Alan Jackson - Here in the Real World

In 1989, country music honky tonk revivalist Alan Jackson scored his first number one hit with "I'd Love You All Over Again" -- not bad for being only his fifth single. Interestingly enough, it was a ballad, but a hard country ballad nonetheless. The songs sits somewhere in the no man's land between George Jones and Randy Travis, and floats uneasily seeking an edge. The title track is another hard country ballad, and with its sweet lonesome fiddle it was a more logical choice, but what the hell. The bottom line is that while Here in the Real World may not be Jackson's strongest record, it still stands head and shoulders over most of the competition, and that includes Curtain Shirt Brooks, that is, Garth. Producers Keith Stegall and Scott Hendricks understood that Jackson's country sensibilities are a boon, not a bane, in terms of putting his particular brand of new traditionalism onto the charts. Other winners are the honky tonkers such as "Blue Blooded Woman," "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow," and "She Don't Get the Blues," which feels as much like Merle Haggard doing Bob Wills as it does new country. This is a solid effort and established the fact that Jackson was just beginning to come into his own. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Jackson Vocal Harmony, Vocals Brent Mason Guitar (Electric) Bruce Watkins Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Carry Summers Assistant Engineer Chris Hammond Engineer Dave Pomeroy Bass Dennis Henson Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background) Eddie Bayers Drums Gary Paczosa Assistant Engineer, Engineer Greg Parker Assistant Engineer Hank Williams Mastering Hargus "Pig" Robbins Piano Harold Bradley Bass, 6-String Bass J.B. Engineer Jeff Giedt Assistant Engineer Jimmy Capps Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Keith Stegall Vocal Harmony, Producer, Vocals (Background) Larry Paxton Bass Maude Gilman Art Direction Paul Franklin Guitar (Steel) Rob Hajacos Fiddle, Violin Roy M. "Junior" Husky Bass Scott Hendricks Engineer, Mixing, Producer Steve Bishir Assistant Engineer Steve Gibson Guitar (Electric) Wayne Williams Photography Weldon Myrick Guitar (Steel)