Trail of Memories: The Randy Travis Anthology [Digipak]

Performer: Randy Travis
Artist: Bela Fleck; Tammy Wynette; Jerry Douglas; George Jones; John Jarvis; B.B. King; Matt Rollings; Merle Haggard
Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge; David Schober; Elliot Scheiner; Eric Prestidge; Kirt Odle; Gary Paczosa; Greg Laney; Gene Eichelberger; Howie Lindeman; Jason Lehning; Jim Cotton; Joseph Bogan; Julian King; Keith Odle; Kyle Lehning; Marshall Morgan; Paul Ericksen; Rich Hanson; Rich Schirmer; Toby Seay; Tom Knox; Bill Schnee; Ben Harris
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel includes: Randy Travis (vocals, acoustic guitar); B. B. King (vocals, guitar); Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Merle Haggard (vocals); Steve Gibson (acoustic & electric guitars, dobro); Larry Brom, Brent Mason, Billy Joe Walker, Jr. (acoustic & electric guitars); Bela Fleck (banjo); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Mark O'Connor (mandolin, fiddle); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Jim Hoke (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); John Jarvis (piano, keyboards); Matt Rollings (piano); Mark Hembree (acoustic bass); Jack Williams (bass); Larrie London, James Stroud (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Greg Walker, Fred White, The Cherry Sisters (background vocals). Producers include: Kyle Lehning, Richard Perry, Steve Gibson, James Stroud, Randy Travis. Compilation producer: James Austin. Recorded between 1986 & 1999. Includes liner notes by Robert K. Oermann. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Randy Travis (acoustic guitar); Richard Perry (bass voice); Dean Parks (guitar, acoustic guitar); B.B. King (guitar); Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, dobro, mandolin); Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Brent Mason (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 6-string bass); Chris Leuzinger, Billy Joe Walker, Jr. (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Mac McAnally, Mark Casstevens, Randy Scruggs, Teddy Irwin, Biff Watson, Bobby Thompson (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore (electric guitar, steel guitar); Keith Stegall (electric guitar, background vocals); Greg Jennings, Jerry McPherson, John Willis, Fred Newell, Brent Rowan (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); Doyle Grisham, Gary Carter, Kayton Roberts, Sonny Garrish, Jay Dee Maness (steel guitar); Mark Douglas, Jerry Douglas , Bruce Bouton (dobro); B�la Fleck (banjo); Mark O'Connor , Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); James Bla Pahinui (ukulele); Glen Duncan, Tom Rutledge, Hoot Hester, Rob Hajacos, Blaine Sprouse, Hank Singer, David Johnson (fiddle); Nashville String Machine (strings); Jelly Roll Johnson, Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Charlie McCoy (harmonica); Dick Tunney (accordion); Billy Puett (clarinet, bass clarinet); Don Jackson, Denis Solee (clarinet); Jim Hoke (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Dennis Burnside (piano, electric piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards); Shane Keister (piano, organ, keyboards); Kyle Lehning (piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, background vocals); Matt Rollings, John Jarvis, Gary "Bud" Smith (piano, keyboards); Robbie Buchanan, Barry Beckett (piano); Jay Spell (electric piano); Gary Prim, Steve Nathan, Bobby Wood (keyboards); Steve Lindsey (synthesizer); Mark Hembree, Dave Carpenter, Roy Huskey Jr. (acoustic bass); Harry Stinson, James Stroud, Larrie Londin, Lonnie Wilson, Mike Shapiro, Eddie Bayers, Paul Leim, Milton Sledge (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Diane Tidwell, Cindy Walker, Claude V. McKnight III, Thomas Brannon, Cindy Richardson Walker, Curtis Wright, Curtis Young, Darrell Scott, David Thomas , Dennis Locorriere, Dennis Wilson , Don Schlitz, Greg Walker , Diane Stegall, Wendy Suits Johnson, Gene Miller, Doug Clements, Kathie Baillie, Alan LeBoeuf, Michael Bonagura, Jr., Sherilyn Huffman, Lib Hatcher, Martha Sharp, Phil Forrest, Cherry Sisters, Joey Kibble, John Wesley Ryles, Lisa Silver, Mark Kibble, Allen Shamblin, Mervyn Warren, Michael Brook, Alvin Chea, Paul Davis, Paul Overstreet, Roy Galloway, Suzy Ragsdale, Troy Seals, Verlon Thompson, Bergen White, Louis Dean Nunley, Hurshel Wiginton, Diane Vanette, Bruce Dees, Carol Chase, Cedric Dent (background vocals). Audio Mixers: John Guess; Julian King; Kyle Lehning; Rich Schirmer. Audio Remasterer: Pat Kraus. Liner Note Author: Robert K. Oermann. Recording information: A & M Studios, Hollywood, CA; Audio Media Recorders, Nashville, TN; Digital Insight, Las Vegas, NV; Emerald Sound Studio; Groundstar Lab, Henderson, TN; Imagine Recording, Nashville, TN; Javelina Recording; Lahaina Sound, Maui, HI; Loud Recording, Las Vegas, NV; Masterfonics Studios, Nashville, TN; Morningstar Sound Studio, Henderson, TN; Nightingale Recording Studio; Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA; Omnisound Recording Studios, Nashville, TN; Recording Arts, Nashville, TN; Sound Stage Studio; Stargem Recording Studios; Stepbridge Studios, Sante Fe, NM; The Compound, Nashville, TN; the Doghouse; Tracking Room, Nashville, TN. Photographers: Alan Mayor; Grove Pashley; E.J. Camp; Michael Tackett; Ken Sharp ; Aaron Rapoport; Dennis Carney; Jeff Katz; Bill Bernstein; Brent Jones. Trail of Memories: The Randy Travis Anthology is a welcome, needed addition to his catalog. Although he's had hits collections before, nothing has come close to offering as much music as this two-disc, 44-track collection, nor has anything else made as strong a case for his musical accomplishments -- in this light, he truly sounds like the heir to such classic country singles as Merle Haggard, Lefty Frizzell, and George Jones. Part of the reason that might not have been apparent to some listeners during the '80s is that even a new traditionalist like Travis was recorded according to the state-of-the-art standards of the time. So, even his grittiest material has a clean, sparkling surface, big drums, and a lot of instrument separation, all the hallmarks of mainstream production in the '80s. Years later, it's easier to listen past the production and hear the songs and Travis' singing, which, as this collection proves, is remarkably sturdy and consistent throughout his career. And Trail of Memories touches on each aspect of his career, from his early hits like "Diggin' Up Bones" to his late-'90s recordings for DreamWorks. Throughout it all, what's surprising is how little Travis has changed -- the best of his songs are always strong, simple, memorable, sung in a similar fashion, while dressed in pretty, clean production that disguises how close to classic late-'50s/'60s hardcore country this really is. He was heralded as a keeper of the flame in the '80s, and in 2002, when this collection was released, his music sounds purer than ever. Needless to say, this is an essential cornerstone in any contemporary country collection. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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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