Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Trisha Yearwood (vocals, background vocals); Steven Sheehan (acoustic guitar, National guitar); Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Nathan Chapman, Curt Rile, Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar); Johnny Garcia, Kenny Greenberg, Troy Lancaster (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar, lap steel guitar); Paul Franklin, Scotty Sanders (steel guitar); Stuart Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Sam Bush (mandolin); Betty Small, Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, Alan Umstead, David Angell, Catherine Umstead, Cate Myer (violin); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Monisa Angell, Gary VanOsdale (viola); Anthony LaMarchina, Carole Rabinowitz-Neuen (cello); Jonathan Yudkin (strings); Jim Horn (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Steve Herman (trumpet); Chris Dunn (trombone); Reese Wynans, Steve Cox (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Steve Nathan (piano); Gary "Bud" Smith (Hammond b-3 organ); Eric Darken (vibraphone, percussion); Steve Bryant, Steve Mackey (bass guitar); Greg Morrow, Chad Cromwell (drums); Vicky Hampton, Garth Fundis, Jessi Alexander, Jim Lauderdale, Jon Randall, Karyn Rochelle, Sonya Isaacs, Wes Hightower, Robert Bailey (background vocals); David Campbell , Kristin Wilkinson.

Additional personnel: Keith Urban (background vocals).

On her first album for an independent label after leaving MCA Nashville in 2005, Trisha Yearwood in no way downsized her musical ambition. Instead, the grandiose HEAVEN, HEARTACHE AND THE POWER OF LOVE is perhaps Yearwood's finest album, and certainly her most self-assured work since her early neo-traditionalist country days. Indeed, this album harkens back to that era of Yearwood's career: it was produced by her original musical partner, Garth Fundis, whose live-sounding production recalls the more rustic sound of the new traditionalists--featuring live drums instead of machines, piano and organ instead of synths, and acoustic guitars instead of rock-oriented electrics. Ironically, it was Yearwood's husband, Garth Brooks, whose commercial ascent in the early 1990s ended the brief reign of the new traditionalists, but HEAVEN, HEARTACHE AND THE POWER OF LOVE recalls the glory days of John Anderson, early Randy Travis, Lyle Lovett, and, indeed, the young Trisha Yearwood. Highlights include the powerful, nakedly emotional ballad "This Is Me You're Talking To" and the country soul strut of the horn powered "Nothin' 'Bout Memphis." minimize