She Rides Wild Horses | Eastern NC Now

A music review of the 1999 CD by Kenny Rogers

    By now, almost everyone has heard of Kenny Rogers. Let me start out by stating that I think we must suspend our personal feelings about the personalities and lifestyle of the performers we listen too. Let us just agree to admire or not their work product.

    Kenny Rogers has been around for many years. My first memory of him was as a member of the group, The First Edition where he was the lead singer on "Ruby". Since then he has gone on to record numerous records and performed many duets and concerts with other entertainers.

    He was once married to a Georgia Girl who was on Hew Haw for a while. He owned a ranch near Athens, Georgia and was frequently seen around Atlanta. I have seen him a couple of times at restaurants or lounges. I have a long-standing rule that I will not intrude on a famous personality when they are trying to enjoy a few moments of personal time. Unless we are introduced, I generally do not bother them for autographs or try to engage them in conversation. I usually will just say, "I enjoy your work" or something like "Loved your last whatever". I have found that entertainers usually prefer just a simple thank you when recognized in public.

    I have no doubt that this album was purely a commercial product. It contains ten songs and breaks little new ground. Most of the songs are love songs and some are a revisit to some old classics. However, it does display Kenny's voice in one of the best arrangements with some backup vocals by the Angel Allison Krause and Billy Dean. Allison is the reason I bought this CD in the first place. She has replaced Linda Ronstadt on my list of voices that could save the world.

    Tracks 1,2,3,7,9 and 10 are my favorite.

    Track 1 "Slow Dance More" is good advice for us all. Take some time to enjoy life.

    Track 2 "Buy Me a Rose" is also good advice. Unfortunately, a rose will not overcome years of neglect. Review track 1 before you get to this point. Allison Krause is on the background of this track as she is on all tracks. She can make a stump grinder sound good.

    Track 3, "I will Remember You" If the rose doesn't work, you are stuck with this track. Old men and self-centered people can possibly see what they may have missed trying to live the past over and over again.

    Track 7, "Loving Arms" reminds us of what happens when we put career and personal pursuits ahead of relationships.

    Track 9, "Let it Be Me", carries us on the sentimental journey back to 1955. The Everly Brothers made this a hit. I was only ten but it could have made a romantic of me if I were not so interested in myself. I did not learn the lesson until later in life.

    Finally Track 10, "The Greatest, is just the stuff that all little 69 year old boys can relate to. Bottom of the inning and bases loaded. Just put me in coach. Somewhere in life we may have lost that confidence and wonder but if could just go back to those times when failure provided just another chance at bat.

    It is funny how age will give you the freedom to indulge yourself in the softer side of life where reality does not dictate that we keep the pedal to the metal. Sometimes it is enough to just look at the scenery and forget the destination.

You'll get to the end soon enough.