Still Restless
Encyclopedia
Still Restless is the ninth album released by the American country music
band Restless Heart
. Released in 2004, it was considered the band's reunion album, as it was their first release since 1998's Greatest Hits
, as well as the first album since 1990's Fast Movin' Train
to feature all five original band members. Their first and only album for Koch Records
Nashville, it produced the single "Feel My Way to You", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts in late 2004.
. In addition, it was the first album to feature the complete five-piece lineup since 1990's Fast Movin' Train
, as Stewart and Innis had departed in 1991 and 1992, respectively.
According to Stewart, the album was more than one year in the making. Initially, they had planned to work with Tim DuBois and Scott Hendricks
, who had produced virtually all of Restless Heart's previous albums. Both producers declined, however, as they had "their own things going". Eventually, two producers were chosen for Still Restless: Mac McAnally
, a prominent session instrumentalist and songwriter who has worked with Sawyer Brown
and Jimmy Buffett
, and Kyle Lehning
, who had produced for Randy Travis
. McAnally also performed several instruments and sang background vocals on the album.
. "Every Fire" was previously recorded by Jason Sellers
on his 1999 album A Matter of Time
, and before that by Shenandoah
on their 1994 album In the Vicinity of the Heart
. Sellers also co-wrote the track "Makin' Hay", which Clay Davidson
previously released from his 2000 debut album Unconditional
.
A cover of The Beatles
' "The Night Before" is also included on this album. This song was chosen by Jennings, who wanted to include "a fun cover". Initially, according to Dittrich, the band had difficulty making a satisfactory recording of the song, until McAnally began playing the song at a slightly faster tempo on his 12-string guitar, and then invited the band to join him.
Only one song was released as a single: "Feel My Way to You", the first track. Restless Heart's first Top 40 chart single since 1998's "No End to This Road", this song peaked at #29 on the Billboard country charts. No additional singles were released from the album, due to the closure of Koch Records' Nashville division in early 2005.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Restless Heart
Restless Heart
Restless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's original members were John Dittrich , Paul Gregg , Dave Innis , Greg Jennings , and Verlon Thompson...
. Released in 2004, it was considered the band's reunion album, as it was their first release since 1998's Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Restless Heart album)
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American country music group Restless Heart. It was released by RCA Records in 1998. "No End to This Road" and "For Lack of Better Words", two tracks new to this album, were released as singles, and "Somebody's Gonna Get That Girl" is new to this album as...
, as well as the first album since 1990's Fast Movin' Train
Fast Movin' Train
Fast Movin' Train is the fourth studio album by American country music group Restless Heart. It was released by RCA Records in 1990. The title track, "Dancy's Dream," "When Somebody Loves You" and "Long Lost Friend" were released as singles...
to feature all five original band members. Their first and only album for Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
Nashville, it produced the single "Feel My Way to You", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts in late 2004.
Making of the album
With the exception of a brief reunion for a greatest hits compilation in 1998, Restless Heart had not been active since disbanding in 1994. Still Restless served as the band's reunion album, bringing back all five original members: lead singer Larry Stewart, drummer John Dittrich, bassist Paul Gregg, guitarist Greg Jennings, and pianist/keyboardist Dave Innis. It was the band's first album of all-new material since 1994's Matters of the HeartMatters of the Heart (Restless Heart album)
Matters of the Heart is the sixth studio album by American country music group Restless Heart. It was released by RCA Records in 1994. "Baby Needs New Shoes" was the only single released from the album...
. In addition, it was the first album to feature the complete five-piece lineup since 1990's Fast Movin' Train
Fast Movin' Train
Fast Movin' Train is the fourth studio album by American country music group Restless Heart. It was released by RCA Records in 1990. The title track, "Dancy's Dream," "When Somebody Loves You" and "Long Lost Friend" were released as singles...
, as Stewart and Innis had departed in 1991 and 1992, respectively.
According to Stewart, the album was more than one year in the making. Initially, they had planned to work with Tim DuBois and Scott Hendricks
Scott Hendricks
Scott Hendricks is an American record producer who has worked with several country music artists. He has had over 80 top 10s, and 45 number 1 hits. Between 1995 and 1997, he was also the president and chief executive officer of Capitol Records Nashville...
, who had produced virtually all of Restless Heart's previous albums. Both producers declined, however, as they had "their own things going". Eventually, two producers were chosen for Still Restless: Mac McAnally
Mac McAnally
Lyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
, a prominent session instrumentalist and songwriter who has worked with Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller...
and Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
, and Kyle Lehning
Kyle Lehning
Kyle Lehning is an American record producer whose work is mainly in the field of country music. He has produced virtually every album released by Randy Travis, who describes their partnership "an interesting relationship." The only exceptions are Travis' 1993 album Wind in the Wire, which was...
, who had produced for Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
. McAnally also performed several instruments and sang background vocals on the album.
Song details
Three of the album's eleven tracks were written by Mac McAnally, and all three had been previously recorded by him as well: "Down the Road" from 1990's Simple Life, "Miracle" from 1994's Knots, and "Looking Back" from 1999's Word of Mouth. "Down the Road" was also a minor chart single for McAnally in late 1990, peaking at #70 on the Billboard country music charts. McAnally charted again with the song in 2008, this time as a duet with Kenny ChesneyKenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
. "Every Fire" was previously recorded by Jason Sellers
Jason Sellers
Jason Sellers is an American country music artist. After several years of touring the United States in his family's band, Sellers joined the road band of Ricky Skaggs. By 1997, he was signed to a recording contract with BNA Records, for whom he recorded two studio albums: 1997's I'm Your Man and...
on his 1999 album A Matter of Time
A Matter of Time (Jason Sellers album)
A Matter of Time is the second and final album released by American country music artist Jason Sellers. Its title track was a Top 40 hit for him on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in 1999...
