A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) (CD - 1992)

Personnel: Alan Jackson (vocals); Brent Mason, Bruce Watkins, Keith Stegall, Robbie Flint (guitar); Weldon Myrick, Paul Franklin (steel guitars); Stuart Duncan, Hank Singer, Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Roy Huskey, Jr., Glenn Worf (bass); Eddie Bayers (drums); Bruce Rutherford (background vocals).

Recorded at Castle Recording Studio, Cayman Moon Recorders, Sound Emporium and Recording Arts, Nashville, Tennessee.

Three years after his first number one single, Alan Jackson took his brand of new honky tonk country and pushed it all the way into the mainstream, making it possible for another batch of acts to follow him. Sticking with producer Keith Stegall, Jackson wrote over half the tracks on the set, including a pair of singles, "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)" and "Tonight I Climbed the Wall," as well as "Chattahoochee." The uptempo numbers with the jukebox kick are what works best with Jackson's restless country-soul voice -- check "I Don't Need the Booze (To Get a Buzz On)." The smoking Western swing of "Up to My Ears in Tears" walks a line between Bob Wills and Buck Owens, and could have been covered by Dwight Yoakam. But the set's winner is its closer, the Geddins/Douglas classic "Mercury Blues." Taking the tune back to its country roots and claiming it for the Fender Telecaster's particular brand of pinch and tang, Jackson sings the hell out of it. At this point in his career, Jackson established himself as one of the most consistent talents country had to offer. ~ Thom Jurek

What is Alan Jackson's formula for sucess? Try tall, lanky good looks, a sly crook of the hat, long blonde hair and a mustache. Add a low-slung guitar that wails blistering licks. Include a large dose of traditional instrumentation, first-rate players, and an aversion towards turning country pop.

Being an accomplished writer helps, adding well-crafted, honky tonk classics to the lexicon of country music. A slight Georgia drawl, a shy smile, and an elastic baritone. That's about what it takes to sell millions of albums.

As it turns out with most of Jackson's albums, A LOT ABOUT LIVIN' is becoming a sort of greatest hits compilation. Everything he releases hits the top of the charts and deservedly so. His songwriting and instrumentation is impeccable.

Highlights include the award-winning, foot-stomping summer smash "Chattahoochee"; "Tonight I Climbed The Wall" with its timeless sound, transcendent vocal, and pining instrumentation; "I Don't Need The Booze (To Get A Buzz On)," a yodeling honky tonk reading of alcoholic delights; "Mercury Blues," a rollicking, hard-driving love song to his car; the blues-shuffling "She's Got The Rhythm"; and the yearning "Who Says You Can't Have It All," where Jackson shares effective duet duties with a moody fiddle and sobbing steel guitar.

Jackson sings a lot about livin', a little 'bout love, and no one in contemporary country music is doing it better than he does. minimize