable. Gallimore and McGraw were still finding their way with Messina here, and they hit pay dirt with her next record, 2000's Burn, where they found the perfect balance between country, pop, and '70s soft rock to dress Messina's voice in. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	03/17/1998
Label:	Curb
UPC:	0715187790421

Tracks

1. I'm Alright
2. Stand Beside Me
3. Even God Must Get the Blues
4. No Time for Tears
5. Lesson in Leavin'
6. Bye Bye
7. Silver Thunderbird
8. I Know a Heartache When I See One
9. Because You Love Me
10. Cover Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jo Dee Messina   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Glen Duncan   Guest Artist,Fiddle,Mandolin
Terry McMillan   Guest Artist,Percussion
Brent Mason   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Dann Huff   Guitar (Electric)
Byron Gallimore   Guitar (Electric)
Pat Buchanan   Guitar (Electric)
Jeff King   Guitar (Electric)
Steve Nathan   Piano
Deborah Allen   Vocals (Background)
Ralph Friedrichsen   Vocals (Background)
Larry Byrum   Guitar (Acoustic)
Robin Lee Bruce   Vocals (Background)
Camille Harrison   Vocals (Background)
Paul Franklin   Pedal Steel,Guitar (Steel)
Sonny Garrish   Pedal Steel,Guitar (Steel)
Kim Parent   Vocals (Background)
Chris Rodriguez   Vocals (Background)
Curtis Young   Vocals (Background)
Lonnie Wilson   Drums
Michael Landau   Guitar (Electric)
Mike Brignardello   Bass

Technical Credits

Chris Lord-Alge   Engineer,Mixing,Assistant Engineer
Brent Mason   Musician
Glen Duncan   Musician
Dann Huff   Musician
Tim McGraw   Producer
Brent Maher   Composer
Erik Lutkins   Engineer
Marc Cohn   Composer
Terry McMillan   Musician
Randy Goodrum   Composer
Richard Hanson   Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Byron Gallimore   Musician,Producer
Dene Anton   Composer
Gregg Jampol   Engineer
Eric Gallimore   Production Assistant
Missi Callis   Song Assistants,Production Assistant
Ann Callis   Production Assistant
Glenn Sweitzer   Design,Art Direction
Stuart H. Dill   Management
Tamara Reynolds   Photography
Michelle Metzger   Song Assistants
Chris Rowe   Assistant Engineer
Sandi Spika   Make-Up,Stylist,Hair Stylist
Larry Byrum   Musician
Robin Lee Bruce   Composer
Judy Seale   Management
Peter Nash   Cover Photo,Photography
Mary Beth Felts   Make-Up,Hair Stylist
Patrick Murphy   Assistant Engineer
Trey Bruce   Composer
Stephen Allen Davis   Composer
Paul Franklin   Musician
Steven Dale Jones   Composer
Kerry Chater   Composer
Sonny Garrish   Musician
Kostas   Composer
Jo Dee Messina   Composer
Pat Buchanan   Musician
Doug Sax   Mastering
Charlie Black   Composer
John Scott Sherrill   Composer
Dennis Davis   Engineer
Ricky Cobble   Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Julian King   Engineer
Rory Michael Bourke   Composer
Phil Vassar   Composer
Marty Williams   Engineer
Michael Landau   Musician
Mike Brignardello   Musician