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Randy Travis' first album, 1986's Storms of Life was one of those rare debuts that was nearly perfect: a confident, assured statement of purpose that set expectations for a follow-up almost too high. Remarkably, his second album Always & Forever -- delivered just a year later -- met those expectations and rivaled its predecessor in its quality. If there's just a slightly increased inclination to slick, radio-ready productions and an emphasis on ballads, the songs themselves are sturdy, classically styled country tunes, whether they're tales of heartache or devotion and they're grounded by Travis, whose nuanced baritone -- bearing a definite Lefty Frizzell influence but possessing his own distinctive idiosyncrasies -- cuts through whatever production glaze there is here. But that glaze is slight -- it's just a hallmark of the era and when compared to other records in the charts in 1987, Always & Forever sounds positively lean -- and the songs (including the chart-toppers "Forever and Ever, Amen," "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever") and "Too Gone Too Long") are great, and through it all Travis proves that he's one of the great country singers of the '80s, if not the greatest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Gene Pistilli, Writer - Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - AL GORE, Writer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals, Writer - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Merle Haggard, Writer - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Marvin Coe, Writer - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Gene Pistilli, Lyricist - Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer - Denise Linde, Writer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Troy Seals, Writer - Max D. Barnes, Writer - Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Don Schlitz, Writer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals, Writer - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Ronny Scaife, Writer - Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Phil Sidney Thomas, Writer - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Kent Robbins, Writer - Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Susan Longaker, Writer - Joe Borgan, Engineer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Marshall Morgan, AdditionalEngineer - Lisa Silver, Backing Vocals - Jack Williams, Bass Guitar - Dennis Locorriere, Backing Vocals - LARRY BYROM, Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franklin, Percussion - Mark O'Connor, Fiddle - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Terry McMillan, Percussion, Harmonica - DavidHungate, Bass Guitar - Randy Travis, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mike Reese, MasteringEngineer - Dennis Wilson, Backing Vocals - JAMES STROUD, Drums - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - KYLE LEHNING, Producer, MixingEngineer - Larry Londin, Drums - Russell Barenberg, Acoustic Guitar - Dennis Burnside, Keyboards - Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson, Harmonica - Mark Casstevens, Acoustic Guitar - PAUL OVERSTREET, Backing Vocals - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Diane Tidwell, Backing Vocals - Michael Brook, Backing Vocals - Alan LeBoeuf, Backing Vocals - Kathy Baillie, Backing Vocals - Doyle Grisham, Pedal Steel Guitar - Kirt Odle, MixingEngineer - Sherri Huffman, Backing Vocals - Joe Borgan, Engineer - Paul Sales, Writer
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
Album review
Randy Travis' first album, 1986's Storms of Life was one of those rare debuts that was nearly perfect: a confident, assured statement of purpose that set expectations for a follow-up almost too high. Remarkably, his second album Always & Forever -- delivered just a year later -- met those expectations and rivaled its predecessor in its quality. If there's just a slightly increased inclination to slick, radio-ready productions and an emphasis on ballads, the songs themselves are sturdy, classically styled country tunes, whether they're tales of heartache or devotion and they're grounded by Travis, whose nuanced baritone -- bearing a definite Lefty Frizzell influence but possessing his own distinctive idiosyncrasies -- cuts through whatever production glaze there is here. But that glaze is slight -- it's just a hallmark of the era and when compared to other records in the charts in 1987, Always & Forever sounds positively lean -- and the songs (including the chart-toppers "Forever and Ever, Amen," "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever") and "Too Gone Too Long") are great, and through it all Travis proves that he's one of the great country singers of the '80s, if not the greatest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:30:54
- Main artists: Randy Travis
- Label: Warner Records - Maverick
- Genre: Country
© 1987 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1987 Warner Records Inc.
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