Country Mike Blog

What A Good Time

Mike Sudhalter  |  March 7, 2008

I haven't had time to write about it, but wow, that Alan Jackson "Good Time" album sure is a gem. The first cut, "Good Time", shows Jackson's ability to fit a lot of lyrics into a little space.

Then, he gets profound. I love that line from "You can break the back, but you can't break the spirit of a Small Town Southern Man."

Not every song is great, but it's pretty close.

I would be shocked if "Good Time", " I Still Like Bologna" and "Sissy's Song" aren't all No. 1 hits.

And who can't relate to "I Wish I Could Back Up"?

"Country Boy" is a little bit cliche, and quite frankly, below Jackson's standards of songs.

With a lot of young country singers ready to carry on the torch for traditional country, yeah I'm looking at you Luke Bryan and Ashton Shepherd, it's good to know one of the traditional superstars is still going strong.

Remember 1976? I wasn't born yet, but it was an important part of Jackson's life. He met his wife, Denise, that year and this is the song where we really started learning "a lot about livin' and a little 'bout love."

I'm still waitin' for AJ's bluegrass album. What happened to it, Alison Krauss? Until then, we'll have to settle for "Long, Long Way", his foray into bluegrass on "Good Time." Can't wait for an entire album of these gems.

"Sissy's Song" is poignant about a woman who died before her time. If anyone knows who AJ wrote this song about, I'd like to know.

AJ and Martina McBride is a strange combination for a duet, but they pull it off somehow on "Never Loved Before." Thankfully, it's a real duet, and not just billed as a duet because the guest is on background vocals.

If you want the album's highlight, you'll have to wait for No. 16 of 17.

It's not very often that country singers use spoken words during their songs, but count on AJ for a throwback. "If You Want To Make Me Happy" is a great one, and anyone looking for traditional country will certainly be content with this one.