Customer Reviews

Chock Full of Country Goodness

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For heaven's sake buy this album and play it every day. Beautifully recorded and mixed this music reflects mixtures of Memphis blues rock, Nashville country and Knoxville hillbilly rock. Russell Smith sings a torch song with the best of them. Russell did a solo gig with a group called Run, C&W in the early nineties that was excellent. Memphis soul music played bluegrass style. If you ever see one (there were two), buy it and remember, buy this album. This is A+ music. How about some radio play program directors? These boys play real music.

If you can't go back, you can come close, at least...it isn't 1977 and Butch McDade is irreplaceable, but Russell Smith sounds better than ever, the songwriting is still clever and why the Aces aren't more popular is a continuing mystery. The Rock puts anything by Tim McGraw or the Dixie Chicks to shame, but perhaps today's country fans, lacking the rich stew in which the Aces were simmered, are just clueless about what's good. De gustibus non est dispuntandem, y'all. More eclectic than Out of the Blue, and more like the Aces of Old, this album is a 10...and that's not a "4 with a 6 pack".

The universe is back in order. "Out of the Blue" was pretty good, but Chock Full... is vintage Aces. Russell's voice is magnificent, the quality of the recording itself is flawless and the songs - classic Aces. Buy it immediately, you'll not regret it. It brings back memories of the Aces performing at the Southeast Music Hall, 1979 in Atlanta, middle of June and the air conditioner broken. Combatting the heat by pouring pitchers of beer on our heads and in our mouths, it was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. I sure hope they tour again and come to Atlanta

After listening to country music for some 30 years,i'm amazed that the ACES have such a small following.The songs on this cd are some of the finest i've heard in years.This cd keeps growing on you with each listening.Every song on this cd is excellent.I can't wait for the next one.

In the early 80`s,Russell Smith`s first solo album was released and it`s still one of the top 5 in my vinyl collection.At that time I had`nt heard about A.R.A,shame to say,but they were not much spoken of in Sweden.Since then things have happened in the most positiv way.They are back together with a couple of great albums and this one is absolutely great.No one can write of the a ballad like him,and those piano chords....

I've been a fan for years and found this treasure to be pure mother lode. When "The Rock" or "Fake It Til I Make It" plays, I push the repeat button on the Alpine in my car and just revel in the word composition, Smith's voice inflections and the riffs. I've got all three of the latest releases. I find this and the Rides Again cd to be without peer. "Out of the Blue" left me wanting the slow ballads and variety found in the other two. I anxiously await the next release. -go aces-

This band is alive! This is no comeback act, trying to pad the retirement fund, this is the real deal. H. Russell wrote great songs in the 70's, and now he's showing everyone that he is indeed a rare musical natural resource - a well of soul that connects to the mother lode somwehere deep. The songs are full of life, and are played well by a great band, who despite the ravages of years and the death of Butch McDade, still generate the deepest grooves in Rock, Country, or anywhere else. And it seems that someone finally figured out how to record Russell's voice properly. The emotion and dynamics he can generate were perhaps just too much for "vinyl technology" back in the 70's. On "Chock Full of Country Goodness," you can hear every nuance, from his beautiful deep Brook Benton growl to his signature R&B keening. Sounds even better than "Out of the Blue."

Anyway, I'm as excited about these two records as I was when Craig Fuller found that great back-up band, Little Feat, and helped write one of the best records of the century, "Let it Roll."

This time, guys, be sure to get more than your fair share.

Sincerely,

Mark Dodge

co-author, "Running Microsoft Excel 2000," which was written largely under the funky influence of "Out of the Blue."

Having been a fan of the ARA since the 1970's I must tell you...if you like their music....this album is as good as they get. Going into the studio after losing Butch to cancer...they came up with a magnificent tribute to Butch and their "core" music style....Absolutely terrific. Charles Nance, Oklahoma,USA

This set from 1999 shows off the countryrock,and blues side of one of the best heartland music groups in the USA! Mr.Smith,Mr.Davis,Mr.Earheart,and Mr.Hooker cook up a fantastic musical stew on this one with such delights as "the Rock"(covered by George Jones),Jerry Fontaine,(and his jammin guitar) If I could Make You Mine", all are examples of this tight knit group at its best,the rollicking "Rednecks Unplugged" is a great novelty tune,lots of humor,with alot of truth mingled in. The Aces are THE best kept secret in the USA. Do yourself a favor,give these guys a spin!!

If you are a fan of Amazing Rhythm Aces you will love this cd. It is filled with great songs. I am surprised we have not already worn out the cd because we play it all the time. We had a difficult time finding the cd though, we were looking in particular for the song "Yippi Yi Yo Yo" and finally found it on Amazon. We put a rush on the order and had it in 2 days. Great!