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Trisha Yearwood, George Strait, Alabama, Pam Tillis offer new CDs

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 – Trisha Yearwood makes her label debut, George Strait releases another hits package, Alabama goes live and Pam Tillis goes the holiday route in new CDs out today.

Yearwood's "Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love" (Big Machine) marks her label after spending her entire career at MCA. The first single is "Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love."

George Strait is out with "22 More Hits" (MCA Nashville). Since "50 Number Ones" apparently wasn't enough for Strait's fans, he's back with more of his hits, even if they didn't reach the top of the charts. The new set includes one new song, "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls."

Alabama, the most successful group in the history of country music with 42 number 1 singles, will release its final concert tour recordings through Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. "Alabama: The Last Stand," a collection of previously unreleased recordings made during Alabama's 2003 farewell tour, streets Nov. 13.

The 12-song release features several of Alabama's biggest hits, including "The Closer You Get," "Old Flame," "Forty Hour Week," "Feels So Right" and "The Fans."

Pam Tillis gets in the holiday spirit with "Just in Time for Christmas" (Stellar Cat), her second release this year and also put out on her own label. Following 10 years of performing holiday shows, Tillis is finally releasing a holiday album. The disc is a mix of down home country and uptown torch. Tillis picked the songs because they were favorites for both her and her live audiences. "Silent Night," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," "Pretty Paper" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" are a few of the songs on the disc. Tillis also added three new compositions. Mel Tillis, Pam's father, does a duet as well as nieces and nephews to do some background vocals by the fire.

More news for Trisha Yearwood

CD reviews for Trisha Yearwood

Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love CD review - Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love
The record label may have changed for Trisha Yearwood, but one thing that did not is her powerful voice. Yes, she can turn it on, demonstrating the depth of feeling (the uptempo "They Call It Falling for a Reason" by Jim Collins and Matraca Berg, who produced the song), but she is also not a Johnny one note either by overdoing it. Yearwood mixes it up between tender and strong within a few bars ("This Is Me You're Talking To" and particularly "The Dreaming Fields"). »»»
Greatest Hits CD review - Greatest Hits
After 16 years and 5 number 1 hits, Trisha Yearwood, 43, finally has enough hits under her belt to make them her greatest. The 17 songs here include 2 new songs closing out the disc, actually her second such package ("Songbook: A Collection of Hits" came out in 1997). The rest of it is in chronological order with her very first song, a career one at that, "She's In Love With the Boy" with most songs having a pop influence. The ultra-catchy "She's in Love... »»»
Jasper County CD review - Jasper County
Trisha Yearwood has been out of circulation for four years, but reunited with original producer Garth Fundis, the singer ably shows she retains her formidable skills. First and foremost is her voice. Yearwood tends not to overuse it, though it remains a powerful instrument whether on the upbeat (the soulful, horn-laden "Gimme The Good Stuff") or ballads (the single "George Rain" with backing vocals from fianc+ Garth Brooks). While on recent albums, Yearwood could have pleaded guilty to sounding »»»
Editorial: Walking the talk – When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left – Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) – If you didn't realize Steve Earle had a new disc out, "The Low Highway," it would have been no problem realizing that quite and quickly. That was because Earle started the two-hour show with three straight tracks from "The Low Highway," and he would not be done for the night. The title track of was a midtempo effort... »»»
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