Search - Alabama :: The American Farewell Tour

A view from the other side of the fence

retrowens | Alabama, USA | 10/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first found out about this album a few weeks before it was released. I didn't really want to buy For The Record yet because it doesn't have two of my absolute favorite Alabama songs: "Christmas In Dixie" and one of the few songs that can bring a tear to my eye if I'm homesick or in the right mood, "My Home's In Alabama".I tell you, when I saw the track listing for American Farewell Tour, I nearly hit the ceiling. But then I thought about the album's title. I was about 99.99999% sure that it would be a live effort, but if it was all studio work then I'd get it ASAP, I decided. When I found out that it IS the versions of the songs that I've been hearing on the radio all my life, I was rolling on down the highway in my car. I was in a hurry and I knew why--it was to make one of my most eager purchases in recent memory.I couldn't imagine a much better single disc compilation of the boys from Ft. Payne. It packs in 20 songs, including ones that were recorded way back when their legend was just beginning to take form and a few of their most recent hits. There are #1 hits and not quite #1 hits alike, odes to past life and home towns, ballads, and everything in-between. Some songs you can't help but to sing along to, like "I'm In A Hurry (And Don't Know Why)". In "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)", you can tell Alabama was having fun at the time with Randy Owen's yelling that may give you a sense of their live performance style. And yes, of course, the majority of THE most essential Alabama hits are here too, such as "Mountain Music", "Tennessee River", "Song Of The South", and one of my favorite songs of all time: "Love In The First Degree."I can see where fans would be disappointed that this isn't a live effort, especially with the millions of compilations that Alabama has put out. But I'm not one of them. I've never been much of a fan of live albums at all. American Farewell Tour made my wish come true. It includes both old and new, most of the essentials, and the two songs that I wanted on one disc. There are only two compilations from Alabama that I've seen that I would give five stars to, and this is one of them. If you purchase any Alabama compilation apart from For The Record, this one should be it!I've always had pride that I live in the same state that the most successful country group in history comes from, and now I smile with pride and say that I own American Farewell Tour. It serves as an excellent remembrance of an unforgettable group from the Heart of Dixie that made some classic music that will live on forever in the memories of their fans."

Excellent Choice for the Alabama Fan

MRod | 10/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have read these other reviews and disagree totally...this CD is just what it is intended to be..a perfect blend of Albama's music from the beginning to now....as they do in their Concerts this year...it no where says it is LIVE....but still a wonderful choice of Old and New Alabama music...A mixture of some 1980 hits to their last new material in 2001..Some of my very favorites songs and I am sure yours too..."

Farewell Boys....you'll be missed.

Randy | Indiana | 01/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The title says it all. It's their Farewell Tour album. By producing this album they allow a different variety of songs on one album for their fans. If you didn't get to go to any of their shows on the Farewell Tour, then you wouldn't realize that the songs on this album are songs that they sung on this specific tour. That's why the title says American Farewell Tour. Nowhere does it's a live cd. Please stop your complaining and give my Boys the respect they deserve."