Let's Put the Western Back in the Country

Joni Harms | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wildcatter Records
• ASIN: B0001HAICM
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,874 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Let's Put the Western Back in the Country

2. I've Got a Feelin' for You

3. Murphy's Law

4. Coyote Cafe

5. A Little Bit of Love

6. Cowboy Up

7. Louisiana Hot Sauce

8. Love Never Hurt Nobody

9. Oregon Trail

10. The Wind

11. Shape of My Heart

12. We Work It Out

13. I Still Do

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Joni Harms established herself as Western music's preeminent female vocalist in the 1990s. For anyone hoping to understand the current dichotomy between Western and Country, her bracing opening title track explains it all. Harms may have used Nashville A-Team session musicians, but their playing is looser and more individualistic than it would be if they were backing some producer-controlled platinum act. "I've Got a Feelin' for You" has a '40s swing feel that is but one facet. Nearly every number, each co-written by Harms with various collaborators, reflects Western and ranch ethos. Her flair for storytelling drives the tragic mini-drama, "Coyote Café," and the ode to perseverance, "Cowboy Up." "We Work It Out" and "The Wind" continue that level of excellence; Harms falters only on the contrived "Louisiana Hot Sauce." While her confident voice and knack for writing quality commercial material ("Shape of My Heart" and "Love Never Hurt Nobody") merit wider exposure, one suspects that, like most Westerners, Harms prefers doing it her way, not Nashville's. For that we can be grateful. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She keeps getting better!!, April 10, 2004

By 

Mary L. Specht (Mookie) (Lyons, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Put the Western Back in the Country (Audio CD)

Joni's newest effort once again shows us what a tremendous writer AND performer she is. "Let's Put the Western Back in the Country" is amusing and sobering at the same time. All her songs paint pictures: listening to THE WIND is like watching a movie; COWBOY UP contains the "basic" lesson in life; MURPHY'S LAW has a sweet message which gives us all a smile at the end. Joni's wholesome thoughts and approach toward life expand beyond western, country, or any other type of music. When I'd first listened to "Cowgirl Dreams" I was so awestruck that I wanted more of her music. Now I have all 9 albums and impatiently await the creation and release of the next. Thumbs Up, Joni. Keep 'em coming, Cowgirl friend!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TOP NOTCH, March 28, 2004

By 

GILLOT Dominique (ASNIERES France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Put the Western Back in the Country (Audio CD)

I can't say enough of Joni and her music. This album is excellent. She knows how to bring out the best in people.
She praises values of friendship, love and honesty and she knows what she's talking about.
My favorite songs on this album, to quote a few, are Coyote Café, Oregon Trail, Shape of my Heart, A little bit of Love, Let's put the Western Back in the Country.
Cowboy up, she co-wrote with Wood Newton is a real hit too, a softer version of Chris Ledoux interpretation.
Top notch album! Thanks Joni

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply superb music!, June 22, 2004

By 

Tracy T. "hwy3w" (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Put the Western Back in the Country (Audio CD)

Joni's found the happy medium here, preserving the authentic western sound she loves and lives, while keeping up with the times. Man, this is a super album. The fans of the very traditional Western sound will love the title cut, as well as "Cowboy Up", "I've Got A Feeling For You", and others, while listeners raised on Top 40 radio will feel right at home with "Shape Of My Heart", "A Little Bit Of Love", "Murphy's Law", and others. (Though most of the stuff on the Top 40 these days doesn't sound half as good as this!) This is a beautifully written, produced, and performed album.

Heartfelt thanks to amazon.com, which first recommended Joni's music to me. I would probably never have heard her without reading about here here. And, yes, she fits right in with Terri Clark, Anita Cochran, Heather Myles, and other fun, fearless female singers I love, just as Amazon said she would.