Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame

Sunny Sweeney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Big Machine Records
• ASIN: B000MV8C9I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,003 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #83 in Music > Country > Roadhouse Country

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Down-home Texas country heart and soul, March 7, 2007

By 

Joseph Ross "Joe Ross" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame (Audio CD)

Playing Time - 39:27 -- Based in Austin, the vivacious Sunny Sweeney sings smart, tuneful songs on this auspicious debut. Her infectious spunk is perfect for the sturdy alt-country and Americana offerings. She has assembled a formidable band, but I noted that vocal harmonies were a tad understated. Sunny's Texas drawl conveys some rather alluring sensuality or honky tonky kick-up-yer-heels fun on both originals and covers. Sweeney's originals include "Ten Years Pass," "Slow Swinging Western Tunes," and "Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame." While she's written many songs, these are her best and the ones she was most comfortable and enthusiastic about presenting to us. They've got some memorable melodies and lyrical sentiments. Writing from personal experience to be honest and convincing seem to drive her songwriting. Jim Lauderdale co-wrote two numbers, "Refresh My Memory" and "Please Be San Antone." Jim also makes a cameo appearance in a duet with Sunny on Keith Sykes' "Lavender Blue." Her optimism and exuberance are exciting. I serious doubt that she'll be the "Next Big Nothing" as she facetiously suggests.

I love to hear singers express emotions about their own regions or homes. Covering another Texas singer's hit, Sunny gives a mighty fine Lone Star treatment to Libbi Bosworth's "East Texas Pines." Sunny was raised in the piney woods of east Texas near Longview, got a degree in public relations at S.W. Texas State Univ., tried her hand at improv theater/comedy, and then decided to form a country band. Produced by Tom Lewis and Tommy Detamore, the album was also designed with an objective of portraying her ebullient personality and capturing the kind of live show she presents. While some more variety in arrangement might've been nice, all of the songs on "Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame" include full ensembles of proficient session players who know their way around their guitars, bass, drums, pedal steel and fiddle. Some occasional harmonica, mandolin, banjo, or Dobro embellish a few pieces with some understated acoustic tints. I could've used more of Ted Roddy's harp and bobby Flores' fiddle and mandolin. In some secluded woods near San Antonio, one goal of the Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Tx. was to facilitate Sunny tapping into the emotional strength and feeling of her repertoire. Special recognition is worth of Lars Albrecht's taste and technique on his Telecaster guitar.

Her debut album has carefully cultivated tunes with some new, fresh outlooks that country music needs so badly. I reckon that's what I really enjoyed about this set. Nothing stale here ..... even when covering Iris DeMent's ballad "Mama's Opry" or Tim Carroll's plain-and-simple raucous tongue-twistin' "If I Could" (also recorded by John Prine) that admits we all have disappointment but to get past them. "Now if I could, then I would, make money doin' something that I love, I'd thank my lucky stars above, If I could just get by, lovin' you dear, Then I would just get by, makin' love to you."

Tom Schuyler's moving "16th Avenue" (a version of which Lacy J. Dalton recorded about 1982) is a sweet nostalgic way to conclude the set. Just like the "boys who make the noise," Sunny's got that same million dollar spirit. She takes the lyrics seriously. Golden words roll off her tongue, and she's seeing her dream come true. She's walked away from everything just to sing for me and you.

This Texas dreamcatcher doesn't want to just be a bystander. She wants to front one of the best country bands in Texas. The honky-tonkin' songbird's vocals can soar like a hawk or swoop like a swallow. With both elegance and country charm, she wraps her lyrics around some stellar accompaniment. For some down-home Texas country heart and soul, Sunny Sweeney's lone star brand of music is definitely worth a listen. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Catching Texas twang with a gift for lyrics, April 16, 2007

By 

Daniel Winegarden (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame (Audio CD)

Sunny Sweeney's debut album, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame is compelling and catching. It feels more like a live honky-tonk performance in part because it has the pared down sound of a great bar band and not the over produced sound of too many studio albums. Sunny is a singer song-writer. The album offers a mix of her work and that of other song-writers.

What first caught my ear was the song, "If I Could." It's an infectious anthem for the average worker with an auctioneer's tempo for the catchy chorus. I found this song through Yahoo's Music Videos Country Music channel. Yahoo generates a play list, including new offerings based upon your past selections and ratings. It works. I loved this song and bought the album. A lot of catchy songs don't move me to buy. Sunny got my money.

Another special treat is a cover of, "16th Avenue," a song made famous by Lacey J. Dalton. The cover nicely matches the rest of the album in voice and tone and is not an exact copy of Dalton's version. Sunny Sweeney makes it hers.

The album is solid and engaging. It is real Country Music and Texas genuine. I'll be watching for more from Sunny Sweeney. She reputedly has a great following around her home base in Austin, Texas. I think her fan base is set to grow.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great cd and even better live, December 6, 2007

By 

T.P. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame (Audio CD)

I've seen her live in Austin a couple times now and it's always a great show. If you like her voice, check out Kasey Chambers. Sunny will actually do Kasey covers if you ask her. The first time I heard Sunny, I was at a bar meeting old friends, but ended up staying longer b/c I heard her singing. Great CD and definitely worth purchasing.