The Very Best Of Randy Travis

Randy helped to revolutionize country music in the mid-'80s by bringing it back to its roots. From there he charted16 #1 hits in country and Christian music. These 20 songs represent his verybest all on one CD. Personnel: Randy Travis (vocals); Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar); Steve Gibson (electric guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Mark O'Connor (fiddle); Bobby Wood (keyboards); Michael Rhodes (bassinstrument); Larry Londin (drums). Recording information: 1985 - 2002. Randy Travis emerged in the 1980s at the forefront of country's New Traditionalist movement, with a sound that recalled classic country balladeers George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Lefty Frizzell. His pure, honest approach to heart-wrenching saloon songs resonated with country audiences in a major way, making him a star. This 20-song collection is a single-disc distillation of Travis's long, fruitful career, and is the perfect place to start exploring his work. While there aresome up-tempo honky-tonk numbers here, it's the slow-burn ballad that is Travis's stock in trade, and there's no shortage of those. From the tormented would-be philanderer of "On the Other Hand" (his first big hit) to the jilted lover of the heartbroken lament "It's Just a Matterof Time, " Travis inhabits every song completely, with a voice deeper than anything this side of Tennessee Ernie Ford andfull of unadorned emotion. The fact thatTravis's career weathered the changes inthe country scene long enough to merit an anthology such as this is a mark of both his enduring appeal and his substantive, unpretentious artistry.

Track Listing

• 1 diggin' up bones
• 2 on the other hand
• 3 forever and ever, amen
• 4 too gone too long
• 5 i told you so [single remix]
• 6 i won't need you anymore (always and for
• 7 honky tonk moon
• 8 deeper than the holler
• 9 is it still over?
• 10 it's just a matter of time [country sing
• 11 hard rock bottom of your heart [single r
• 12 he walked on water
• 13 heroes and friends [long single edit]
• 14 forever together
• 15 better class of losers
• 16 i'm gonna have a little talk
• 17 if i didn't have you
• 18 look heart, no hands
• 19 whisper my name
• 20 three wooden crosses