Customer Reviews

Don't Fence Me in

5 star:		(4)
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Lari had a certain amount of success with her second album, Wishes, but this follow-up album attracted insufficient attention from American country radio stations and her record label dropped her although she has recorded albums for other labels since then, most notably Green eyed soul, which has made some impact in Britain - a welcome surprise, as I thought Lari's career was over by then.

The album opens with a 33-second chorus of the classic Cole Porter song originally recorded by Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters, her performed live with Trisha Yearwood and Shelby Lynne. In this brief version, it sounds much as you would expect it to sound. Later in the album (the last named track), Lari does a full-length solo version, this time given a completely different (speeded up) arrangement. I prefer the original arrangement but Lari's is well worth a listen.

Between those contrasting versions of the title track is a wonderful selection of contemporary country songs, all of them originals and several co-written by Lari including Ready willing and able (different from the Doris Day oldie) and Woman of the world (different from the Loretta Lynn oldie). Australian country fans will recognize the brilliant up-tempo song, Wild at heart, which Beccy Cole (an excellent Aussie country singer) covered for one of her albums. Most of the album is filled with ballads, at which Lari excels.

After the main album finishes, there is a long pause then a hidden track - a second version of Soul searching blues, much longer than the 42-second version in the main album.

This is a brilliant album that should have consolidated Lari's career but didn't. Nevertheless, if you enjoy contemporary country music, nineties style, you should enjoy this album.

This is an absolutley magnificent album. I love it dearly and find it just wonderful to listen to in any mood. Lari White covers a lot of terriory on this record from broken relationships to just falling in love to being a free spirit. I would recommend this album in the highest reguards, it is one of my all time favourites.

I loved this CD.
If you like country music its a must have!!!!

The tone is set immediately in Lari White's Don't Fence Me In with the intro from the western song of the same name popularized by Roy Rogers in the 40s. This record is not about nostalgia though, it is fun, bouncy, and even rollicking, especially "Ready, Willing, and Able," which reached #20 on the country charts and "Wild at Heart," a very danceable western swing tune delivered with plenty of barroom attitude and flair. Lari writes well, like the ballad "Ghost of a Chance" and really belts it out with style and diversity, like the soulful "Aint Gonna Worry About Love No More." She even provides some rockabilly with the reprise of the title track. Lari's a good singer, but it's the way she commands different styles of material so well that achieves success here.

I recommend this CD to fans of 90s country whether you lean toward traditional music or contemporary pop/country. I checked this out because I remember the single "Stepping Stone" and knew about Lari's powerful voice and her unique and diverse career and musical choices. She's a unique individual in the music business; She later produced for Toby Keith, rare for Nashville, and handled blues and even Broadway on subsequent albums and shows with equal aplomb.