D'Lectrified (CD - 1999)

Personnel includes: Clint Black (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, bass harmonica); Steve Wariner (vocals, acoustic guitar); Bruce Hornsby (vocals, piano); Waylon Jennings, Eric Idle, Lisa Hartman Black, Kenny Loggins (vocals); Dean Parks (acoustic, slide, resonator & classical guitars); Marty Stuart (mandolin); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Kevin Nealon (5-string banjo); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Joel Peskin (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Edgar Winter (alto saxophone); Jerry Hey, Gary Grant (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Matt Rollings (piano); Abraham Laboriel (acoustic bass); John Robinson (drums); Lenny Castro (tambourine, washboard, percussion); Steve Real, Bobbi Page, Susan Stevens Logan, Joe Pizullo (background vocals).

Engineers: Julian King, Ricky Cobble, Jeff Basso.

"When I Said I Do" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals.

Personnel: Clint Black (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, recorder, background vocals); Steve Wariner (vocals, acoustic guitar); Bruce Hornsby (vocals, piano); Steve Real (vocals, background vocals); Kenny Loggins, Lisa Hartman-Black, Waylon Jennings, Eric Idle (vocals); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, classical guitar, resonator guitar); Skip Ewing (acoustic guitar); Hayden Nicholas (12-string guitar, 12-string bass); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Kevin Nealon (banjo); Ray Rogers (tenor banjo); Marty Stuart (mandolin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Julian King, Ricky Cobble, Simon Tassano (recorder); Joel Peskin (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Edgar Winter (alto saxophone); Dan Higgins, Lawrence L. Williams, Lawrence Williams (baritone saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Matt Rollings (piano, grand piano); Abraham Laboriel, Sr. (acoustic bass); John "J.R." Robinson (drums); Lenny Castro (washboard, tambourine, percussion); Bobbi Page (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Julian King.

Recording information: Black's Lab; Capitol Studios Room A; Capitol Studios, Room A; Nicklemore Studio; Record One.

Photographer: Tim White .

Clint Black also produced D'Lectrified -- his first time as producer -- and it's probably a good thing, because this is easily the most eccentric and personal recording project he has ever released. The album opens with a jazzy cover of Toy Caldwell's "Bob Away My Blues," complete with horns. The sound is very uptown and snazzy, and Black sings the hell out of the song. This track may not exactly set the mood of the album, but it sure states the mindset. Black pulls tunes from all over the ballpark: Eric Idle's "Galaxy Song," Leon Russell's "Dixie Lullaby," and a slightly revised cover of Waylon Jennings' "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" (titled "Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way"). Black also wrote/co-wrote several songs, including "Hand in the Fire" and "Been There." His wife, Lisa Hartman-Black, sings with him on "When I Said I Do," and she's believable. He also includes rearranged versions of his hit singles "Burn One Down" and "No Time to Kill." Guest players include Jennings, Bruce Hornsby, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Steve Wariner. Amid the welter of ideas, players, and influences at work here, Black's singing shines through. When it's all said and done, D'lectrified is a pretty wonderful album, easily the most musical record Black has ever done. ~ Philip Van Vleck

D'LECTRIFIED, which was recorded entirely with acoustic instruments, is a brilliant exploration of Clint Black's musical roots, as well as a showcase for his superb songwriting and vocals. D'LECTRIFIED includes covers of classic tracks, new original songs, and reworkings of Black's previous hits. The cover versions, which include songs by Leon Russell ("Dixie Lullabye"), the Marshall Tucker Band ("Bob Away My Blues"), and even Monty Python's Eric Idle ("The Galaxy Song"), are enhanced by guest appearances from the likes of Bruce Hornsby, Edgar Winter, Waylon Jennings, and even Idle himself.

The new songs are the sort of melodic, well-written tracks you'd expect from Black, and these are also enhanced by collaborations. Black's duet with Steve Wariner on the groovin' "Been There" is one of the album's highlights, while the beautiful "When I Said I Do" features vocals from Black's wife, actress/singer Lisa Hartman. But the real revelation just might be the old songs. Black has completely reinvented his hits "Burn One Down" and "No Time to Kill" with cool, funky arrangements that incorporate horns and Hornsby's piano. Black's talents as a country hitmaker are well-documented, but D'LECTRIFIED proves him to be a true musical visionary. minimize