Inspirational Journey

Performer: Randy Travis
Artist: Waylon Jennings; Jessi Colter
Engineer: Koji Egawa; Eric Prestidge; Amy Hughes Frigo; Kyle Lehning; Steve Tillisch; Thomas Johnson; Toby Seay; Bill Schnee
Producer: Kyle Lehning
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel includes: Randy Travis (vocals); Steve Gibson (acoustic & electric guitars); Fred Tackett (acoustic guitar); Doyle Grisham, Sonny Garrish (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Hank Singer (fiddle); Terry McMillian (harmonica, percussion); Jimmy Cox, Steve Nathan (keyboards); Jason Lehning (omnichord); Glen Worf, Jimmy Johnson (bass); Paul Leim (drums); Wesley Hightower, Lisa Silver, Cindy Richardson-Walker, Thom Flora (background vocals); Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter. Recorded at Schnee Studios, Los Angeles, California. INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album. Personnel: Randy Travis (vocals); Jessi Colter, Waylon Jennings (vocals); Larry Byrom, Mark Casstevens, Fred Tackett (acoustic guitar); Chris Leuzinger, Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Brent Mason (electric guitar); Doyle Grisham, Robby Turner, Sonny Garrish (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Hank Singer (mandolin, fiddle); Marty Stuart (mandolin); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Steve Nathan (piano); Jason Lehning (omnichord); Jimmy Cox (keyboards); Paul Leim (drums); Cindy Richardson, Shirley Settles, Thomas Flora, Kevin Carroll, Lisa Silver (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Jason Lehning; Kyle Lehning; Thomas Johnson. Recording information: Masterfonics, Nashville, TN; Schnee Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Seventeen Grand, Nashville, TN; The Compound, Nashville, TN. Photographers: Michael Tackett; Elizabeth Travis. Arranger: Randy Travis. Released during Travis' tenure with Warner Bros. but held for release until 2000, Inspirational Journey is the singer's first religious album. In earlier decades, Tennessee Ernie Ford and B.J. Thomas made second careers by recording specifically for the Christian market. Other country singers would record occasional gospel albums, not to sell records, necessarily, but out of love for the music and perhaps a sense of obligation. Consequently, gospel albums by Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, and Dolly Parton ranked among those artists' most satisfying efforts. And such is the case here. Kyle Lehning under-produces almost to the point of this sounding like a Don Williams album. The voice is way out in front and the instruments and background vocalists provide a bed of support. There's occasional seasoning by bluegrass instruments including banjo, fiddle, and Jerry Douglas's Dobro. (One exception is "The Carpenter," which features co-lead and harmony vocals by Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter.) Fact is, if it weren't for the lyrics, Inspirational Journey would sound like any of the other good Randy Travis albums that Lehning produced. Which means that some listeners may find Travis' Lefty Frizzell-derived singing a bit on the sleepy side, despite the occasionally moderate-tempo change of pace from the ballads that constitute most of the album. But the singer's fans will appreciate his warmth, sincerity, and taste. Complete lyrics and musicians' credits are included, though tiny type against a dark background renders them all but unreadable. ~ Todd Everett

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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