Pam Tillis - It's All Relative

Best known as an engaging and often humorous performer, and secondarily as Nashville songbird Pam Tillis' father, Mel Tillis deserves greater recognition as one of country music's more enduring and consistent songwriters. This oversight is addressed in It's All Relative, as Pam joins with a cast of Music City luminaries to interpret some of his better-known works. Her performance is right on the money from start to finish. On up-tempo tracks, whether honky tonk excursions like "Unmitigated Gall" or a brisk rockabilly sprint with Ray Benson through "Honey (Open That Door)," she's expressive, though somewhat restrained. It's at slower tempos that her abilities are most evident, as she exploits the interpretive room that ballads allow. An exceptional harmony singer, she knows how to play off of the unique timbre and phrasing contributed by Dolly Parton on a lacelike rendition of "Violet and a Rose" and Emmylou Harris in a more Daniel Lanois-influenced treatment of "Heart Over Mind." On her own, Tillis is even stronger; she turns "Detroit City" into an intimate journal, with misty memories of home and the weary grind of life in the city made equally vivid by her reading. Yet on "Emotions," backed by jazz pianist Beegie Adair, Tillis eases smoothly into a torchier style that has nothing to do with rural idylls. The last track, "Come On and Sing," brings Dad into the picture, along with a gaggle of his grandkids; it's a predictable cameo, but irresistible nonetheless and a perfect dessert for this rich repast. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aubrey Haynie Fiddle Beegie Adair Piano, Keyboards Bob Patin Keyboards, Piano Bruce Bouton Lap Steel Guitar, Dobro, Pedal Steel Bryan Sutton Mandolin, Guitar Buddy Spicher String Arrangements, Strings Chris Burns Engineer Cliff Audretch A&R Curtis Young ? Dan Dugmore Pedal Steel, Dobro, Lap Steel Guitar David Angell Strings David Davidson Strings David Sanger Drums, Percussion David Spicher Bass (Electric), Bass (Upright) Deb Haus Art Direction, Artist Development Delbert McClinton Harmonica Dolly Parton ? Ed Seay Mixing Emmylou Harris ? Erick Jaskowiak Engineer Floyd Domino Piano, Keyboards Gordon Stoker ? Greg Morrow Percussion, Drums James Murphy Dobro, Pedal Steel, Lap Steel Guitar James Pennebaker Guitar, Mandolin Jamie Carter Engineer Jason Roberts Fiddle Jim White Percussion, Drums Joe Manuel Guitar John Catchings Strings John Jorgenson Guitar Karen Williams Johnston Photography Kay Smith A&R Ken Love Mastering Larry Seyer Guitar, Engineer Lloyd Maines Dobro, Pedal Steel, Lap Steel Guitar Lona Heid Vocals (Background) Louis Dean Nunley ? Lynn Williams Drums, Percussion Marty Stuart Mandolin Matt Rollings Piano, Keyboards Matt Spicher Engineer, Guitar Michael Hiatt A&R Mike Brignardello Bass (Upright), Bass (Electric) Mills Logan Engineer Neal Cappellino Engineer Pam Tillis Vocals (Background), Liner Notes, Guitar, Producer Patrick Buchanon Harmonica Ray Benson Producer, Guitar Redd Volkaert Guitar Renee Layher Stylist Rhonda Vincent ? Robby Turner Dobro, Pedal Steel, Lap Steel Guitar Rodney Dawson Engineer Russ Harrington Photography Spencer Starnes Bass (Electric), Bass (Upright) Tony Green Engineer Tony Harrell Piano, Keyboards Tracy Baskette-Fleaner Art Direction, Design Trisha Yearwood ? Victoria Russell Creative Producer