Full Circle

Performer: Randy Travis
Artist: Billy Joe Walker, Jr.; Curtis Wright
Engineer: Eric Prestidge; Joseph Bogan; Bill Schnee
Producer: Kyle Lehning
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Randy Travis (vocals); Larry Byrom, Brent Mason, Billy Joe Walker, Jr. (acoustic & electric guitars); Mark Casstevens, Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore (electric & steel guitars); Steve Gibson, Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); Jay Dee Maness (steel guitar); Hank Singer (fiddle); Pig Robbins, Matt Rollins, Robbie Buchanan (piano); Steve Nathan, Dennis Burnside (keyboards); Roy Huskey, Jr., Dave Carpenter (acoustic bass); David Hungate, Mike Brignardello (bass); Paul Leim, Milton Sledge, Mike Shapiro (drums); Curtis Young, John Wesley Ryles, Dennis Wilson, Curtis Wright, The Cherry Sisters (background vocals). Personnel: Randy Travis (vocals, guitar); Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Larry Byrom, Brent Mason (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Dean Parks, Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore (electric guitar, steel guitar); Chris Leuzinger, Steve Gibson (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); JayDee Mannes (steel guitar); Hank Singer (fiddle); Matt Rollings, Robbie Buchanan, Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Dennis Burnside, Steve Nathan (keyboards); Dave Carpenter, Roy M. "Junior" Husky (acoustic bass); Mike Shapiro, Paul Leim, Milton Sledge (drums); Diane Tidwell, Curtis Wright, Curtis Young, Dennis Wilson , Gene Miller, Sherilyn Huffman, Cherry Sisters, John Wesley Ryles, Lisa Silver, Mervyn Warren, Alvin Chea (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Kyle Lehning. Recording information: Bill Schnee Studios. Photographer: Aaron Rapoport. Only one way to put it: the man has a voice. A country voice, deep and clear as the North Carolina streams of his childhood. On "Full Circle," Travis puts that distinctive vocal instrument through its paces, while simultaneously giving a musical tour of popular country styles. "Highway Junkie" is as good a "roll on down the line" honky-tonk tune as you're gonna get, while the bittersweet ballad "Price To Pay" will have many a trucker--and lawyer? hey, these are the '90s--crying in his beer. There's even a small surprise of sorts, in a cover of rocker Mark Knopfler's "Are We In Trouble Now." This is a quiet little gem, helped along by Travis' flawless phrasing and a fine melodic line. Also, a treat for the old-timers: Travis resurrects Roger Miller's "King Of The Road" for another go-round, and somehow makes it seem fresh, thanks to a sparse, "just-enough" arrangement. In the liner notes, Travis says, "Music goes in cycles--away from Country, back to Country." So goes the life of Randy Travis--full circle.

Entertainment Weekly (8/16/96, p.63) - "...frames his adenoid-rattling baritone with an updated and sophisticated sound that gives the instrumentalists room to stretch..." - Rating: A-

In the 1980s, when mainstream country radio was virtually indistinguishable from middle-of-the-road pop, Randy Travis helped reground country in its stripped-down, three-chord roots. With a sweet, deep voice reminiscent of both Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard, Travis can be as great as his material allows, and has remained one of the most respected and successful singers in country music for decades. He's also turned into a hard-working actor, appearing in numerous film roles.

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