What do Deana Carter's "Strawberry Wine," Patty Loveless's "You Can Feel Bad," and Trisha Yearwood's "XXX's and OOO's" have in common? They were all No. 1 country hits, they all had stories you could visualize and hooks yo... more »u could hum, and they were all cowritten by Matraca Berg. So why isn't Berg a country star herself? Does she have a froggy voice? No way. A homely face? Hardly. Well, what is it then? It might be the hint of intelligence in her big, confident soprano, the suggestion that she knows more than she's letting on. Country radio hates that. Critics and fellow musicians, on the other hand, love it and have been huge Berg fans for years. RCA is giving the wider public a second chance with this new anthology, which includes a dozen songs found on her out-of-print solo albums. The new disc doesn't include any of the singles she's written for other artists, though a few have been album cuts for Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis, and Linda Ronstadt. The collection does includes several gems that would be hits in a fairer world: the eloquent Midwestern evocation of "Calico Plains," the late-night romantic desperation of "Lying to the Moon," and the lovely mountain balladry of "Appalachian Rain." Snap this one up before it, too, goes out of print. --Geoffrey Himes« less
What do Deana Carter's "Strawberry Wine," Patty Loveless's "You Can Feel Bad," and Trisha Yearwood's "XXX's and OOO's" have in common? They were all No. 1 country hits, they all had stories you could visualize and hooks you could hum, and they were all cowritten by Matraca Berg. So why isn't Berg a country star herself? Does she have a froggy voice? No way. A homely face? Hardly. Well, what is it then? It might be the hint of intelligence in her big, confident soprano, the suggestion that she knows more than she's letting on. Country radio hates that. Critics and fellow musicians, on the other hand, love it and have been huge Berg fans for years. RCA is giving the wider public a second chance with this new anthology, which includes a dozen songs found on her out-of-print solo albums. The new disc doesn't include any of the singles she's written for other artists, though a few have been album cuts for Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis, and Linda Ronstadt. The collection does includes several gems that would be hits in a fairer world: the eloquent Midwestern evocation of "Calico Plains," the late-night romantic desperation of "Lying to the Moon," and the lovely mountain balladry of "Appalachian Rain." Snap this one up before it, too, goes out of print. --Geoffrey Himes
"I can't believe all of MBs albums are not in print! Her songwriting is exquisite, and her voice, while not that of a diva, is lovely and expressive--and so real, it grabs you in the gut. It's not really a performance; you almost feel that she's sitting next to you. In fact, my roommmate walked in to "If I Were an Angel" (from SMTSN) and immediately commented on what a beautiful voice she had. "Back When We Were Beautiful" still makes me tear up. Her lyrics are as much about what she doesn't say--she has a masterful turn of phrase, but also a sense of restraint, so that you end up always wanting more."
Haunting Melodies and Excellent Backgrounds
04/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a review of the original "Lying to the Moon" CD. I first discovered this CD when it came out in 1990. After listening to snippets of the first three songs and enjoying it at the record store I had to purchase it. Over time the songs just get better and better. Matraca's voice lends a particularly heart rending account to both Calico Plains and Applachian Rain along with extreme enjoyment of the other tracks. "Alice in the Looking Glass" will send chills down your back. This is one of those rare CD's where EVERY track is good. The musical backgrounds also add to the story telling of each selection. Never have I listened to an album where the music hit home from the very beginning. Every person I have turned onto this CD has fallen in love with it. I am glad to see it back in print along with the additional songs. I WILL run out and get this latest version and I suggest you do too. You will not be sorry."
One of the Best CDs of the Year !!!!
08/11/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Matraca Berg has proven herself as a writer but has been overlooked as a performer. She is truly an undiscovered treasure. Her voice has a dynamic all its own and can breathe life into a song. She can make you laugh along with her or leave you with a lump in your throat.While most of these cuts are remastered versions of her MUCH underappreciated debut CD with two cuts from her last CD, it is Matraca at her finest. With the sorrowful "Lying To The Moon" to the tear filled "Back When We Were Beautiful" (from the movie Hope Floats but not on the soundtrack) to the way frisky "Back In The Saddle" that proves Shania Twain comes in second to this lady in the va-va-va-voom category!Beyond the looks, this singer/songwriter's songs put much of the music on the radio to shame. Her songwriting contemporaries are few but notewhile - Gretchen Peters, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Annie Roboff. Nobody else outside of these 4 ladies can reach out and grab you and even change you like they can."
Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!
snowgyrrl | Alabama, USA | 01/04/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although I do not own this particular cd, I do have the two previous releases from which every song but "Eat at Joe's" was drawn. If you are thinking about buying this cd, PLEASE do yourself a favor and buy it. The songs are absolutely beautiful, ranging from the raucous "Back in the Saddle" to the tender, tear-wrenching "Lying to the Moon" and "Back When We Were Beautiful". If you are a listener who prefers thoughtful, descriptive lyrics which can grab your heart to the somewhat shallower songs which Nashville and the Top 40 scene are marketing right now, I guarantee you will love Matraca's work. Please give her a try! You won't regret it."
No lying about this collection...it's excellent!
Robert Vallecillo | Metairie, LA United States | 10/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Matraca Berg has come a long way since she penned her first big hit, "Faking Love," which T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks scored number one with in January of '83. Now she is one of the most sought after writers in the business, penning tunes for the likes of Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Suzy Bogguss, Deana Carter, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Michelle Wright, John Berry, Randy Travis,...well you get the picture! This collection contains eight songs from "Lying To The Moon" (1990) and three songs from "Sunday Morning To Saturday Night"(1997), and includes the never before released "Eat At Joe's."My favorites:
I GOT IT BAD is a bluesy reflection of a woman's longing to score the affections of a certain man. Berg cleverly tells us "the one who ain't beatin' down my door is the only one who's got me walking the floor."
LYING TO THE MOON starts out with a beautiful string arrangement that sets the mood for experiencing the heartbreak of being stood-up as the song suggests.
BABY, WALK ON: Goodbye has never sounded sweeter in this tale of a man who has a habit of walking out after losing an arguement. The heroine revels in her smugness as she sings "I don't mind shining your walking shoes." No wonder this was a top 40 hit.
APPALACHIAN RAIN features the angelic harmonies of Emmylou Harris in this haunting tale of death in the mountains. Whether it was murder or suicide remains a mystery to me, what do you think?
BACK WHEN WE WERE BEAUTIFUL is the lament of an old woman reflecting on her past when her husband was still alive, and her coping with the physical and psychological toll that age has had on her. This is probably the most beautiful song on the CD.
I MUST HAVE BEEN CRAZY is an uptempo tune about a woman who goes as far as shock therapy to get over her true love. Her state of mind is evident as she sings, "and when they ask me how I feel, I don't internalize. I put down my paper dolls, look them in the eye and say I must have been crazy..." I would have loved to hear Patty Loveless record this one.
EAT AT JOE'S is a jazzy piece that begins with the sounds of a busy diner. Suzy Bogguss did a splendid job with this song, but only Berg can do it justice. This song would've been great for a video.This collection is lacking one thing, it didn't include the single, "It's Easy To Tell," which was released at the end of '91 as the first single off the "Bittersweet Surrender" album, which never saw the light of day. Nevertheless, It was worth every penny!"