Stone Country

The older browser I'm using doesn't allow the star ratings. I rate this a 4. There are two ways a band can handle a cover, make it true to the original or make it your own. Carter, The Tractors, Crowell, Little Texas and Raye do poor copies of the originals. Tritt, Lawrence give their songs energy and new life while true to the Stones. Kershaw makes a bridge between the two styles. Blackhawk makes Wild Horses a song of their own. Made me a Blackhawk fan. Hands down my favorite on this album. Nanci takes command of No Expectations. George Jones makes Time Is On My Side a George Jones song.... but not a very good Jones song.

After listening to Stone Country you will never listen to Mick and the gang in the same way again. This album is excellent and if you pride yourself on having an eclectic taste in music, you have not, until a copy of Stone Country appears in it.

How can you turn a country song into a Country Song? Listen to Nanci Griffith's version of Beggar Banquet's No Expectation. It is truly excellent and I defy anyone not be singing along to this pacy and uptempo cover. The same can be said of Blackhawks's Wild Horses. Furthermore, with this latter rendition, once you get used to this version, the Stone's original will always sound somewhat dirgelike and lacking.

Everyone I have ever played this album to has bought a copy and the thoroughly readable sleeve notes fully explain the Stone-Country-Stones connection.

What some people tend to forget is that these are Rolling Stones songs sung by country singers, so of course you're not going to get the Rolling Stones rock sound. If you want that, then stick to buying the Stones albums. But if you like Stones music and also country, then you will for sure love this album. Every song on this album is a gem, from all out rockers to ballads. From Deana Carters sweet 'Ruby Tuesday' to Travis Tritts rocking 'Honky Tonk Women'. I highly recommend this album to both Stones fans and country fans.