A Tribute to Tradition

Amazon.com
The best tribute albums take well-known material and reinvent it as new--albeit with care and respect for the original intent. On that level, Tribute to Tradition doesn't work, but that's not to say it's a bad album. Rather, it's (for the most part) a safe collection of some great country songs, recorded by some of the most talented young stars in Nashville today. Individually, these songs stand strong as ever, and the performances do reflect an obvious reverence. Still, a few more chances could have been taken with arrangements or vocal pairings. That said, highlights include Randy Travis's "Mama Tried" and Alison Krauss's "The Three Bells." Two new tracks are also included, nominally "to show that traditional country music is still alive and well," but that seems more like a hedge. --Alexandra Russell

Tracks:

Stand By Your Man - Dixie Chicks
Mama Tried - Randy Travis
Wine, Women And Song - Patty Loveless
I Never Go Around Mirrors - Trace Adkins
Oh, Lonesome Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
Behind Closed Doors - Joe Diffie
She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) - Wade Hayes
'Til I Can Make It On My Own - Martina McBride
Cold Cold Heart - Collin Raye
The Three Bells - Alison Krauss
City Lights - Rick Trevino
Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me) - Collin Raye & Joe Diffie
Gone Out Of My Mind - Doug Stone
Same Old Train - Marty Stuart/Clint Black/Joe Diffie/Merle Haggard/Emmylou Harris/Alison Krauss...

Amazon.com

The best tribute albums take well-known material and reinvent it as new--albeit with care and respect for the original intent. On that level, Tribute to Tradition doesn't work, but that's not to say it's a bad album. Rather, it's (for the most part) a safe collection of some great country songs, recorded by some of the most talented young stars in Nashville today. Individually, these songs stand strong as ever, and the performances do reflect an obvious reverence. Still, a few more chances could have been taken with arrangements or vocal pairings. That said, highlights include Randy Travis's "Mama Tried" and Alison Krauss's "The Three Bells." Two new tracks are also included, nominally "to show that traditional country music is still alive and well," but that seems more like a hedge. --Alexandra Russell

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Tribute to Real Country.......2007-05-06

I heard "Gone Out Of My Mind" on the radio almost 10 years ago and never forgot it, and was never able to find out what album it was on until recently. My mom and I both loved the traditional sound and were looking forward to hearing it again on the radio. Alas, we only heard it the one time, and it has stuck with both of us all these years. That was 1998 and I finally found it! I have enjoyed this CD immensely and there are several tracks that are just spectacular.
Whatever happened to Doug Stone?

A well done tribute to real country music.......2004-01-12

This is a excellent cd . I can put it on and never have to skip one track . That's a rarity now days .

Standout songs include : 'Til I can make it on my own , Cold Cold Heart, Mama Tried , but the best song on here is The Three Bells . The bass on this song will pure shake the room .Allison Krauss may have even surpass the original by The Browns. Gone out of my mind sounds as if it were written when country was country not this pop country we have now.
I miss the traditional sound of country music . I have quiet a few traditional country music albums ,and the music represented here would fit right in .

Same old train closes this cd out in fine fashion .It has 13 diffrent singers and musicians including Emmylou Harris & Merle Haggerd himself . This CD was dedicated to the late Tammy Wynette and is a wonderful tribute to the music she did for so many years. I dissagree with the other reviewers who say this is a marketing scheme . It is far from it . It is a loving tribute to a long gone form of music that I sorely miss. If you are a lover of traditional music then please get this one .

A slightly woozy notion of "tradition" has some success.......1999-01-24

Twelve great artists of today! Twelve classic songs of yesterday! Putting aside the hint of self-congratulatory back-patting and slightly woozy notion of "tradition," a great singer plus a great song still equals a great spin, and this disc features several.

Alison Krauss' lush-yet-wafer-thin vocals are so perfectly matched to The Browns' "The Three Bells," that the original nearly disappears in her wake. Randy Travis' cover of Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" won't make you forget The Hag, but will remind you of the greatness of both singers and the song they share. On the picker's side, Chet Atkins, Vince Gill and Mark Knopfler embroider Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Oh, Lonesome Me," in a superb display of guitar playing.

Two new tracks, including an all-star jam penned by Marty Stuart, link the traditional form to the current milieu. Guests include Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Pam Tillis, Merle Haggard, Earl Scruggs and more. Overall, a nice tip of the cowboy hat.

There is no such thing as "too country"!.......1998-12-17

I am writing this review before I own this album--I heard it tonight for the first time, and the Doug Stone cut blew me away! Gone Out of My Mind brings to mind "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and a lot of other sad country songs I've heard over the years. Since I don't own the CD yet(I'm ordering it right now!!), I don't even know who wrote this song--but anybody that's ever cried over a good Merle or George song can appreciate the emotions behind the lyrics of this song. I also loved Trace Adkins' version of "I Never Go Around Mirrors". This album is not perfect, and it may have been conceived by a marketing major, but the thrust behind the music on this album is unchanged and unaltered from the days when "country" music was actually different from all the rest. As a lover of all music, especially a good sad song--I recommend this album as a primer for young fans of "new" country. They have already shown some taste, now we just have to urge them on in the right direction. Thanks for listening to me, and thanks in advance for listening to really great music.

Traditional songs done well by the artists of today........1998-10-29

Please bring back the traditional country sound. It is nice to hear the new artists sing the great songs of the past. No they will not replace the original artists, but this tribute alblum shows that some of the new artists understand were country music came from.

Average customer rating:

Tribute to Tradition - HDCD
Dixie Chicks , Randy Travis , Dwight Yoakam , Trace Adkins , Mary Chapin Carpenter , Joe Diffie , Wade Haye , Martina McBride , Collin Raye , and Alison Krauss
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CBYLUW

Product Description

Tribute to Tradition //HDCD - High Definition Sound/// 1. Stand By Your Man - Dixie Chicks 2. Mama Tried - Randy Travis 3. Wine, Women And Song - Dwight Yoakam 4. I Never Go Around Mirrors - Trace Adkins 5. Oh, Lonesome Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter 6. Behind Closed Doors - Joe Diffie 7. She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) - Wade Hayes 8. 'Til I Can Make It On My Own - Martina McBride 9. Cold Cold Heart - Collin Raye 10. The Three Bells - Alison Krauss 11. City Lights - Rick Trevino 12. Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me) - Collin Raye & Joe Diffie 13. Gone Out Of My Mind - Doug Stone 14. Same Old Train - Marty Stuart/Clint Black/Joe Diffie/Merle Haggard/Emmylou Harris/Alison Krauss/ Patty Loveless/Earl Scruggs/Ricky Skaggs/Pam Tillis/Randy Travis/Travis Tritt/Dwight Yoakam/