Keith Urban (CD - 1999)

Personnel: Keith Urban (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric sitar, ganjo); Steve Wariner (acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar, dobro); Paul Franklin, (steel guitar); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin); Steve Conn (accordion); Matt Rollings (piano, organ, synthesizer, background vocals); Glenn Worf (bass); Chris McHugh (drums, drum loops, percussion); Kim Keyes, Jerry Flowers, Tabitha Fair, Emily Robison, Martie Seidel, Curtis Young (background vocals); The Love Strings.

Principally recorded at Javelina Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

"Rollercoaster" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Personnel: Keith Urban (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, banjo, electric sitar, background vocals); Paul Franklin (guitar, steel guitar); Steve Wariner (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); David Davidson , David Angell (violin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Kristin Wilkinson (viola, programming); John Catchings (cello); Steve Conn (accordion); Matt Rollings (piano, organ, synthesizer, background vocals); Chris McHugh (drums, percussion); Eric Darken (percussion); Curtis Young, Emily Robison, Martie Seidel, Jerry Flowers, Tabitha Fair, Kim Keyes (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: John Guess; Justin Niebank; Patrick Murphy.

Recording information: Emerald Studio 6; Javelina Recording Studio, Nash; Sound Kitchen, Cool Springs, TN; The Work Station, Nashville, TN; Work Station, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Russ Harrington.

Keith Urban's solo American debut for Capitol (after leaving the Ranch) may seem a bit quaint now that he's a superstar who is as well known for his production skills and songwriting as he is for his guitar slinging. But back in 1997 when this album was released, Urban looked like a fresh-faced kid who was entering the U.S. market a virtual unknown. Truth is, he made his recording debut in his native Australia in 1991 and had been on the radar of the Nash Vegas A&R men for a long time. This album proves why. There are four Urban originals here that showcase his knack for writing in numerous styles that all fit the expanding country radio format. He could marry a rock tune or a pop ballad to a country melody, set it off with just the right amount of heartfelt emotion and masterful production touches, whether it be playing the banjo or adding strings to the mix. He and co-producer Matt Rollings also selected a mostly winning combination of tunes to fill the remainder of the disc including Monty Powell's fiddle drenched barnstormer "It's a Love Thing," Charlotte Caffey's mid-tempo ballad "But for the Grace of God," and "Rollercoaster," which marks Urban's first signal towards the contemporary country community that he wasn't just a pretty face who could sing. The track is a guitar scorcher from top to bottom with Urban playing guitar like he was Randy Scruggs' younger brother, flat picking his Stratocaster like it was another extremity he was born with. This and other such moments balance the slick and sometimes too-soft production on the record; as such, the album does mark the true root of his sound as a major artist wetting his feet. ~ Thom Jurek

Keith Urban is Australian, but listening to his debut self-titled solo CD, you'd swear he was raised somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. Just as the Beatles mimicked the American accents of their musical heroes, Urban, the former leader of the group the Ranch, adopts the twang of the country stars he heard growing up Down Under. Urban's brand of country includes soulful vocals; a nice mix of acoustic and steel guitars, banjo, fiddles, and mandolins; and some fine songwriting, from Urban, Steve Wariner, and even two former members of the Go-Gos's (!) The subject here, with few exceptions, is love in all its aspects, from the hooky opening cut, "It's a Love Thing," to the gorgeous ballad "Your Everything," to the Cajun stomp of "I Wanna Be Your Man (Forever)." Urban's excellent guitar playing throughout the CD is tasteful and understated, but adds immeasurably to the arrangements. When he really cuts loose, on the instrumental "Rollercoaster," you can hear why acts like the Dixie Chicks and Garth Brooks tapped him to play on their CDs. Overall, KEITH URBAN offers a taste of what this talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist might do in the future. minimize