Randy Travis: Influence Vol. 1, The Man I Am ALBUM REVIEW

After a couple of years with drinking mishaps and a summer of bad health news, multiplatinum recording artist and Country Music legend Randy Travis is back with a brand new album, Influence Vol. 1, The Man I am! The album pays tribute to Travis’ biggest musical influences over his long and successful career. Artists include the late George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Ernest Tubb, among others.

 With names like that, it’s no wonder that you feel like you’ve entered a time machine that brings you back to the days of Country Music’s prime. Influence Vol 1, The Man I am features a fantastic collection of “solid Country gold” that will make you long for the days when country music was perhaps the most distinguishable genre on radio.

 Pedal steel guitars and Dobros cry and fiddles play throughout the entire album, which features a great line-up of covers. And, by the looks of it, it’s no secret that Travis’ biggest influence is Merle Haggard – The album features eight salutes to Haggard in all. Travis’s renditions of Haggard standards include “Someday We’ll Look Back,” the lovely, “What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana,” the timeless ballad, “Ever Changing Woman,” “My Mary,” the tender classic, “Trouble In Mind,” and the uplifting “Always On the Mountain When I Fall.”

 However, the commercial highlight in this collection may be the last song, a new duet with Country Music fan favorite Joe Nochols, “Tonight, I’m Playing Possum”, a tribute tune to Travis’ good friend and Country Music legend, George Jones, who recently passed away leaving the Country Music world saddened. “Real country music” fans will have no problem adding this album to their collection. However, fans of more modern ‘poppy’ fare may have trouble adopting this album into their lineup.

 It’s a shame that gems like this only come around every now and then these days. And, when they do, they are rarely if ever commercial successes. However, It’s clear that Travis is sticking to his roots and base audience, and for that we thank him!