Garth Brooks - In the Life of Chris Gaines

When his popularity reached a plateau in the late '90s, Garth Brooks knew it was time to try something new, deciding to become somebody new: Chris Gaines, a brooding, leather-clad rock star. When Brooks' new persona and his album was revealed to the public, they were unforgiving - they didn't think that he was playing a role, they simply though he'd lost his mind. Granted, the story behind Chris Gaines -- both the invented biography and the reasons why Brooks decided to become Gaines -- is more interesting than the record itself. Instead of encapsulating mainstream pop from the mid-'80s through the end of the '90s, thereby sounding like a true "greatest hits," it's basically the state of adult pop at the close of the '90s. Essentially, the record is anchored in the acoustic balladry Babyface constructed for Eric Clapton's "Change the World," with little touches of Mellencamp rock, lite Prince funk, and Beatlesque pop-craft. While the tunes might not have much flair, they're all sturdy, whether it's the silky ballad "Lost in You," the self-conscious Beatles tribute "Maybe," the folky "It Don't Matter to the Sun," or the Wallflowers-styled "Unsigned Letter." Judged as Brooks' first pop album, it's pretty good, and if it had been released that way, it likely would have been embraced by a wide audience. As it stands, it's an album more fascinating for what it is than for the music itself. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Umstead Violin Anthony LaMarchina Cello Barry Green Trombone Betty Small Violin Beverly Drukker Violin Beverly Parker Photography Blair Masters Keyboards Bob Mason Cello Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty Production Assistant Bruce Christensen Viola Candy Conery Hair Stylist Carl Gorodetzky Violin, Contractor Carl Marsh Horn Arrangements, Horn, String Arrangements Carlos Grier Digital Editing, Editing Carlton "Santa" Davis Producer Carolyn Wann Violin Cate Myer Violin Catherine Umstead Violin Chris Harris Vocals Chris McDonald Trombone Chris McHugh Drum Programming, Drums, Percussion Chris Teal Violin Christopher Farrell Viola Connie Ellisor Violin Craig Nelson Bass Crush Mixing Crystal Taliefero Vocals (Background) Dan Needham Drums Dave Anderson ? David Anderson ? David Angell Violin David Davidson Violin Denise Baker Violin Denise Jarvis Production Assistant Denny Purcell Mastering Don Cobb Digital Editing, Editing Don Was Producer Eddie Bayers Drums Eric Conn Editing, Digital Editing Ferne Cassel Cast Garth Brooks Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Gary VanOsdale Viola George Massenburg Engineer, Mixing Gerald Greer Violin Gil Long Tuba Glenn Spinner Mixing, Engineer Gordon Kennedy Guitar (Electric), Bass, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals Greg Phillinganes Keyboards J.B. Baird Engineer, Mixing Jack Jezioro Bass James "Hutch" Hutchinson Bass Jane Oppenheimer Production Assistant Janet Askey Violin Jeff Bailey Trumpet Jennifer Kummer French Horn Jerry Joyner Artwork, Design Jim Grosjean Viola Jimmie Lee Sloas Bass Joann Cruthirds Violin Jocelyn Sprouse Violin John Catchings Cello Jonathan Russell Assistant, Assistant Engineer Julie Tanner Cello Karen Winkelmann Violin Kelly Shane Voices Kenny Aronoff Drums Kris Wilkinson Viola Lance Anderson Make-Up Lee Larrison Violin Lenny Castro Percussion Linda Patterson French Horn Liz Stewart Bass Lynn Peithman Cello Margaret Mason Cello Mark Heimermann Vocals Martin Joseph Model Mary Kathryn Vanosdale Violin Matt Rollings Keyboards Melissa Orndorff Wardrobe, Wardrobe Assistant Mike Haynes Trumpet Mike Lawler Keyboards, Clavinet Monisa Angell Viola Nashville String Machine Strings Pamela Sixfin Violin Phil Madeira Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Organ, Organ (Hammond) Rami Jaffee Organ, Organ (Hammond) Reggie Young Guitar (Electric) Rik Pekkonen Engineer Steve Bishir Engineer, Mixing Terry McMillan Percussion Tommy Sims Bass, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic) Tracy Greenwood Production Assistant Wayne Kirkpatrick Clavinet, Drum Programming, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Vocals