, and before that by Shenandoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
on their 1994 album In the Vicinity of the Heart
In the Vicinity of the Heart
In the Vicinity of the Heart is the sixth studio album by the American country music band Shenandoah. Their only studio album for Liberty Records, it was released in November 1994 . The first single from the album, "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart", features duet vocals from Alison Krauss...
. Sellers also co-wrote the track "Makin' Hay", which Clay Davidson
Clay Davidson
Clay Davidson is an American country music artist. He signed to Virgin Records' Nashville division in late 1999, Davidson released his debut album Unconditional on April 11, 2000. Its title track was a top 5 hit for him on the Billboard country charts, and the album produced two more Top 30 hits...
previously released from his 2000 debut album Unconditional
Unconditional (album)
Unconditional is the only album by American country music artist Clay Davidson, released in 2000 on Virgin Records Nashville. Its title track was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 2000...
.
A cover of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "The Night Before" is also included on this album. This song was chosen by Jennings, who wanted to include "a fun cover". Initially, according to Dittrich, the band had difficulty making a satisfactory recording of the song, until McAnally began playing the song at a slightly faster tempo on his 12-string guitar, and then invited the band to join him.
Only one song was released as a single: "Feel My Way to You", the first track. Restless Heart's first Top 40 chart single since 1998's "No End to This Road", this song peaked at #29 on the Billboard country charts. No additional singles were released from the album, due to the closure of Koch Records' Nashville division in early 2005.
Track listing
- "Feel My Way to You" (Jennifer Schot, Danny Orton) – 3:30
- "Down the RoadDown the Road (song)"Down the Road" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mac McAnally. McAnally has charted with the song on two separate occasions. The first of these two versions was released as the second single from his 1990 album Simple Life, and was a minor chart single...
" (Mac McAnallyMac McAnallyLyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
) – 2:54 - "Same Boat Now" (Austin Cunningham, Lance Miller, Larry Williams) – 3:26
- "Looking Back" (McAnally) – 3:32
- "And More" (Larry StewartLarry Stewart (singer)Larry Stewart is an American country music singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop band Restless Heart...
, Allison Mellon) – 3:35 - "Makin' Hay" (Marcus HummonMarcus HummonMarcus Spencer Hummon is an American country music artist. After several years of playing in various bands, he eventually found his way to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a songwriting contract, and subsequently a record deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album All...
, Jason SellersJason SellersJason Sellers is an American country music artist. After several years of touring the United States in his family's band, Sellers joined the road band of Ricky Skaggs. By 1997, he was signed to a recording contract with BNA Records, for whom he recorded two studio albums: 1997's I'm Your Man and...
) – 2:57 - "Every Fire" (John Scott SherrillJohn Scott SherrillJohn Scott Sherrill is an American songwriter whose work is primarily in the field of country music. He has written songs for such artists as John Anderson, Brooks & Dunn, Jimmy Buffett , Johnny Lee, George Strait, Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless, Josh Turner, Waylon Jennings, Alison Krauss, Peter...
, Cathy Majeski) – 3:46 - "Yesterday's News" (Stewart, Greg Jennings, Wayne KirkpatrickWayne KirkpatrickWayne Kirkpatrick is an American singer/songwriter and musician born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in 1979....
) – 3:15 - "Miracle" (McAnally) – 3:45
- "The Night Before" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) – 2:18 - "What We Know Now" (Stewart, Steve Bogard, Dave Robbins) – 3:57
Restless Heart
- John Dittrich – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Paul Gregg – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Greg Jennings – acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, papoose - Dave Innis – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ, clavinetClavinetA Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
, Rhodes pianoRhodes pianoThe Rhodes piano is an electro-mechanical piano, invented by Harold Rhodes during the fifties and later manufactured in a number of models, first in collaboration with Fender and after 1965 by CBS....
, Wurlitzer electric pianoWurlitzer electric pianoWurlitzer 200A|250px|thumbThe Wurlitzer electric piano was one of a series of electromechanical stringless pianos manufactured and marketed by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Corinth, Mississippi, U.S. and Tonawanda, New York... - Larry StewartLarry Stewart (singer)Larry Stewart is an American country music singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop band Restless Heart...
– lead vocals
Additional musicians
- Eric Darken – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Jerry DouglasJerry DouglasJerry Douglas may refer to:*Jerry Douglas , actor, who was on The Young and the Restless for 25 years*Jerry Douglas, country/bluegrass musician*Jerry Douglas , director and writer of adult films such as, Score...
– DobroDobroDobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar... - Dan Dugmore – pedal steel guitarPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
- Doyle Grisham – pedal steel guitar
- Larry Hall – stringsString sectionThe string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
- Mac McAnallyMac McAnallyLyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
– acoustic guitar, piano, papoose, mandolaMandolaThe mandola or tenor mandola is a fretted, stringed musical instrument. It is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin: the four double courses of strings tuned in fifths to the same pitches as the viola , a fifth lower than a mandolin...
, vocals - Jonathan Yudkin – fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...