Customer Reviews

Highway 101

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Highway 101 brought a rock edge to country music while preserving the essence of what country music is about. They blazed the trail for Clint Black, Garth Brooks and the rest of the new generation. This was the first of three albums (plus a greatest hits album) recorded by the original line-up before Paulette left for the first time (there was a reunion in the nineties). All three albums are equally good but this was the one that grabbed everybody's attention, simply because it was the first.

The line-up was Paulette Carlson (lead vocals and guitar), Cactus Moser (drums and vocals), Curtis Stone (bass and vocals) and Jack Daniels (electric guitar and vocals). The album has a very upbeat feel, with a sense of urgency about it not normally apparent in country music.

The debut single, The bed you made for me, reached number four on the country chart, with the follow-up, Whiskey if you were a woman, going two better. The remaining two singles from this album, Somewhere tonight and Cry cry cry (an original song, not a cover of the Johnny Cash oldie), both made number one. Any of the other songs could have been selected for single release but weren't. Of the other songs, Woman walk the line is a cover of a song first recorded by Emmylou (who also co-wrote it) for her concept album, Ballad of Sally Rose. Bridge across forever is an early example of the songwriting skills of Matraca Berg, one of country music's finest songwriters. Members of Highway 101 also contributed songs, with Paulette writing two (The bed you made for me, Are you still mine) and co-writing a third, Good Goodbye, while Cactus and Curtis together wrote One step closer.

Country music was never the same again after Highway 101 hit Nashville. Listen to this album and you'll realize why. It is just a shame that they did not stay together for longer than three albums.

I'm not one for "...the greatest ever..." kind of praise, nor am I a "fan" type of person, but after a lifetime of listening to country and western music (they were once two separate and very different genres), all I can say about Highway 101, and especially Paulette Carlson, is that this is the greatest C&W group of all time. I have crossed the country back and forth more times than I can remember, and listened to Highway 101 all the way across and back---about 2,000 times. Great songs, intelligent lyrics, incredible backing...and Paulette Carlson's spectacular voice and style. The Greatest Ever!

This is an album even people who hate country music won't be able to help but like. Paulette Carlson is a throaty, country-flavored Stevie Nicks, one of perhaps a half-dozen truly oustanding female vocalists of all genres. Her haunting voice transcends the lyrics and takes you somewhere else. Listening to Paulette is like a beautiful mountain stream, you dream of swimming in it, splashing, playing, somehow becoming one with it. Ok, enough of the mushy stuff. There are a lot of fun songs on this album, enough for at least a dozen divorces. Highway 101 travels through lyin', cheatin', alcoholism, some more cheating, everything but pickups, trains, and puppy dogs. Call the writing "manufactured" if you want, but the Highway's lyrics are both fun and intelligent. I wore out the 101 cassette I kept in my car and after a gap of five or so years, came back for the CD. It's everything I remembered and more. If I ever get the chance to see this lady sing in public, I won't miss it. And that's not to put down the rest of Highway 101; their music is tight, the harmony's excellent, I'm glad they're back together. If you buy this album and don't absolutely love it, MAIL IT TO ME!

one little problem, the cover you display has all different songs on it.I am trying to locate the original album on cd. Side 1 has Honky tonk heart, Road To Your Heart & Feed the Fire. Side 2 has There Goes My Love, Desperate Road & All the Reasons Why. If It's on CD I would love to have it. JIM JIM

One of the best C&W groups I have ever heard. Songs with significant content, profound sympathies. I had this on tape cassette for years, but tape broke. Can't do without this album.