Past the Point of Rescue (CD - 1991)

Personnel: Hal Ketchum (vocals, acoustic guitar); Kathy Mattea (vocals); Chris Leuzinger (acoustic & electric guitars); Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Will Smith (autoharp); Pete Wasner (keyboards); Bob Wray (bass); Milton Sledge (drums); Dave Francis, Allen Reynolds, Gary Burr (background vocals).

Recorded at Jack's Tracks Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: Hal Ketchum (guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Chris Leuzinger (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Richard Bennett (guitar, acoustic guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Bill Smith (autoharp); Pete Wasner (keyboards); Milton Sledge (drums).

Recording information: Jack's Tracks Recording Studio, Nashville, TN.

Hal Ketchum writes simple, sometimes moving songs about relationships and/or life's dilemmas, and communicates them in an attractive, unadorned vocal package. But although many of these numbers espouse country themes, Ketchum's delivery, as well as the arrangements and sensibility, lean toward easy-listening pop and light folk. Certainly every country artist isn't a honky-tonking, tough-talking, drinker whining about lost love, but Ketchum comes perilously close on "Past The Point Of Rescue" or his cover of The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World" to the super-smooth "Nashville Sound" of days past. ~ Ron Wynn minimize