Search - Betsy :: Rough Around the Edges

Garth's older half-sister shares family talent

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 03/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Betsy Smittle followed her mother into the music business. Like her mother, she never became a star. However, her parents divorced when Betsy was three and her mother re-married. One of the sons by that marriage, Garth Brooks, became a huge star. For a while, Betsy became a member of Garth's band, being a musician and backup singer.To my knowledge, this is only album ever released by Betsy. Apparently, it was more readily available in Europe in the mid-nineties than it was in America. Betsy always wanted to be judged on her own merits and not achieve fame because of her half-brother. It certainly worked with me - I don't ever remember hearing about any Garth connection and I might never have known if I hadn't surfed the net looking for information about the album.Betsy's music has some similarities with Garth's, being rooted in country with rock influences, but there are differences too - Betsy's music has a bluesy edge that ideally suits her slightly bluesy voice. This album blends country, blues and soft rock in a most appealing way, though ultimately country is the major influence. The closing track is a duet with her mother (This house), a semi-autobiographical song.Some of you already know another fact about Betsy's lifestyle that I only discovered when researching for this review. Unlike (say) k d lang, who makes it obvious what she is, neither the cover picture nor the music makes it obvious that Betsy is gay.This will appeal to contemporary country fans who appreciate a rock edge to their music. Try forgetting that this is the otherwise-obscure half-sister of a megastar - judge Betsy's music on its own merits. And if you do, you'll discover how great it is. TracksAll over my heart
If I don't stay the night
Doesn't take much
Love me like you mean it
Dragging it back
Bits and pieces
Hard to believe
You can look but you can't touch
Southern wind
Passage (instrumental)
This house (with Colleen Carroll Brooks)"