Garth Brooks > Reviews (2)

I was introduced to the music of Garth Brooks in a slightly unusual way. My local pub was holding a Karaoke evening and the compere, Tony, an ex semi professional singer with a country and western band, kicked the evening off with a song called ‘That Summer’. As I sat watching the lyrics come up on the television screen I realised what a good story was being told within the song, and later when another song ‘Rodeo’ was performed by him, I couldn’t help but look through the song catalogue to find out the name of the artiste. Having seen the lyrics and heard the songs of a man who’s name I new but couldn’t recall ever hearing on the radio, I went out the following day an bought his Ropin’ the Wind C.D. I must admit that I was a little disappointed in Garths voice when I first heard it, the previous night Tony’s deeper voice seemed to suit the songs better, however the more I listened the more hooked I became.

Garth Brooks was absolutely huge on the country and western scene in America a few years ago and I always feel it’s a shame that we in Britain don’t have the opportunity to hear more music of this kind on local and popular radio stations. After all many of our ‘pop’ hits originated from there. One example being ‘If tomorrow never comes’ co written by Garth and covered by Ronan Keating recently.

Many of Garth’s songs revolve around both the old and new west, many of them quite erotic, some with a moral, and some with a twist in the tale. There are few singer / songwriters that can fire up my imagination in the same manner, and I often listen to a song over and over again and conjure up something new each time in my minds eye. I hope I haven’t given you the impression that Garth only does sentimental or love songs, far from it, he can belt out a good fast one as good as anybody, and his ‘Ain’t going down till the sun comes up’ is testament to that. Love the words to that song. If I’ve convinced you to go out and buy a Garth Brooks C.D. his ‘Double Live’ is not a bad one to start with, all his biggest hits are on it and although live concerts can never produce the quality of studio made recordings it’s a good place to start.

In true radio style I’ll count down my favourite three.
In at number three we have:
Cowboy Bill (Larry Bastian / E. Berghoff)
A song about an old cowboy telling a bunch of kids stories about his part in the old west. The children are warned by the grown ups he’s telling them a pack of lies and when the old man dies the truth is revealed. This will bring a lump to your throat the first you hear it.

At number two.
The Thunder Rolls (Pat Alger / Garth Brooks)
An unfaithful husband gets his comeuppance in this one. The sound effects bring real life to the song.

And at number one.
That Summer (Pat Alger / Sandy Mahl / Garth Brooks)
The one that first kindled my interest in Garth is still my favourite. The song is a story about a young mans first love and being seduced by an older woman. I mentioned earlier about some of the songs being quite erotic, well this ones certainly that.