The Very Best of Tracy Lawrence

by Tracy Lawrence

Overview

History may indeed be kinder to Tracy Lawrence than anyone thought. Sure, there are the eight million albums, and seven number one singles in the country charts, but while Garth Brooks and Clint Black are considered legends, Lawrence would seem to be forgotten by all but the most faithful. Truth is, Lawrence is a better -- and purer -- country singer than both put together. It seems that no less than an authority than Rhino Records, the gold standard in reissues, sees that too. This massive 21-cut collection documents his biggest selling years at Atlantic beginning with 1991's Sticks and Stones, and continues through his 2003 DreamWorks release Strong. The singles are all here, but it goes deeper than that. There are four cuts each from Sticks and Stones, Alibis, I See It Now, and Time Marches On. From 1991-1993, Lawrence was always near the top of the charts either with singles or albums. That's an excellent run. That the industry in Nashville moved away from neo-traditionalism and toward pop and rock has no bearing on the quality of his work; indeed, 2007's For the Love, released on the tiny Rocky Comfort imprint, stands with his best material. The time is right for this kind of retrospective, where listeners can encounter a modern version of a real country singer. In addition to more than an hour's worth of great music, Melinda Newman's liner notes are exhaustive and engaging, adding to the true definitive nature of this collection. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2007
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0081227998165
Rank:	33172

Tracks

1. Sticks and Stones
2. Today's Lonely Fool
3. Runnin' Behind
4. Somebody Paints the Wall
5. Alibis
6. Can't Break It to My Heart
7. My Second Home
8. If the Good Die Young
9. Renegades, Rebels and Rogues
10. I See It Now
11. As Any Fool Can See
12. Texas Tornado
13. If the World Had a Front Porch
14. If You Loved Me
15. Time Marches On
16. Stars Over Texas
17. Is That a Tear
18. Better Man, Better Off
19. How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye
20. Lessons Learned
21. Paint Me a Birmingham

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tracy Lawrence   Primary Artist
Joe Spivey   Fiddle,Guitar
Shannon Forrest   Drums
Milton Sledge   Drums
Brent Mason   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Gut String Guitar
Brent Rowan   Soloist,Mandolin,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Glenn Worf   Bass
Dann Huff   Guitar (Electric)
Bruce Bouton   Pedal Steel,Guitar (Steel)
Dan Dugmore   Guitar (Steel)
Dave Pomeroy   Bass
Gary Lunn   Bass
Tony Harrell   Piano,Keyboards
Terry McMillan   Harmonica,Percussion
B. James Lowry   Guitar (Acoustic)
Larry Byrom   Guitar (Acoustic)
John Wesley Ryles   Vocals (Background)
Eddie Bayers   Drums,Percussion
Gary E. Smith   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Dennis Wilson Quintet   Vocals (Background)
James Stroud   Drums,Percussion
Mark Casstevens   Harmonica,Hi String Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Hank Singer   Fiddle
Dennis Burnside   Piano,Organ (Hammond)
Deryl Dodd   Vocals (Background)
Lonnie Wilson   Drums,Percussion
Rob Hajacos   Fiddle,Hoedown
Liana Manis   Vocals (Background)
Rick Huckaby   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Paul Franklin   Dobro,Guitar (Steel)
Aubrey Haynie   Fiddle,Mandolin
Biff Watson   Guitar (Acoustic)
Sonny Garrish   Dobro,Guitar (Steel)
Chris Leuzinger   Guitar (Electric)
Jack Gavin   Drums
Curtis Young   Vocals (Background)
Flip Anderson   Piano
Steve Nathan   Piano,Keyboards

Technical Credits

Flip Anderson   Audio Production,Producer
Tracy Lawrence   Audio Production,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
James Stroud   Audio Production,Producer
Don Cook   Audio Production,Producer
Butch Carr   Audio Production,Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Steve Woolard   Discographical Annotation
Lynn Peterzell   Mixing,Engineer
Randy Boudreaux   Composer
Nelson Larkin   Composer
Mike Bradley   Mixing,Engineer
Tom Shapiro   Composer
Tommy Smith   Composer,Composer
Brett Jones   Composer
Buck Moore   Composer
James Austin   Project Assistant
Daniel Hersch   Remastering
John Jarrad   Composer
Dorothy Stefanski   Editorial Supervision
Melinda Newman   Liner Notes
Becky Wagner   Marketing
Gary Duffy   Composer
Maria Villar   Design,Art Direction
Stan Paul Davis   Composer
John Jarrard   Composer
Julian King   Mixing,Engineer
Bobby Braddock   Composer
Pat McMacon   Mixing,Engineer
Alan Fletcher   Project Assistant
Roger Dillon   Composer
Kirk Roth   Composer
Matthew Barnes   Cover Photo,Photography
Steven P. Gorman   Photo Research
Mimi Miraflor   Project Assistant
Donna DeChristopher   Project Assistant
Elroy Kahanek   Composer
Mark D. Sanders   Composer
Woody Lee   Composer
Charles Browder   Composer
Paul Nelson   Composer,Lyricist
Paul Franklin   Pedalbro
Bill Inglot   Remastering
Kenny Beard   Composer
Larry Boone   Composer,Lyricist
Craig Wiseman   Composer
Earl Clark   Composer
Elbert West   Composer
Ed Hill   Composer