One of the best country albums of the past 10 years
Douglas Hernan | "Don't Go Back to" Rockville, in the Maryland subu | 05/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bob Woodruff's "Dreams and Saturday Nights" is one of my favorite albums of the past decade. It's also one of the most tragically overlooked CDs in the history of country music. One can only hope for a remastered & expanded re-issue and a career comeback for this talented troubadour. Until then, you'll have to settle for a new or used cut-out."Dreams" positively teems with first-rate songwriting, compelling, twangy vocals and top-notch musicianship, including some of the tastiest lead guitar you'll ever hear on a country album. Several cuts feature James Burton, the "master of the Telecaster" whose previous gigs include backing up Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley and Gram Parsons. Indeed, Parsons - the former Byrd, Flying Burrito Brother and patron saint of alt.country - is clearly one of Woodruff's key musical touchstones, and "The Year We Tried to Kill the Pain" is a worthy companion piece to Parson's classic road-trip memoir,"Return of the Grievious Angel."Woodruff is a NYC native who got hooked on country music at age 20, when he started fumbling through his Dad's record stash and discovered such legends as George Jones and Merle Haggard. Woodruff drove his GTO from Greenwich Village to Nashville, got signed to Asylum and released this gem of an album in 1994. (He was 34.)Unfortunately, Woodruff's brand of country was simply too uncut and honky-tonkin' to garner much airplay on contemporary country radio, which for the last couple of decades has mainly rewarded bland, cheesecake/beefcake performers, lame-but-upbeat songwriting, and a shameful detachment from the raw excitement of country's roots. All 3 singles from "Dreams" flopped, and despite moving to a new label (Imprint) and releasing a really good follow-up album, 1997's "Desire Road," Woodruff couldn't pry himself from country music's periphery. Both "Dreams" and "Desire" won widespread critical acclaim, but that didn't stop 'em from going out of print. Thankfully, both are typically available as cut-outs from third-party CD sellers linked to Amazon.com.If you are a fan of alt.country like Wilco or the Old '97s ... ragged-but-right pioneers like Merle, George and Hank Sr. ... and/or intelligent modern renegades like Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam or Rodney Crowell, you're going to love this album. From the serious twang and cajun flavorings of the opening "Bayou Girl," to "I'm the Train," the poignant duet with Emmylou Harris that closes the album, "Dreams and Saturday Nights" is a knock-out. Each one of its 11 cuts is strong, and Woodruff is equally comfortable waxing humorous on "Hard Liquor, Cold Women, Warm Beer" and wearing his heart completely on his sleeve, as he does on several cuts. "Caroline" chokes me up every time I hear it. You'd be hard pressed to find 3 better consecutive songs on ANY CD than "Dreams and Saturday Nights," "You Can't Win," and "The Year We Tried to Kill the Pain." In 12 1/2 minutes, these 3 rockin' gems cover a mind-boggling expanse of emotional terrain, from heartache, guilt & longing, to hope, the joys of excess and the sheer bliss of losing yourself in a great song, whether it's country, rock, R&B or Irish folk.Country needs more daring visionaries like Woodruff. If you've read this far, I'm pretty sure you'll fall in love with this album. Everyone I've played it for during the past decade has done just that. If you buy it and like it, share "Dreams" with a few of your friends. Together, we might be able to get Bob's career back on track."
Can't understand why this album didn't sell
M. R. BROWN | Arizona | 10/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A few weeks ago I heard "The Year We Tried to Kill the Pain" on KXCI, Tucson AZ's great community radio station. Halfway throught the song I was thinking I know this voice, this is really good, I have to find this album. At the end of the set, Michael Hyatt the host of "Route 66" announced Bob Woodruff from the album "Dreams and Saturday Nights" Since I have the fine "Desire Road" I was familiar with Bob Woodruff's work. Within ten minutes I was searching Amazon for "Dreams and Saturday Nights" I would have bought the CD just for "The Year We Tried to Kill the Pain" but, after reading the only review on Amazon I knew had to have this album. This album is better then the 5-star review said. It is sad commentary that an artist as talented as Bob Woodruff, with great songs and excellant musicians doesn't sell enough albums to keep a recording contract. But that is the sorry state of country radio and commerical radio in general. I'll probably buy another copy just to ensure I always have this album. Buy this CD, you will not regret it."
One of the best
wiz 43 | 08/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I agree with other reviewer; This is one of the best albums of the last decade; perhaps one of my favorites ever. I have nearly a thousand albums of some sort. -cd's, LP's,cassettes, etc.- and very few have every song on them that I like. No one ever knows why some great performances like this don't make it big.The radio Dj's have a big part of it.I know that I've played this album more than any other.I just can't get get tired of it.I have two copies,one in my home 300 disc changer and one in my vehicle. We even got the owner of our favorite pub to put the entire disc on the jukebox.(he replaced it once because it was wearing out).I would like to tell the whole world how good this album is."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1