Dixie Chicks - Top of the World Tour: Live

The Dixie Chicks were indeed on top of the world when they launched their supporting tour for their chart-topping 2002 album, Home. As the tour rolled on, they stepped into some controversy, as lead singer Natalie Maines claimed during the buildup to the 2003 Iraq War that the trio was ashamed to be from the same state as President George W. Bush, leading to a prolonged talk radio-fueled media firestorm that hurt their image within country, even as it didn't diminish their sales. Still, it was hard for them to avoid the spotlight, and Maines even seemed to court it as she baited arch nemesis Toby Keith during the country Music Awards, and it's to their credit that during this hectic year they produced music as good as that captured on the double-disc live souvenir Top of the World Tour: Live. Spanning no less than 22 songs recorded on a variety of dates during the 2003 world tour, the album captures a good cross section of hits and highlights from their Columbia albums, which is also a good representation of their set list for the 2003 tour. While there are no surprises either in song selection or in musical approach (unless a cover of Bob Dylan's "Mississippi" or an appearance from Emmylou Harris counts), and while the performances aren't all that different than the studio sets, it's nevertheless a solid, enjoyable listen that contains all of the Dixie Chicks' big songs, thereby revealing both the breadth and depth of their repertoire. And, as an added bonus, there's a nice visual allusion to the turmoil of the previous year in the liner notes -- a nice picture of the trio posed defiantly in front of Freedom Hall. It's a nice added touch to an already winning set. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Odor Assistant Amy Tinkham Staging, Choreographer Andrea Mack Lighting Assistant Benny Kirkham Lighting Director Bill "Frosty" Frostman Lighting Assistant Bill Leabody Production Coordination Bob House Organ Bobby "Bucky" Huck Technician Brad Ervin Engineer, Assistant Brent Lawler Hair Stylist Brent Truitt Vocals (Background), Mandolin Bret Healey Design Brian Rachko Engineer Bryan Jones Guitar Technician Bud Kimble Assistant Carl Tovey Stage Manager Chris McCann Photography Darryl K. Roberts Video Images Dave Jolley Video Dave Panscik Video David Grissom Leader, Guitar (Electric Baritone), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (12 String Electric) Deanna Bryant Stylist Dixie Chicks Executive Producer, Producer Drew Finley Programming EJ Wojtowicz ? Emily Robison Guitar (Acoustic), Dobro, Banjo, Group Member, Guitar (Electric), Vocal Harmony Emmylou Harris Vocals (Background) Fern Alvarez Engineer Fred Remmert Engineer, Mastering, Mixing George Elizondo Video Director Henry Metcalfe Organ Hiroko Taguchi Violin James Minchin Photography Jane Richter ? Jason Deleu Organ Jason Hill Percussion Technician, Drum Technician Jeff Mauss Tour Accountant John "Sly" Wilson Assistant John Deaderick Accordion, Vocals (Background), Organ (Hammond), Keyboards John Gardner Djembe, Percussion, Tambourine, Drums, Drums (Snare) John Mock Tin Whistle, Tambourine, Concertina, Irish Whistle, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), String Arrangements, Cello Arrangement, Percussion Johnnie Branham Monitor Engineer Keith Pilkington Technician Keith Sewell Vocals (Background), Soloist, Fiddle, Guitar (Acoustic) Ken Mitchell ? Kevin "Kap" Kapler Engineer Kevin Reagan Art Direction, Design Kim Maguire Photography, Cover Photo Kristen Johnson Wardrobe Lawrence Rupp ? LeRoy A. Bennett Lighting Design, Production Design Linda Ghidossi de Luca Viola Lloyd Maines Mixing, Producer Lorenza Ponce Leader, String Arrangements, Violin Luis Lopez Video Images Marguerite Nguyen Production Assistant Marjan Malakpour Wardrobe Mark OHerlihy Video Martie Maguire Soloist, Vocal Harmony, Group Member, Fiddle, Viola, Mandolin Matthew Brubeck Cello Michael Rhodes Bass Mindi Pelletier Road Manager Mitch Nyberg Video Natalie Maines Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Bass (Electric), Vocals, Group Member Nathan Williams Video Nicole Erin Kuhns Wardrobe Richard Coble Tour Manager Richard Dixon ? Richard Randall Organ Richard Schoenadel Engineer Rick Alvarez Assistant Robby Turner Vocals (Background), Dobro, Guitar (Steel) Roger Cabot Organ Roscoe Beck Bass (Electric), Guitar (Electric), Fretless Bass, Vocals (Background), Bass (Upright) Russel Felton Lighting Assistant Ryan Merfy Organ Ryan Ward Video Scotty Reikowsky Monitor Engineer Stephen Allen Davis Video Stephen Schumi Lighting Assistant Tanya Ross-Hughes ? Tim Wright Keyboard Technician, Keyboard Technician Todd Green Organ Todd Kramer Video Todd Sullivan Road Manager Tom Braislin Video Tom Cusimano ? Tom Oatley Guitar Technician Tracy Calderon Video Troy Takagi Merchandising