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From the Vault...
04/14/2019
#1668 |
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info
Alabama
"Dancin' On The Boulevard"
© Wounded Bird Records
Year of Release: 1997
Rating:
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track listing
Dancin' Shaggin'
On The Boulevard
Sad Lookin' Moon
Anytime (I'm Your Man)
She's Got That Look
In Her Eyes
My Girl
Of Course I'm Alright
I Couldn't Say No
Is The Magic Still There
Calling All Angels
Hey Baby
One More Time Around
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Alabama
"Dancin' On The Boulevard"
From our Goodwill Collection... The thrill I get, when I browse through the Goodwill stores in our area, are the used CDs. Most of them are by
bands and artists I have never heard of. (For the cost of $1.49 each, and half-off of your purchases every other Saturday, it's not a risk if any of
the not-so-well-known artist cds are actually BAD, or not -- Like this one, which was actually a GOOD album:
Institute--Distort Yourself.)
Another perk is having your smartphone, so you can look up these unknown bands, and see what kind of artist/band they are. Especially those, where
bandmembers were from other popular bands (like the Institute band review), and/or just reading what kind of music they recorded. Another genre I have
found alot of at Goodwill, is Classical cds, and there is quite an array of Christian music. And, if you're lucky, you get to see some well-known artists
with their lesser-known albums. This is the case of Alabama's 1997 release, Dancin' On The Boulevard. Alabama, of course, is one of Country's
greatest talent. In 1997, pretty much their heyday in popular Country songs were passed. Not to say, there were 4 hits from this release - "Sad
Lookin' Moon," "Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard," "Of Course I'm Alright" "She's Got That Look In Her Eyes." They were songs that most would not
remember them as compared to their 1980s well-known hits. But, they are Alabama, so this album can't be bad. And, actually, it's not bad at all; it's
quite good, as Alabama has always been productive, and has always recorded great Country songs.
The album begins with one of the four hits - "Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard." It's a little bit Country, a little bit Pop. More in the
Country direction of Brooks & Dunn, yet it's possible by the late 1990s, Country was turning towards a more Pop sound. It's a good song, regardless.
The rest of the album is definitely Country, only as Alabama can provide. "Sad Lookin' Moon" was another hit, as the distinctive voice of Randy
Owen makes it Country. "Anytime (I'm Your Man)" is a nice soft ballad, and it works very well; it sounds Country, and this song could have easily
been a hit.
Another good Alabama Country song is the next track, "She's Got That Look In Her Eyes" -- as the title simply defines a song in the Country
style, and it was another hit from this album. The Temptations' "My Girl" gets the remake treatment by Alabama, yet it's not The Temtpations, but
Alabama does a good job on this classic Motown hit. Another hit was "Of Course I'm Alright," another great Alabama Country ballad. "I Just
Couldn't Say No" is another good song, as it could have easily been recorded by Brooks & Dunn (who were popular during this time, in the late 1990s).fs
And just like any other Alabama song, "Is The Magic Still There" is good; it's Country, and yes, Alabama still has that magic.
"Calling All Angels" just maybe a little lesser than the other songs here, but it kicks in later in the song. It's good also, but maybe not
as those as the other songs on the album. Randy Owen's voice has a grit, he (and the band) are geting older, but that doesn't mean they don't have it -
they do, but there's always some songs that are better than others. Alabama puts their own touch on the Bruce Channel hit, "Hey! Baby." Giving it
their own makes it a good remake, as it's always a treat to hear bands that record popular older hits of a different genre. Rock and Roll vs. Country.
Ending the album is "One More Time Around," definitely one of those Country songs that could be used at line dances.
Alabama's later release of Dancin' On The Boulevard still has the Alabama magic. Not only that, they have recorded Christian/Gospel music.
Such as this one: Songs Of Inspiration II. Dancin' On The
Boulevard wasn't as popular as their 1980s albums, but they have always recorded good music throughout their entire career. As any Alabama album
(popular and later) can easily get the radio airplay. The songs on Dancin' never gets tiring. Alabama is a great band. They are Country, and they
still have the magic.
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Wounded Bird Records
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