High Mileage (CD - 1998)

Personnel includes: Alan Jackson (vocals); Steve Dorff (conductor); Tom Rutledge (acoustic guitar, mandolin, dobro); Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar); J.T. Corenflos, Danny Groah, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Robbie Flint (guitar, steel guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Stuart Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Bruce Dukov, Jenny Bellusci, Berj Garabedian (violin); Larry Franklin, Mark "Hoghead" McClurg (fiddle); Brian Dembow, Bob Becker, Keith Greene, Janet Lakatos (viola); Dennis Karmazyn, Bob Adcock, Vage Ayrikyan, Jodi Burnett (cello); Monty Parkey, Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano, keyboards); Roger Wills, Glenn Worf, John Kelton (bass); Bruce Rutherford (drums, congas); Eddie Bayers (drums); John Wesley Ryles (background vocals).

Principally recorded at The Castle Recording Studios, Franklin, Tennessee; Ocean Way, Nashville, Tennessee; Compass Point Studio, Nassau, Bahamas.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Personnel: Tom Rutledge (acoustic guitar, dobro, mandolin); Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar); Danny Groah, J.T. Corenflos, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Robbie Flint, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Stuart Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Gil Romero, Katia Popov, Alan Grunfeld, Pat Johnson , Rachel Purkin, Roman Volodarsky, Daniel Shindaryov, Bruce Dukov, Sheldon Sanov, Berj Garabedian (violin); Larry Franklin (fiddle); John Scanlon, Brian Dembow, Keith Greene, Janet Lakatos, Bob Becker , Harry Shirinian (viola); Paula Hochhalter, Dennis Karmazyn, Jodi Burnett, Bob Adcock, Vage Ayrikyan, Larry Corbett (cello); Monty Parkey (piano, keyboards); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (keyboards); Bruce Rutherford, Eddie Bayers (drums); John Wesley Ryles (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: John Kelton.

Recording information: Castle Recording Studios, Franklin, TN; Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN; Sound Stag.

Photographer: Pamela Springsteen.

Alan Jackson delivers what his fans expect here--well-written songs and outstanding vocals--plus a bit more. The main topic is love, but Jackson's treatment of the theme is far ranging. In the jaunty album opener, "She's Right On the Money," a smitten man has nothing but the highest praise for his girl: "She's a three point jump shot that's nothin' but net." "Gone Crazy," one of five Jackson-penned songs on the CD, paints a picture of a man losing his mind after a breakup.

The lovely "What A Day Yesterday Was" celebrates a longtime relationship, while "Dancin' All Around It" captures the nervous excitement of a new romance. The most startling track, though, is "I'll Go On Loving You," which resurrects that old country tradition: the recitation. Love or hate it, it'll make you sit up and take notice. For comic relief there's "Another Good Reason," the tale of a boozer terrified he's going to "end up like old Hank." "Little Man" is a true standout--another Jackson composition about the fate of the small businessman in today's America. It's a neat piece of social commentary, proving that when it comes to song ideas, Jackson still hasn't run out of gas. minimize