A Man Ain't Made of Stone

Randy Travis

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 21, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dreamworks
• ASIN: B00001QGNB
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #166,764 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
No one sings about wedding rings better than Randy Travis. He launched his career with a song about a man staring at the ring "On the Other Hand." On "Day One" from this album, a man stares at the ring his wife left behind, and the bottomless ache of Travis's baritone purr captures the husband's anguish. Real country music is marriage music. It's not about brand-new love; it's about love that's been around the block a few times, and Travis makes you hear the history behind every betrayal, every separation, every reconciliation. Coproducers James Stroud and Byron Gallimore crank up the pop-rock drums and guitars, but in the center of it all is one of the greatest country voices of all time. Not all the material is worthy of that voice, but when Travis sings about a macho husband falling apart or a wife getting ready to leave or a husband inadvertently mentioning the other woman, no one can touch him. Who else under the age of 50 could be as convincing on a song called "The Family Bible and the Farmer's Almanac"? --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Effort, February 18, 2000

By	D. Dittmer (Eau Claire, WI) - See all my reviews

Randy Travis continues to record sturdy, traditional country albums. The title song captures the very essence and ambivalence of masculinity in today's world: vulnerability hidden beneath an outer show of strength. "Where Can I Surrender" is a chill-inducing ballad that depicts imprisonment as a metaphor for love (The hairs on the back of my neck quiver each time I hear this song). In "I'll Be Right Here Loving You," Randy blends country sensibility with rap rhythm for a nifty, up-tempo tune. "A Little Left of Center" directs its aim at love's quirky bullseye, while the sorrowful "Day One" describes all the pain and frustration of a relationship that has ended sadly. Overall, this is a solid album. It is also one of his "loudest," with muscular, and at times overpowering, musical arrangements. I agree with another reviewer who prefers the "lean," pared-down sound of earlier albums. Randy Travis is "The Voice" of today's country music, so it's only fitting that his clear, mournful baritone should be the dominant sound on every album. Dreamworks music executives please take note: provide Randy with minimal background arrangements and let his voice and talent do the rest of the work. Other Randy Travis albums to consider: You and You Alone, Full Circle, This Is Me, High Lonesome

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I really liked the album., December 27, 1999

By	Shawn Gealow (Lincoln, NE United States) - See all my reviews

I think that this is a really good album by Randy Travis. I'd have given the album five stars if there hadn't been a couple corny songs, like "I'll Be Right Here Loving You." For the most part, the album is solid and well-done. My favorite cuts are "A Man Ain't Made Of Stone," "The Family Bible And The Farmer's Almanac," "Where Can I Surrender," and "In A Heart Like Mine." Overall, with a miss or two, it was a darn good album.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Randy Travis has a winner in this new release., November 17, 1999

By	Larry Fangman (Elkhorn, Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This is the second straight Travis album I have bought on the first day of release, and it was worth it. The title track is awesome, but just as good if not better is the irrestible, "13 Mile Goodbye." It showcases his vocals and the song is a great idea. While the last album was about how to live one's life, this album gets back to love songs. I like the variety of his albums. I can't wait until his next CD comes out!