I'm from the Country (CD - 1998)

Personnel: Tracy Byrd (vocals); Larry Byrom (acoustic & electric guitars, electric tic tac); Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason, Randy Scruggs, Steve Gibson (electric guitar); Scott Sanders, Paul Franklin, Robby Turner (steel guitar); Stuart Duncan, Johnny Carpenter, Glenn Duncan (fiddle); Steve Nathan (piano, keyboards); Glenn Worf, Mike Brignardello (bass); Lonnie Wilson, Owen Hale (drums); Harry Stinson (tamborine, background vocals); Tom Roady (percussion); Liana Manis, John Wesley Ryles, Larry Marrs, The MCA/Decca Nashville Staff (background vocals).

Engineers: Steve Marcantonio, Steve Tillisch.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Personnel: Larry Byrom, Randy Scruggs (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar); Steve Gibson, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, fiddle); Robby Turner, Scott Sanders (steel guitar); Glen Duncan, Johnny Carpenter, Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Steve Nathan (piano, keyboards); Lonnie Wilson (keyboards, drums); Owen Hale (drums); Harry Stinson (tambourine, background vocals); Tom Roady (percussion); Larry Marrs, John Wesley Ryles, Billy Thomas, Liana Manis (background vocals).

Recording information: East Iris; Starstruck.

Photographer: Matthew Barnes.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Paul Franklin; Robby Turner; Scott Sanders.

Listening to I'M FROM THE COUNTRY is like spending the night in a Texas honky-tonk--it's a mix of uptempo, boot-scootin' tracks and slow dance numbers, all highlighting Byrd's warm, resonant voice. He switches easily from pleading ballads like "I Want to Feel That Way Again" to playful tracks like "Walkin' The Line," in which a misbehaving man swears that all he needs to make him shape up is a good woman's love. Highlights include "I Still Love the Nightlife," about a man who enjoys a different kind of nighttime activity now that he's settled down, and "On Again, Off Again," a character study of a man who refuses to commit.

The standout is "Back to Texas," in which the Texan narrator chases his girl to Oklahoma and declares he won't return without her. It's got a killer chorus, and Byrd gives a swooningly romantic performance. While Byrd's overall choice of material shows a new maturity, he does include one flat-out ditty: "I'm From the Country," a "we're proud to be hillbillies" anthem complete with goofy backup chorus. But when Byrd starts extolling the virtues of sawed-off shotguns, coonskin caps and sleeping in the hay, you can't help but sing along. minimize