Tribute to Tradition

Product Review

The best tribute albums take well-known material and reinvent it as new--albeit with care and respect for the original intent. On that level, Tribute to Tradition doesn't work, but that's not to say it's a bad album. Rather, it's (for the most part) a safe collection of some great country songs, recorded by some of the most talented young stars in Nashville today. Individually, these songs stand strong as ever, and the performances do reflect an obvious reverence. Still, a few more chances could have been taken with arrangements or vocal pairings. That said, highlights include Randy Travis's "Mama Tried" and Alison Krauss's "The Three Bells." Two new tracks are also included, nominally "to show that traditional country music is still alive and well," but that seems more like a hedge. --Alexandra Russell

Title Tracks for Tribute to Tradition

1. Stand By Your Man - Dixie Chicks
2. Mama Tried - Randy Travis
3. Wine, Women And Song - Patty Loveless
4. I Never Go Around Mirrors - Trace Adkins
5. Oh, Lonesome Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
6. Behind Closed Doors - Joe Diffie
7. She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) - Wade Hayes
8. 'Til I Can Make It On My Own - Martina McBride
9. Cold Cold Heart - Collin Raye
10. The Three Bells - Alison Krauss
11. City Lights - Rick Trevino
12. Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me) - Collin Raye & Joe Diffie
13. Gone Out Of My Mind - Doug Stone
14. Same Old Train - Marty Stuart/Clint Black/Joe Diffie/Merle Haggard/Emmylou Harris/Alison Krauss...

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(6 customer reviews)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

A well done tribute to real country music, January 11, 2004

Teako Johnson (Greenville, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tribute to Tradition (Audio CD)

This is a excellent cd . I can put it on and never have to skip one track . That's a rarity now days .Standout songs include : 'Til I can make it on my own , Cold Cold Heart, Mama Tried , but the best song on here is The Three Bells . The bass on this song will pure shake the room .Allison Krauss may have even surpass the original by The Browns. Gone out of my mind sounds as if it were written when country was country not this pop country we have now.
I miss the traditional sound of country music . I have quiet a few traditional country music albums ,and the music represented here would fit right in .Same old train closes this cd out in fine fashion .It has 13 diffrent singers and musicians including Emmylou Harris & Merle Haggerd himself . This CD was dedicated to the late Tammy Wynette and is a wonderful tribute to the music she did for so many years. I dissagree with the other reviewers who say this is a marketing scheme . It is far from it . It is a loving...Read more

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

A slightly woozy notion of "tradition" has some success, January 23, 1999

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tribute to Tradition (Audio CD)

Twelve great artists of today! Twelve classic songs of yesterday! Putting aside the hint of self-congratulatory back-patting and slightly woozy notion of "tradition," a great singer plus a great song still equals a great spin, and this disc features several.Alison Krauss' lush-yet-wafer-thin vocals are so perfectly matched to The Browns' "The Three Bells," that the original nearly disappears in her wake. Randy Travis' cover of Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" won't make you forget The Hag, but will remind you of the greatness of both singers and the song they share. On the picker's side, Chet Atkins, Vince Gill and Mark Knopfler embroider Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Oh, Lonesome Me," in a superb display of guitar playing.Two new tracks, including an all-star jam penned by Marty Stuart, link the traditional form to the current milieu. Guests include Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Pam Tillis, Merle Haggard, Earl Scruggs and more...Read more

Did Hank really not do it this way?, December 23, 2009

Blackbird Crow Raven "Blackbird Crow Raven" (Carmel Valley, Calfiornia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tribute to Tradition (Audio CD)

I like these kinds of albums, because they always turn me on to some artist I'd been previously unfamiliar with. In this case, it's Lefty Frizzell via Trace Adkins.

Randy Travis does a great job on Haggard's "Mama Tried," as does Mary Chapin Plumber on Hank Williams'/Don Gibson's "Oh, Lonesome Me."

I also like Collin Raye's interpretation of "Cold, Cold, Heart," where his approach and phrasing is sort of a combination of Lucinda Williams and Glenn Frey.

A reprise would be nice, with Dwight Yoakam (Buck Owens), George Strait (Bob Wills), Brad Paisley (Jimmie Rodgers or Johnny Cash), and Clint Black (Merle Haggard) making appearances.