Sevens (CD - 1997)

Personnel includes: Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood (vocals); Steve Wariner (vocals, acoustic guitar); Shawn Camp, Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Chris Leuzinger (nylon string & electric guitars); Mark Casstevens, Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Al Perkins (dobro); Rob Hajacos, Randy Howard (fiddle); Bobby Wood (piano, Wurlitzer piano, keyboards); Catherine Styron (piano); Mike Chapman, Kevin Grant (bass); Milton Sledge (drums, percussion); Randy Hardison (drums); Sam Bacco (congas, percussion); Susan Ashton, Kathy Chiavola, Vicki Hampton, Robert Bailey, Yvonne Hodges, Dorothy Robinson, Charles Green, Matt Lindsey, Sandy Mason, Big Al, Double "D", "Sam The Man" Duczer, Leona Heid (background vocals).

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

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

SEVENS was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Country Album.

Personnel: Garth Brooks (vocals); Shawn Camp, Carl Jackson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Sam Bush (vocals, mandolin); Sam "The Man" Duczer, Double D, Dorothy Robinson, Big Al, Lona Heid, Matt Lindsy, John Cowan, Sandy Mason, Susan Ashton, Charles Green (vocals); Mark Casstevens, Pat Flynn, Steve Wariner (acoustic guitar); Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar, nylon-string guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Al Perkins (dobro); Béla Fleck (banjo); Randy Howard, Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Bruce Christensen, Kathryn Plummer, Elizabeth Stewart, Connie Ellisor, Karen Winkelmann, Julia Tanner, Gerald Greer, Paul Tobias, Randall Olson, Bruce Sweetman, Kris Wilkinson String Section, Jocelyn Jones, Joann Cruthirds, Carolyn Demarzio, Richard Grosjean, John Catchings, Kristin Wilkinson, Nashville String Machine, Antoine Silverman, Anthony LaMarchina, Robert Mason , Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Craig Nelson , Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead, Monisa Angell, David Angell, Catherine Umstead, Cate Myer, Janet Askey, Gary VanOsdale (strings); Bobby Wood (piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards); Catherine Styron (piano); Milton Sledge (drums, percussion); Randy Hardison (drums); Sam Bacco (congas, percussion).

Audio Mixer: Mark Miller .

Recording information: Jack's Tracks Recording Studios, Nashville, TN; Javelina Studios, Nashville, TN.

Editor: Carlos Grier.

Photographers: Henry Diltz; Beverly Parker; Virginia Team; Jerry Joyner.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Robert Bailey, Jr. ; Kathy Chiavola; Trisha Yearwood; Vicki Hampton; Edgar Meyer; Yvonne Hodges.

Arranger: Jim Ed Norman.

Despite a massive publicity campaign, Fresh Horses failed to match the success of its predecessors, which meant that its successor, Sevens, had to return Garth Brooks to his superstar status in order to be considered a hit. Part of the problem with Fresh Horses is that it embraced arena rock instead of merely flirting with it; as a result, large portions of his audience refused to follow him. Sevens corrects that misstep by retreating to traditional country territory and establishing a new, folky country-pop direction. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

A quick glance at the songwriting credits on SEVENS might give you the idea that Brooks, the quintessential proletariat hero, the Springsteen of Nashville, has gone hip on his blue-collared, regular-Joe listeners. "You Move Me" was co-authored by thinking mans's singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis and "Bellau Wood" is a collaboration between Brooks and underground country-rock hero Joe Henry. Fear not, though, because while he's looking outside the usual circle of Nashville writers for material, SEVENS is classic Garth Brooks.

There are downtempo heart-breakers like "I Don't Have To Wonder" and boisterous sing-along numbers such as the Jimmy Buffett-esque "Two Pina Coladas." Garth ups the hormone quotient on the lusty "Take The Keys To My Heart" and adds a touch of bluegrass to "Do What You Gotta Do." A career like his is based on a lot more than good fortune, but SEVENS is sure to be a lucky number, both for Brooks and his legions of fans. minimize