Search - Randy Travis :: You & You Alone

A strong album

Ken Schoonover, Jr. | Springdale, AR United States | 01/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After getting away from his country roots a little bit (at least in my opinion) in the mid-90s, Randy Travis righted himself big time in 1998. Five hits came off this record--the ballads "Out Of My Bones", "Spirit Of A Boy, Wisdom Of A Man" and the title song "You And You Alone"; the uptempo, cautionary song "The Hole"; and the toe-tapping "Stranger In My Mirror". Other highlights are "I Did My Part(with Patrick Swayze) and "I'm Still Here, You're Still Gone"(with Alison Krauss and her Union Station bandmate, Dan Tyminski). However, the best song on the album, in my opinion, is the cowboy song "A Horse Called Music". It's well-written and has a great story. All in all, every song here is outstanding. You And You Alone, Randy's first DreamWorks Records release, reestablished him as one of country music's stars."

Blame it on Randy.

M. Sawyer | Sioux City, IA USA | 07/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't like country music--hardly any modern music, actually--and time was I made fun of folks that listened to hick tunes. But as I was channel surfing one day on my car radio, I stumbled across Randy Travis' "The Hole." It was a revelation. It was music with lyrics that flowed, had some substance, and taught a good message. And it was upbeat. And it was sung by a man with an unapologetic twang in his voice, a voice textured but smooth, like well-worn leather. And I was hooked. "You and You Alone" was my first country album, and it's still my favorite. Perhaps, like a first love, it'll always be one of my "fond things."This is his best album, beating "8x10" hands-down. This album was good enough to convert me. Now 4 of the 5 station presets on my car radio are--country. I laugh at myself.Blame it all on Randy."

Randy comes back strong

Ken | Olathe, KS, U.S.A. | 02/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Randy Travis made a strong comeback in '98 with You And You Alone. Just before leaving Warner Brothers, his original record label, Randy released some songs that in my opinion weren't "country" enough. However, when he went to DreamWorks and co-produced this album with James Stroud and Byron Gallimore, Randy came out with his best music in years.The initial single off this record, the lost-love ballad "Out Of My Bones", was Randy's first #1 song in over four years. Anyone who listens can catch the heartache in Randy's voice as he struggles to let go of the memory of an old love--to keep walking "till the fever's gone". The reflective coming-of-age song "Spirit Of A Boy, Wisdom Of A Man" and the title track "You And You Alone" were also big hits off this album. Still another highlight is "I Did My Part". This song was from the soundtrack of the movie "Black Dog", which Randy co-starred in, and features background vocals by Patrick Swayze, another of the film's stars. The songs I just mentioned are all great songs. However, the best song on the record, at least in my opinion, is the cowboy song "A Horse Called Music". It is well-written, and it tells a great story of getting old, lost love, and life on the range.There's no shortage of upbeat songs here, though. Randy had a Top 5 hit with "The Hole", Skip Ewing and James D. Hicks' toe-tapping, cautionary song about the futile search for riches. It's an enjoyable song. So are the bouncy tune "Only Worse", in which the guy is telling his friend about his broken-up romance("I'm hangin' by a thread from the southern end of my rope" and "It's kind of like a heartache, only worse"); the offbeat romantic song "Stranger In My Mirror"("There's a stranger in my mirror who don't know how to behave/He keeps grinnin' 'bout you/And whistlin' tunes/While he ought to be watchin' me shave"); and the pumping song "I'm Still Here, You're Still Gone". On the latter song, Alison Krauss and one of her Union Station bandmates, Dan Tyminski, provide the vocal harmony.Randy Travis was one of country music's "New Traditionalists" in the late '80s and early '90s. After going through a few down years, he righted himself big time in '98 with this album, and he has continued to produce great music. You And You Alone reestablished Randy as one of country music's stars."