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COUNTRY MUSIC

Rating Scale: to

Artist:	CHRIS KNIGHT
Title:	"CHRIS KNIGHT"
Label:	Decca
Reviewed By:	Kayla Christian
Rating:

"Chris Knight" comes walking into town with "It Ain't Too Easy Being Me," strutting with a rebellious beat and an elusive echo of Bob Dylan. The song strongly points out "Am I born this way/ Am I a self-made fool." Taking a different turn from most songs, Chris continues to belt out one self attack after another, different and unique as he trys to convince "I had to work to be the jerk I've come to be." As you listen to the song you will learn of the reason for the self-destruct mode, hearing "And I know the words that'll bring you back/ But I don't say nothing as I watched you pack." "Framed" is another unique song. Working in a lumberyard and being framed for murder, losing his wife when he was sentenced, an innocent man spent 10 years in prison while the guilty one ran free. After being set free, he's a new man with a new attitude. "Now the guilty man paid long ago/ He's the same man that got laid low/ When he took my wife he was hell bound/ Even if I did gun him down." "Bring Home The Harvest" has a good country beat. Chris expresses a great love for his Rebecca back home on the farm. Not even the greener grass of California could diminish that deep love. "But eleven hundred miles from now/ I will wake up in her arms/ Yeah back home on the farm." It's time to "Bring the Harvest Home." Chris Knight showcases his fine quality voice and songwriting talents on "Something Changed." The song is about a guy in love, but who needs to cross the tracks. He was gone for a long time, and some ". . .watched another walk her down the aisle." He must have been a fool to come back. ". . .should've never gone across the tracks/ She believed in blue skies/ I just brought her rain/ But I walked away and I am walking yet." As Chris sings this song you can feel the pain crying out as he realizes the mistake he made. The next song digs deep down into the soul and fishes out the pride of a man. "House and 90 Acres" is how determined he is to keep his roots intact. 'Two kids with no mama/ She left in a salesman's arms." He is losing everything. "But I've watched my tools and my tractor/ Leave in someone else's hands/ I grit my teeth and let 'em go/ But I won't give up my land." A good strong steady beat, with the exceptional talent of Tim Krekel and his deep quality harmonica flavor, adds to another pleasing song written by Chris. The "Summer of '75" is completely wrapped with the vibrations of the steel guitar of Russ Pahl. It glides into the depth of forever, lasting love. "The smell of her hair was my first breath/ And her lips was my first kiss/ I couldn't keep myself from falling/ So she taught me how to fly/ With 'time tugging at this life of mine/ I reach for the warmest thing to hold/ From their very first glance and all through his life/ the dream I had is still by my side." "Summer of '75" is a very warm, tender, romantic, way-down-deep-in- your-heart song. "Run From Your Memory" is a fast, catchy turn of another love lost. "Love And A .45" is about Badge 3-0-1, and love for one standing on the corner. "The Hammer Going Down" is a unique truck driver's song. Chad Cromwell at the drums creates the precise sound of those old tires slapping the blacktop to race "A thousand miles for her love." "The Band is Playing Too Slow" is also another, lost-the-love-of-my-life song. One of the better songs on this album is "The River's Own," written by Chris and Gordon Bradberry. It is a touching song that we all know so well. The father's roots run so very deep into the land that he worked all his life, and his love for the river that entwines that land. "When the crops flooded we lived on fish/ The river and my dad were one." A young man of seventeen looks down that river, drawn to those city lights. His father passes away, and in the will it said "Son it's time for you to be still/ I did just what my dad would've done/ Cause me and the river we are one." This song has the elusive touch of Aaron Tippins' song "I Got It Honest." "William" was a neat kid, but he came from white trash and was a victim of child abuse, dropped out of school, abused alcohol and drugs, and was sent to reform school for breaking into a hardware store. Finally, settling down with a wife and kids, "He raised 'em like his daddy did/ He was shot by a city cop/ While he was robbing a local drug store." Being the last song on this album, "William" leaves you feeling down and depressed. Even though Chris Knight has strong talent abilities, this album is far too negative. It started off good but after so many repugnant down-and- out songs, the too few positive upbeat songs are lost. Each song has its merits, but with this much depression compiled together, it only tears the album down.

 

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