Drew Womack "Drew Womack" (Smith's Music, 2004)

Lee Ann Womack - see artist discography

Darryl Worley "Hard Rain Don't Last" (Dreamworks, 2000)
(Produced by Frank Rogers & James Stroud)

Darryl Worley "I Miss My Friend" (Dreamworks, 2002)
(Produced by Frank Rogers & James Stroud)

Darryl Worley "Have You Forgotten?" (Dreamworks, 2003)
(Produced by Frank Rogers & James Stroud)
Top Country hunk Darryl Worley gets points for his social conscience, and for his clever timing, rushing this stirring, patriotic pro-war dirge out onto the market quick enough to hit the top of the Billboard charts, even as the bombs were still falling in Iraq. But while his heart seems to be in the right place, he falls a little short in terms of really understanding the war, embracing the faulty reasoning that linked the September 11th bombings to the rickety regime of Saddam Hussain. Worley begins by singing, "I hear people saying we don't need this war," (True.) and goes on to recount the sorrows of September 11th, concluding, "...And you tell me not to worry about Bin Laden..." Well, wait a minute. False. In fact, all the people I talked to who were against (or wary of) invading Iraq never said boo about not wanting to nail Osama Bin Laden -- instead they pointed out that Bin Laden and Saddam Hussain had very little in common, and indeed had hated one another for many years. Bin Laden is a religious fanatic who despises non-religious, secular Arabs like Saddam Hussain, and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual. If anything, most people who were critical of the war complained that the $100 billion we just spent to buy ourselves a really big, really violent West Bank of our own could have been better spent actually combatting terrorism, rather than provoking it, and that we could have used the money to help local and state governments pay for the massive domestic security costs involved in making sure September 11th never happens again. But I guess that would be a difficult sentiment to express in a four-minute pop single. Otherwise, this disc is pretty good. It's mostly cobbled together from Worley's last two albums, Hard Rain Don't Last and I Miss My Friend, which are both fine examples of reasonably vigorous, reasonably traditional country. Worley's a good singer, with a nice mix of sensitivity and machismo, and he's got real country roots. With four new songs, this is a pretty decent best-of, with a few extra goodies to make fans happy. I think Worley's wrong about the war, but he's sure right about his rhythms.

Darryl Worley "Darryl Worley" (Dreamworks, 2004)
(Produced by Frank Rogers)
Hey, who am I to argue with success? Obviously, Worley dips liberally into the commercial end of things, but he also has a really great voice, and when he plays real country music (for example, check out "If I Could Tell The Truth"), he's top-rate. Heck, even on corny modern tearjerkers like "If Something Should Happen," where a guy about to have surgery for cancer and asks his best friend to check up on his wife and kids, Worley just sounds so darn sincere that he makes it work. He's good. The album is solid. It's completely corny, but it's good. This is Nashville the way it oughtta be. Oh, yeah, the political thing... Well, he kind of mentions the state of the world on "Awful Beautiful Life" (the album's first single), but he swiftly deflects towards religion, and the bluntly titled "Wake Up America" turns out to be about drug abuse, not Al Qaeda... So I guess that whole out of sight, out of mind thing seems to be the operative word here. At least Worley hasn't pegged himself as a flag-waving one-trick pony, which is fine by me, since he's much more enjoyable as a damn fine, straight-up country singer. Recommended!

Marion Worth "Greatest Hits" (Columbia, 1963) (LP)

Marion Worth & George Morgan "Slippin' Around" (Columbia, 1964) (LP)

Marion Worth "Sings Marty Robbins" (Columbia, 1965) (LP)

Marion Worth "A Woman Needs Love" (Decca, 1968) (LP)

Chely Wright - see artist discography

Michelle Wright "Do Right By Me" (Savannah, 1988)

Michelle Wright "Michelle Wright" (Arista, 1990)
A so-so album from a Canadian artist who seems pulled in several directions -- soft country-pop (with a slight traditionalist/rockabilly undercurrent on a few tunes), along with bluesy-torchy vocals, ala k.d. lang... She seems like an artist who could've caught fire, given the right musical backing, but as is, this album feels a bit flat.

