Strong Enough

by Travis Tritt

Overview

After the disappointing performance of 1998's No More Looking Over My Shoulder and his departure from Warner Bros. Records, Travis Tritt mounted a surprising comeback with his Columbia Records debut, 2000's Down the Road I Go. Strong Enough, that album's follow-up, similarly tones down the Southern rock aspect of Tritt's musical palette in favor of a more straight-ahead country sound more acceptable to country radio programmers. In the opening track, the self-written "You Can't Count Me out Yet," Tritt addresses the premature rumors of his commercial demise as well as his return to form. "Some thought I was finally gone for good," he sings, "but those doubters just got rattled/'Cause I'm back in the saddle/Doing better than a body should." If so, it's because he has gotten better at playing the Nashville game, and while the album is not devoid of up-tempo honky tonk material, notably "If You're Gonna Straighten up (Brother Now's the Time)," "Time to Get Crazy," and "I Can't Seem to Get Over You" (each of which Tritt co-wrote), there are many sentimental ballads that look back regretfully on changing times, particularly "County Ain't Country," or treat romantic subjects. Tritt's composition "Strong Enough to Be Your Man," the album's advance single, is an affirmative answer record to Sheryl Crow's 1993 song "Strong Enough," which asked, "Are you strong enough to be my man?" Another good singles choice would be "Can't Tell Me Nothin'," and "You Really Wouldn't Want Me That Way," which also touts the singer's independence, could find a home on radio, too. The irony is that in such songs, Tritt is actually conforming to Nashville's dictates: using standard formulas or co-writing with music row pros, recording with the usual sessionmen. So far, it appears he can have it both ways. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	09/24/2002
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0696998666023

Tracks

1. You Can't Count Me out Yet
2. Can't Tell Me Nothin'
3. Strong Enough to Be Your Man
4. Country Ain't Country
5. If You're Gonna Straighten Up (Brother Now's the Time)
6. Doesn't Anyone Hurt Anymore
7. You Really Wouldn't Want Me That Way
8. I Don't Ever Want Her to Feel That Way Again
9. Time to Get Crazy
10. Now I've Seen It All
11. God Must Be a Woman
12. I Can't Seem to Get Over You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Travis Tritt   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Brent Mason   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Aubrey Haynie   Guest Artist,Fiddle
Wanda Vick   Guest Artist
John Jarvis   Guest Artist,Piano,Keyboards
Billy Joe Walker, Jr.   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Andrea Zonn   Vocals (Background)
Curtis Young   Vocals (Background)
John Cowan   Vocals (Background)
Greg Morrow   Drums
Mac McAnally   Guitar (Acoustic)
Wes Hightower   Vocals (Background)
Lisa Cochran   Vocals (Background)
Neil Thrasher   Vocals (Background)
Marty Stuart   Guitar (Electric)
Melodie Crittenden   Vocals (Background)
Mike Brignardello   Bass
Glenn Worf   Bass
Dan Dugmore   Guitar (Steel)
Eric Darken   Percussion
Reggie Young   Guitar (Electric)
Eddie Bayers   Percussion

Technical Credits

Steve Tillisch   Engineer
Steve Bogard   Composer
Bergen White   String Arrangements
Robert Hannon   Assistant
Chuck Ainlay   Mixing,Mastering
Gary Nicholson   Composer
Vernon Rust   Composer
Ken Fredette   Reissue Design
Ginny Johnson Walker   Production Coordination
Jesse Benfield   Assistant
Sean Neff   Assistant
Kay Smith   A&R
Casey Beathard   Composer
Carson Chamberlain   Composer
Dean Dillon   Composer
Walt Aldridge   Composer
Rick Giles   Composer
Marty Stuart   Composer
Billy Joe Walker, Jr.   Producer
Bob DiPiero   Composer
James LeBlanc   Composer
Ed Seay   Mixing
Dennis Robbins   Composer
Jason Lefan   Assistant
Victoria Russell   Creative Producer
Deb Haus   Creative Director
Travis Tritt   Composer,Producer
Troy Seals   Composer