From the Vault...

02/28/1999
#618

info
Wynonna Judd
"Wynonna"


© Curb/MCA Records

Year of Release: 1992
Rating:

track listing
  • What It Takes
  • She Is His Only Need
  • I Saw The Light
  • My Strongest Weakness
  • When I Reach The Place I'm Goin'
  • No One Else On Earth
  • It's Never Easy To Say Goodbye
  • A Little Bit Of Love (Goes A Long Long Way)
  • All Of That Love From Here
  • Live With Jesus

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    "Wynonna"



    Wynonna Judd decided to go on her own with her 1992 self-titled album. After years as part of the popular mother and daughter duo, The Judds (Wynonna and Naomi), she has had quite a succesful solo career on her own. Wynonna is her first album on her own, and it is a great album for Judd fans, likewise fans of country music.


    "What It Takes" is a bluesy type number, in the style of Bonnie Raitt, as it sets the groove at the beginning of listening enjoyment. "She Is His Only Need" is a slow ballad, in your typical late-1980s/1990s country style. "I Saw The Light", is a bouncy track, and again, the late-80s/90s country sound is heard here.


    "My Strongest Weakness" really has no weaknesses, soundwise. The instrumentation reminds me of a powerful Bette Midler ballad, and Wynonna's voice is just as powerful in sound. The ballad "When I Reach The Place I'm Goin'" definitely has the country-sounding guitar riffs, as compared to the previous ballads, where they sound more pop, yet it still is considered country music. (In the 1980s, it seems that country music headed towards a more pop/rock sound, yet when you listen to it, it defined a new sound in country music.)


    "No One Here On Earth" is the big hit off of this album, and like "What It Takes" it combines rock and blues, and with this style of music, I can't help to decide whether this sound is rock or country. In either case, this song is a great one. With a title like "It's Never Easy To Say Goodbye," it has to be a ballad. And it is, with the gospel-sounding piano, and country-guitar licks, it definitely defines the sound of slow ballad country.


    Ok, here we go again: "A Little Bit Of Love (Goes A Long, Long Way)" has The Shadows of Knight/Van Morrison's Them "Gloria" (rock, right?) beat. So, is this considered rock or country? The answer doesn't really matter, as this song is just as entertaining as all of the other songs on this album. The opening guitar solo reminds me of another rock act, Commander Cody and his Lost Airmen ("Hot Rod Lincoln").


    Another country-sounding ballad (like "It's Never Easy To Say Goodbye"), is "All Of That Love From Here", another great, peaceful slow ballad. Ending the album is "Live With Jesus," as it is a slow-blusey country song, with the country-outlaw sound, and the gospel background singing, as heard in John Fogerty's "A Hundred And Ten In The Shade" from his Blue Moon Swamp album.


    Wynonna is definitely an excellent album. It combines three sources of popular music: Country, Rock and Blues. The ballads contained here are definitely country-sounding, yet the remaining tunes fall in the categories of either rock, country rock, and/or blues. It's still considered Country, as we all categorize Wynonna Judd with Country Music. Of course, there are other rock acts also asking the question whether they are Rock or Country, like a Bonnie Raitt, or even a John Fogerty. There is no criticism in defining exactly what their style of music is; these artists define music in their own special ways, making them legends in their talent. As long as people buy their records and fans praising their albums, it really doesn't matter what kind of style it is, just as long as it is appreciated and enjoyed.


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    Previous Review: #617
    Heart--Brigade
    Next Review: #619
    Joe Jackson--I'm The Man