I Will Stand (CD - 1997)

Personnel: Kenny Chesney, George Jones, Tracy Lawrence (vocals); Biff Watson, Kenny Bell, Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason, Reggie Young, Steve Gibson (electric guitar); Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, dobro); Pete Wade (gut string guitar); Glen Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Randy Howard, Rob Hajacos, William "Ozzy" Osment (fiddle); Kirk "Jellyroll" Johnson (harmonica); Matt Rollings (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Rodger Morris (piano, synthesizer); Steve Nathan (synthesizer, vibraphones); Larry Paxton (bass); Roy Husky Jr. (upright bass); Eddie Bayers, Lonnie Wilson (drums); Farrell Morris, Norro Wilson (percussion); Shannon Brown (background vocals); Melonie Cannon, John Wesley Ryles, Cindy Walker, Dennis Wilson, Curtis Young (background vocals).

Recorded at Woodland Studios, Soundstage Studio, Music Mill, Nashville, Tennessee; New River Studios, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Personnel: Larry Byrom, Biff Watson, Kenny Bell (acoustic guitar); Reggie Young , Steve Gibson, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Pete Wade (gut-string guitar); Sonny Garrish (dobro); Glen Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); William Osment, Randy Howard, Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Kirk Johnson (harmonica); Rodger Morris (piano, synthesizer); Matt Rollings (piano); Steve Nathan (synthesizer, vibraphone); Roy M. "Junior" Husky (upright bass); Lonnie Wilson, Eddie Bayers (drums); Norro Wilson, Farrell Morris (percussion); Cindy Walker, Curtis Young, Dennis Wilson , John Wesley Ryles, Shannon Brown, Melonie Cannon (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Kevin Beamish; Billy Sherrill .

Liner Note Author: Kenny Chesney.

Recording information: Music Mill, Nashville, TN; New River Studios, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Soundstage Studios, Nashville, TN; Woodland Studios, Nashville, TN.

Editor: Grahame Smith.

Photographer: Peter Nash.

On this, his fourth release, contemporary country singer Kenny Chesney proves that he's got the kind of consistent musical vision and overall stick-to-itiveness that are necessary to make a permanent mark in Nashville. While Chesney surrounds himself with the same studio vets (Larry Byrom, Brent Mason, Matt Rollings, etc.) that accompany 90 percent of his contemporaries, I WILL STAND sets itself apart by virtue of its nod to tradition. While he's not exactly Robbie Fulks, Chesney is clearly influenced by greats like George Jones and Merle Haggard. Instead of going for the across-the-board appeal of big, soppy power ballads, Chesney favors more authentic-sounding country fare. Titles like "From Hillbilly Heaven to Honky Tonk Hell" give you an idea where Chesney's sensibilities lie. minimize