SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 43:00 Min.
In early 1998, Monument Records released The Chicks’ (then Dixie Chicks) first album with new lead vocalist/guitarist Natalie Maines. Collaborating with Maines are sisters Martie Maguire (vocalist/fiddle/mandolin/guitar) and Emily Strayer (vocalist/guitar/banjo/Dobro).
This album subsequently achieved 1999 Grammys for Best Country Album and, for Track 4: “There’s Your Trouble,” the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal, among other accolades.
The twelve tracks are:
Running Time:
- “I Can Love You Better” 3:54
- “Wide Open Spaces” 3:43
- “Loving Arms” 3:37
- “There’s Your Trouble” 3:12
- “You Were Mine” 3:37
- “Never Say Die” 3:56
- “Tonight’s the Heartache on Me” 3:26
- “Let ‘Er Rip” 2:50
- “Once You’ve Loved Somebody” 3:28
- “I’ll Take Care of You” 3:40
- “Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)” 3:25
- “Give It Up or Let It Go” 4:56
Notes: Track 5 was written by The Chicks. Bonnie Raitt wrote Track 12.
REVIEW:
This album’s artistic pendulum favorably tilts towards being consistently entertaining vs. an abundance of genre versatility. Listeners, in that sense, receive several poignant tunes (i.e. Track 5) after starting with a few up-tempo tracks.
Enhanced by The Chicks’ first-class instrumentals, “Wide Open Spaces” ages remarkably well nearly a quarter-century later.
PACKAGING:
The packaging delivers all the credits and necessary technical info.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
