Love a Little Stronger (CD - 1994)

Recorded at Midtown Tone and Volume, Nashville, Tennessee.

"Love A Little Stronger" was nominated for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, and "Appalachian Dream" was nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.

In one of their strongest efforts yet, Diamond Rio has recorded an album that effectively showcases all their strengths. There's Marty Roe's spirited vocals, and the band's tight harmonies and immaculate musicianship, all up-front and tautly precise.

The title cut, is a mid-tempo winner with elegant guitar and mandolin picking, graceful tinkling of the ivories, and perfectly blended harmony vocals. The sentiment of "love a little stronger, dig a little deeper...anything to please you..." is bound to melt many a heart.

All but three of the selections are love songs, the realm of the heart being Diamond Rio's domain. They plumb emotional depths, and as they sing in the title cut, they "dig a little deeper."

"Appalachian Dream" is a clean classical/bluegrass instrumental written by bandmember Jimmy Olander. "Bubba Hyde" is a humorous narrative about a Jekyll-and-Hyde character who lives a meek daytime existence, but turns to a wild man at night.

From whispery ballads ("Finish What We Started") to twangy up-tempo rockers ("You Ain't In It"), their fusion of mainstream country, rock, honky tonk and bluegrass offers an integrated group sound, showing off the members' individual strengths. There are six facets to Diamond Rio, all shining as one glittering gem. One of the best vocal groups in country music, Diamond Rio offers a bulls-eye of an album, tastefully produced and perfectly executed.

Audio Mixer: Mike Clute.

Recording information: Midtown Tone & Volume, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Senor McGuire.

Spurred by the relatively lackluster performance of Close to the Edge (it barely went gold compared to the debut's platinum), Diamond Rio explored the musical possibilities of its talents rather than digging for easy commercial success. The instrumentalists, particularly Jimmy Olander and mandolinist Gene Johnson, assume larger roles on songs like "Love a Little Stronger" and the instrumental "Appalachian Dream," but they rarely show off. The band members even tap into an acoustic jazz-rock mode for "Kentucky Mine," one of the best songs they've ever recorded. ~ Brian Mansfield minimize