Collin Raye - Direct Hits: The Best Of Collin Raye
STYLE: Country RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 17275-21707 LABEL: Word Nashville 7014713027 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Mike Rimmer
New to us but Raye has spent some time pitching at the mainstream country market. This compilation brings together his best tunes to reach a new audience in Christian music. As you'd expect this selection of gentle country songs deal with a variety of topics. Some of this is simple, "positive" country with a moral, unreligious message and some of it carries more spiritual connotations. "Love Me", written by fellow New Countryman Skip Ewing, was his breakthrough song with a positive message of never ending love which transcends the grave. "Little Rock" is about victory over alcoholism but it could be a song of hope that deals with life's struggles and the possibility that God can transform you. "Think About You" and "What If Jesus Comes Back Tomorrow" have a slightly harder edge and the latter has a powerful message of non-judgement towards those who, on the outside, are struggling to hold things together. Raye makes a polished New Country sound and his best tunes don't shy away from harder issues. That's a welcome change in a genre which is usually more at home with soppy platitudes than life changing challenges. Country music with muscle - I like it!
Also reviewed in CR42:
In the US country charts, Collin is a big star. To my ears this is a pleasant enough recording made by someone with the sort of voice able to bring emotional resonance to ballads and toe tappers though without being a totally distinctive song stylist. The songs by and large avoid mention of the 'J' word but concentrate on good, old fashioned "positive" values (nothing wrong with that!). Throughout the production is top line from Nashville's finest. The ones that stand out are "I Think About You" and "What If Jesus Comes Back Like That", which are more up tempo, and "Little Rock"- about a reformed alcoholic- quite affecting.
6
Carolyn Schofield
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