Search - Tammy Wynette :: Higher Ground

Tammy's acoustic masterpiece

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1987, Tammy took the world of country music by surprise with this, her only acoustic album. Previously, her albums had always been sweetened with strings, but there are none of those here. Her original producer, Billy Sherrill, may have thought that Tammy needed strings backing her to sound at her best. Subsequent producers followed Bill's example, yet this album (with Steve Buckingham as producer) proves that Tammy could sound great in any setting. The album features several guests, mainly as backing singers rather than duets. Some of the background singers are hard to make out so I wouldn't recommend buying this album just because a particular singer is in the guest list. A full list of guests follows at the end of my review. The songs are mainly ballads and the acoustic backing, like many of the background vocals, is restrained.None of songs are well known but some are covers while some of the original songs have since been covered by others, so it is possible that one or two songs may be familiar to you. The album opens with Your love, Tammy's last country top ten hit (though of course this pre-dates her last major international pop hit, Justified and ancient, which is very different from anything here). Tempted is a cover of a song previously recorded by Don Williams. Slow burning fire previously appeared on Ladies choice, an album of duets featuring George Jones with various country queens. Talking to myself again, the follow-up single to Your love, made the country top twenty.I have heard nearly all Tammy's original albums but this is my favorite. It does not contain any of her famous songs but Tammy was not fashionable when she recorded this album. Tracks with supporting vocal creditsYour love - Ricky Skaggs (background)
Tempted - Gene Watson (background)
Some things will never change - Vern Gosdin (duet)
Beneath a painted sky - Emmylou Harris (background)
I wasn't meant to live my life alone - Vince Gill (background)Higher ground - Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin (background)
Talking to myself again - O'Kanes (background)
A slow burning fire - Harry Stinson, John Wesley Ryles, Ricky Van Shelton (background)
There's no heart so strong - Paul Overstreet (background)
All through throwing good love after bad - Rodney Crowell, Jeanne Smith (background)"

ONE OF THE FINEST TAMMY ALBUMS OF HER LATER CAREER

Peter Durward Harris | 01/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1987 this CD captures Tammy at her finest. This project consists mostly of ballads in the true, traditional country vein. What makes this project so distinguishable are the production values. Produced by Steve Buckingham, Wynette has a distinguished panel of background vocalists such as Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Vern Gosdin, The O'Kanes, and more. Also, the finest musicians ever assembled in my opinion. Every song here could and should have been a number one hit for Tammy. The song boasts her last top ten hit called "Your Love" where she is backed by Ricky Skaggs. With its dobro and fiddle it is an uptempo bluegrass tinged tune and Tammy is at her best. The follow-up single, which in my opinion is the finest cut on the album is called "Talking to Myself Again". Backed by the O'Kanes this country shuffle waltz stands among the best that Tammy ever recorded. I prefer this one even to her earlier stuff. Yet, because of lack of promotion or support from her label, the song became only a minor hit for her...it reached number 16 on the Billboard charts. It should have been a number one!! The rest of the tunes are no filler either. This CD may be found in used CD stores or by purchasing it here used. If you are a Tammy Wynette fan, you will not be disappointed with this. This work is a masterpiece on all counts and possibly the best CD Tammy put out after she had peaked in her distinguished career. It also proved that she still had what it took to make us cry, laugh and know why she was one of the few 'evergreens' in country music. Don't miss this one, folks. Find it and give it a listen. You'll see....if you don't agree I miss my guess."