Sammi Smith was a difficult singer to categorize. Straddling the line between lush country-pop and idiosyncratic outlaw country, she didn't belong to either world, which didn't effect the quality of her music but at times could mean that she slipped through the cracks between critical acclaim and commercial sales. She didn't want either, but neither arrived at the level she deserved, as Varese Sarabande's excellent 1996 compilation The Best of Sammi Smith illustrates. Smith's big break ca...   [ read more ]

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Indeed he is. Recorded in Los Angeles with a crew of young acolytes offering spot-on backing (guitarists Zach Zunis and Rick Holmstrom acquit themselves well), Arnold eases back into harness with a remake of "I Wish You Would" before exposing some fine new originals (the Chuck Berry-styled rocker "Move on Down the Road" is a stomping standout) and an homage to his old mentor Sonny Boy (a romping "Shake the Boogie"). ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide

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The success of Martina McBride's smash single "Where Would You Be" brought the Nash Vegas music-making machinery back to the door of its writer, Rachel Proctor. Proctor had been slogging it out on the fringes of Music City for close to a decade and had been rejected by nearly everyone, before McBride's hit brought the focus back to the singer/songwriter. Where I Belong is her debut offering, and was produced by Chris Lindsey. There are 11 songs here, six of which were co-written by ...   [ read more ]

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