Extremes (CD - 1994)

Personnel: Collin Raye (vocals); Biff Watson, Paul Worley (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore, Larry Byrom (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Carl Gorodetzky and the Nashville String Machine (strings); John Hobbs (piano, synthesizer, background vocals); Joe Chermay (bass, background vocals); Eddie Bayers, Lonnie Wilson, Paul Leim (drums), Gene Le Sage, Scotty Wray, Sammy Wray, John Wesley Ryles, Curtis Young, Anthony Martin, Dennis Wilson (background vocals).

Producers: Ed Seay, Paul Worley, John Hobbs.

Recorded at the Money Pit and Javelina Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: Collin Raye (vocals, background vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Larry Byrom, Paul Worley, Billy Joe Walker (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar, lap steel guitar, fiddle); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Robert Charles, Nashville String Machine, Carl Gorodetzky (strings); John Hobbs (piano, synthesizer, background vocals); Lonnie Wilson, Eddie Bayers, Paul Leim (drums); Curtis Young, Dennis Wilson , Sammy Wray, Joe Chernay, Scotty Wray, John Wesley Ryles, Anthony Martin (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Ed Seay.

Recording information: Javelina Recording Studios, Nashville, TN; Money Pit, Nashville, TN.

Editors: Carlos Grier; Don Cobb; Keith Odle.

Photographer: Bret Lopez.

Tired of the balladeer image "Love, Me" and "In This Life" had tagged him with, Raye set out to show that he was made of stronger material. The first single, the rollicking "That's My Story," was a Lee Roy Parnell tune that Raye roared through. Extremes, as its title suggested, caromed recklessly from that type of song to, of course, ballads -- but "Little Rock," about a recovering alcoholic, and "Dreaming My Dreams with You," earlier cut by Waylon Jennings, were two of the most powerful recordings of Raye's career. ~ Brian Mansfield

Collin Raye is considered one of Nashville's top balladeers, so its a sure sign when listening to the rousing Lee Roy Parnell-penned opening track--the faux-repenting "That's My Story"--that this album will be true to its title. Covering the EXTREMES of country music, from traditional heart-melting ballads ("I'll always love you, I'm a man of my word...") to greasy R&B-tinged country rockers ("I said `how 'bout some music,' you said 'you got any Merle?'/That's when I knew you were my kind of girl"), this album has much to offer.

EXTREMES employs R&B choruses, swaggering horn lines, fiddle, and steel guitar--that's quite a collection. The themes cover the range of everyday experience. Collin stretches as a vocalist, offering some of the best singing of his career. "If I Were You" sounds like it was culled from a Vince Gill album. And in a field where most artists hope for one signature song, Raye adds another to his already-brimming treasure chest: The powerful, poetic ballad "Little Rock," which deals with alcoholism and attempts at sobriety, can now be added to the list of Collin classics like "Love, Me" and "That Was A River." minimize