The pastures, cattle, and timber panoramas roll past view on the two lane CR 5 from West Blocton to Marion, to the beat of a country playlist, and I swear I can feel the blood pressure and biometrics calming.
I’ll prolly dial up some Clint Black on the road this afternoon. Not to go BMatt journey, but his debut album, Killin’ Time knocked it out of the park and was authentic country. Not Haggard level authentic but close enough considering it was 1989. The Katy, Texas product had arrived, and would later reflect:
“At one point, I knew I crossed this line out of obscurity and I felt like no matter what happened from that point on I would always be remembered for Killin' Time. There was this kind of mixed feeling of remorse and excitement.”
The album title song itself sneaks up on you with its dark premise that jars you out of the lighthearted country themes of heartbreak and liquor. “Man if I cross that line, and they bury me”.
Each song on the album was penned at least in part by Black; four of them were attributed solely to him, while the rest were collaborations with his writing compadre,, Hayden Nicholas.
In a departure from most other country albums, Black used his road band instead of session musicians to record Killin' Time.The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart and certified platinum in 1990. He made his debut in 1989 with the single, "A Better Man", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in early June. This marked the first time in 14 years that a debut single by a male artist had peaked at the top of the chart. In total, five singles off of his debut album reached number one, the first time any country artist had accomplished this feat. Black won the Country Music Association's Horizon Award for best newcomer in 1989.
Clint performs at the Alabama Theatre on January 31st, so I’m gonna ease down there to soak up what’s left of authentic country these days.
A year ago, Clint brought John Rich in to duet the song:
I’ll prolly dial up some Clint Black on the road this afternoon. Not to go BMatt journey, but his debut album, Killin’ Time knocked it out of the park and was authentic country. Not Haggard level authentic but close enough considering it was 1989. The Katy, Texas product had arrived, and would later reflect:
“At one point, I knew I crossed this line out of obscurity and I felt like no matter what happened from that point on I would always be remembered for Killin' Time. There was this kind of mixed feeling of remorse and excitement.”
The album title song itself sneaks up on you with its dark premise that jars you out of the lighthearted country themes of heartbreak and liquor. “Man if I cross that line, and they bury me”.
Each song on the album was penned at least in part by Black; four of them were attributed solely to him, while the rest were collaborations with his writing compadre,, Hayden Nicholas.
In a departure from most other country albums, Black used his road band instead of session musicians to record Killin' Time.The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart and certified platinum in 1990. He made his debut in 1989 with the single, "A Better Man", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in early June. This marked the first time in 14 years that a debut single by a male artist had peaked at the top of the chart. In total, five singles off of his debut album reached number one, the first time any country artist had accomplished this feat. Black won the Country Music Association's Horizon Award for best newcomer in 1989.
Clint performs at the Alabama Theatre on January 31st, so I’m gonna ease down there to soak up what’s left of authentic country these days.
A year ago, Clint brought John Rich in to duet the song:
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