Michelle Wright "Now And Then" (Arista, 1992)

Michelle Wright "The Reasons Why" (Arista)

Michelle Wright "For Me It's You" (Arista, 1996)

Michelle Wright "Shut Up And Kiss Me" (2004)

Michelle Wright "A Wright Christmas" (Icon, 2007)

Michelle Wright "Everything And More" (2008)

Michelle Wright "Greatest Hits" (Arista, 2000)

The Wrights "Down This Road" (RCA/Sony-BMG, 2005)
(Produced by Keith Stegall & John Kelton)
A memorable debut album of sweet, well-crafted country duets by this husband-wife songwriting team, Adam and Shannon Wright. The Wrights were introduced to country fans earlier in the year when they sang on Alan Jackson's What I Do album, where they contributed musical backup as well as two new songs... Adam Wright does just happen to be Jackson's nephew, and Uncle Alan does just happen to make an appearance on this album as well, but one listen to this disc and you'll know that they got here based on their talent, not anything else. This is a really striking record for a modern commercial country release -- it's got a softness and sincerity that's really quite refreshing. The Wright's never sound like they're straining to find a hit, or trying out whatever styles or gimmicks they can think of to see what might stick. They have a nice, simple sound and they stay with it, giving them a distinctive presence amid all the pop-soul crossovers of recent years. Also, the production is smooth and assured, and pleasantly restrained, given how over-the-top the Nashville studio cats have gotten. This is a classy record, a well-measured piece of craftsmanship that never blunders into by-the-numbers commercial formulae... If you enjoy Barry and Holly Tashian's records or the mellower stuff by Buddy and Julie Miller, then you may find kindred spirits here... Check it out!

The Wrights "The Wrights" (Alan's Country Records, 2007)
(Produced by Keith Stegall & John Kelton)
Bee-yoo-ti-ful. The husband-wife team of Adam and Shannon Wright burst on the Nashville scene a couple of years ago with their major label debut, Down This Road, a wonderful set of melody-twang-and-harmony drenched commercial country that seemed just too good to be true. Maybe it was, since this new EP is and indie release (like a lot of the best country coming from Nashville these days...) Regardless of whatever's happening between them and the majors, the Wrights sure do sound good. This disc opens on a high note, with "Rewind," a soaring harmony tune written by Shawn Camp, produced in a lavish style that recalls Billy Sherrill's best years... Indeed, the Wrights are resurrecting a much-neglected tradition of country duet singing that had its heyday back when Sherrill was working with George Jones and Tammy Wynette -- it's a sound that's fallen by the wayside in recent years, and you'll wonder why when you hear these two croon one great tune after another, including originals like the twangy "Do You Still" and catchy hits-in-the-making like "Planting Flowers" and "You're The Kind Of Trouble." Guitarist Paul Kennerley plays throughout and also wrote or co-wrote several of the songs; veteran producer Keith Stegall exhibits his tried-and-true, irresistible blend of twang'n'pop, which fits these kids like a glove. If you like real, true, sweet country pop, the kind of stuff you can crank up loud and sing along to, then check this album out. It's a treat. (For more info, check out www.thewrightsmusic.com )

The Wrights "Red And Yellow, Blue And Green" (Tour Records, 2010)
The husband and wife duo of Adam and Shannon Wright have gone full-bore indie on this new album, which they've released on their own, and which featured more of a rock vibe than their earlier releases. Sure, there's some twang, and more of their Everly-esque harmonies, but they're also indulging in some moody, noodly indie-rock ambiance, singing alongside a vintage-sounding keyboard with an exploratory vibe that may baffle a few fans who know them better from their Nashville and nearly-Nashville country work. It's kinda cool, but definitely a different direction, although their roots are still showing here as well. If you loved their earlier work, you'll wanna check this out as well.

Tom Wurth "T.W." (Aspirion, 2006)
(Produced by Bart Butler & John Ford Coley)
An appealing Top Forty-ish album with a nice, bluesy, bar-band undercurrent. Wurth has a foothold in Nashville as a songwriter -- his sentimental, I'll-always-be-here-for-you ballad, "If The Road Runs Out," was recorded by Ty Herndon, and it sounds pretty nice here, too. Wurth includes some pretty twangy stuff on here, like the chicken-pickin' "Bread On The Table," along with plenty of big-hook, poppier numbers that sound pretty much in line with the rest of the contemporary Music City sound. Most of the songs on here are from other writers, but he sings 'em with conviction, along with a handful of his own compositions. Worth checking out, if you're into the indie-ish side of the Top Country scene.

Tammy Wynette - see artist discography

Wynonna - see The Judds

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Hick Music Index

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