Play

Performer: Brad Paisley
Artist: Keith Urban; Buck Owens; Steve Wariner; James Burton; John Jorgenson; Redd Volkaert; Vince Gill; Albert Lee; Brent Mason; B.B. King; Andy Griffith
Engineer: Chris O'Donnell; Nick Michaud; Drew Bollmann; John Harvey; Justin Niebank; Richard Barrow; Steve Short; Greg Lawrence; Brian David Willis
Producer: Frank Rogers; Brian David Willis
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Brad Paisley (electric guitar, baritone guitar, mandolin, bass guitar); Manny Rogers, Snoop Dogg (vocals); Robert Arthur (acoustic guitar); Gary Hooker (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar); James Burton, John Jorgensen, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner, Vince Gill, Albert Lee (electric guitar); Randel Currie (steel guitar); Kendal Marcy (banjo, keyboard); Aubrey Haynie, Justin Williamson (fiddle); Frank Rogers, Bernie Herms, Gordon Mote (piano); Jim "Moose" Brown (Farfisa, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ); Kevin "Swine" Grantt (upright bass, bass guitar); Ben Sesar, Brian David Willis (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Wes Hightower, Kenny Lewis (background vocals); Chris O'Donnell, Nick Michaud, Drew Bollmann, John Harvey, Justin Niebank, Steve Short, Greg Lawrence. Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN. In an unusual move for an established country singer, Brad Paisley's PLAY is a primarily instrumental album that puts its focus entirely on Paisley's underrated guitar work. Far from being a traditional country album, or even a contemporary country-pop album, PLAY works in a wide variety of genres, including Les Paul-style jazz, ripping surf rock, old-fashioned electric Chicago blues, and metal-tinged rock & roll. Paisley also assembles quite a list of guest stars: a re-recording of an early hit features a guest appearance by the actor Andy Griffith, while the Bakersfield country rocker "Come On In" features the late Buck Owens and a bluesy take on "Let the Good Times Roll" welcomes B.B. King. Two vocal tracks, "Start A Band" and "More Than Just This Song," feature Keith Urban and Steve Warriner, respectively, while the epic "Cluster Pluck" is a tongue-in-cheek high-speed dash through the history of country guitar showcasing James Burton, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, and four other guitarists besides. PLAY is a detour, but a worthwhile one.

Billboard (p.29) - "'Turf's Up' is an impressive tribute to the surf instrumentals of early rock'n'roll. 'Come On In,' a duet with Owens, is a pleasant find and fitting tribute." Mojo (Publisher) (p.111) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "PLAY sees Nashville superstar Paisley jam with an array of equally adroit pickers..." Blender (Magazine) (p.80) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[Paisley is a] hell of a guitar player, a talent emphasized on his sixth album -- mostly instrumental set of surf jams, countrified picking, jazzy filigrees and all-out riffage..." Paste (magazine) (p.59) - "Paisley's guitar rolls and tumbles like an Olympic gymnast, trading licks with the pedal steel and banjo."

West Virginia country singer/songwriter Brad Paisley gained renown almost immediately with his 1999 debut album, WHO NEEDS PICTURES. He was distinguished from many of his peers by his expert guitar technique (his second and third albums included Western swing-influenced instrumentals that earned him Grammy nominations) and a sly sense of humor deeply embedded in his songwriting. Paisley's profile was raised even higher when he wed actress Kimberly Williams, but his was already a career that required little boosting.

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