Around the Bend (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin); Brent Mason (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar); Rob Ickes (dobro); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Larry Franklin, Paul Franklin (fiddle); Nashville String Machine (strings); Steve Nathan, Gordon Mote (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Paul Leim (drums); Casey Wood (cymbals, shaker, tambourine); Dan Seals, Sherilyn Huffman, Lisa Silver, Wes Hightower, Diane Vanette, Tania Hancheroff (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Kyle Lehning.

Recording information: Big Boy Studio, Franklin, TN; Blackbird Studio D, Nashville, TN; Rancho Digital, Santa Fe, NM; Sound Kitchen; Starstruck Studios; Stepbridge Studios; The Compound, Nashville, TN; The Insanery, Nashville, TN.

Author: Robert K. Oermann.

Photographer: Eric Swanson .

At a time when many of Randy Travis's contemporaries in the 1980s New Traditionalist country movement have either retired or moved to the lower profile of small independent labels, AROUND THE BEND reveals the North Carolina native still at the top of his powers. His 17th studio album in 22 years, AROUND THE BEND blends traditional country material such as the sweet first single "Faith In You," and the wry "Everything That I Own (Has Got A Dent)" with unexpected detours such as a faithful rendition of Bob Dylan's rueful folk-rock standard, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." AROUND THE BEND is also available in a deluxe edition with a bonus DVD including two acoustic TV performances. minimize