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Life's Highway (Jeannie Seely album)

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Life's Highway
Studio album by
Jeannie Seely
ReleasedNovember 18, 2003 (2003-11-18)
StudioHilltop Studio
Genre
Length42:28
LabelOMS
Producer
  • Hugh Moore
  • Billy Troy
Jeannie Seely chronology
Been There...Sung That!
(1999) 		Life's Highway
(2003) 		Vintage Country: Old But Treasured
(2011)

Life's Highway is a studio album by American country artist Jeannie Seely. It was released on November 18, 2003, by OMS Records. It was co-produced by Hugh Moore and Billy Troy. Life's Highway was Seely's fourteenth studio recording and first album in several years to be released outside her own record label. The album received critical acclaim for its blend of the country, bluegrass and folk music genres.

Background and content

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Life's Highway was recorded at the Hilltop Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were co-produced by Hugh Moore and Billy Troy. It was Seely's first album in almost ten years to not be self-produced.[3] Although considered by some to be a bluegrass-styled project, Seely did want to call it that. "Simply out of respect for the true bluegrass artists, I wouldn't even venture to call it that. You know, I don't pretend to be able to do (bluegrass)," she said.[2] Other writers considered the record to be an acoustic project, which Seely agreed with.[4][2] The album included notable bluegrass musicians, including Sharon and Cheryl White of the group The Whites. Jesse McReynolds is also featured on the album playing the mandolin.[4]

The album contained 13 tracks that were all newly recorded by Seely.[1] Four tracks were new recordings by Seely. The additional songs were cover versions of recordings previously made successful by other music artists. The title track was a cover of the number one single by Steve Wariner. The fifth track, "The River", was a cover of the single originally made a hit by Garth Brooks. The eighth track, "It's a Heartache", was made most popular as a pop hit by Bonnie Tyler.[3] The latter Seely considered to be among her favorites on the album. "In fact, to me that's the airplay cut on the album because I can see that getting people's attention and the uniqueness of it," Seely commented in a 2003 interview.[2]

Release and critical reception

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Life's Highway was first released on November 18, 2003, by OMS Records in a compact disc format.[3] The album was later released to digital retailers.[5]

Following its release, the album received critical acclaim from many industry writers.[6] Bob Mitchell of the Louisville Music News gave the album a positive response in his 2004 review. He believed the album to resemble country rather than bluegrass music. "Overall, this recording lacks the earthy intensity and drive that characterizes authentic traditional Bluegrass. But, make no mistake, Life's Highway is enjoyable and features some of country and bluegrass's finest musicians," Mitchell commented.[4] The album also received a positive response from John Lupton of Country Standard Time in 2003. Lupton called the record "chuck top full of bluegrass talent."[2]

Track listing

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Life's Highway[3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Original ArtistLength
1."Life's Highway"
Steve Wariner3:53
2."The Next Voice You Hear"Cindy WalkerHank Snow3:26
3."Fast Movin' Train"
  • Bennie Boling
  • Billy Troy
Jeannie Seely2:50
4."I'll Be All Smiles Tonight"A.P. CarterCarter Family4:00
5."The River"
Garth Brooks3:14
6."I've Got My Baby on My Mind"Sanger D. ShaferConnie Smith2:42
7."The Good Ol' Days"Dolly PartonDolly Parton3:34
8."It's a Heartache"
Bonnie Tyler3:47
9."If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone)"Dallas FrazierConnie Smith2:32
10."Rose Upon the Riverbank"
  • Bob O'Donnell, Jr.
  • Troy
Jeannie Seely3:08
11."Roarin' and Runnin'"Jeannie SeelyJeannie Seely3:36
12."Cry Myself to Sleep"Paul KennerleyThe Judds3:27
13."Call of Kentucky"SeelyJeannie Seely2:19

Personnel

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All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Life's Highway and from Allmusic.[3][7]

Musical personnel

Technical personnel

  • Valorie Cole – make-up
  • David Glasser – mastering
  • Beth Gwinn – cover photo
  • John Nicholson – engineering
  • Hugh Moore – producer
  • Billy Troy – producer

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States November 18, 2003 Compact disc OMS [3]
Unknown Music download [5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Life's Highway -- Jeannie Seely -- Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lupton, John. "Jeannie Seely travels life's highways". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Seely, Jeannie (December 9, 2003). "Life's Highway (Album Info and Liner Notes)". OMS Records.
  4. ^ a b c Mitchell, Bob. "Keeping it Real Life's Highway (OMS) Jeannie Seely". Louisville Music News. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Life's Highway by Jeannie Seely". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. ^ Coyne, Kevin John. "100 Greatest Women; #59 (Jeannie Seely)". Country Universe. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Life's Highway -- Jeannie Seely -- Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
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