Paradise (BNA, 1996)

John Anderson first hit the country charts in 1977. He was a constant chart-topper for about seven years, but dropped out of sight for a while, then re-appeared with the smash album, "Seminole Wind." Since then, he's been as popular as ever. This is a fun album, with tracks ranging from the rollicking, honky-tonkers, "Let The Guitar Do The Talking" with guest Mark Knopfler on guitar and "My Kind of Crazy" to the more introspective, "Long, Hard Lessons Learned" and "Paradise." Levon Helm joins Anderson for the tongue-in-cheek, "And The Band Played On," one of the best cuts. Anderson has a genuine twang and edge in his voice that makes his material so appealing. He is able to deliver a song in a way that can touch and entertain you at the same time. He's one of a very few of today's country artists to have had hit records in three separate decades.

The disc was co-produced by Anderson and Nashville veteran, James Stroud. Clearly, they have found the formula for pleasing Anderson's many fans.