Customer Reviews

Rockin With the Rhythm

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It just seems the Judds are almost unstoppable. This is a good CD. Most people know and like the singles "Have Mercy", "Grandpa", and "Rockin' with the Rhythm", but this is one of those rare releases where almost ALL the songs are great. While "Cry Myself To Sleep" is, in my opinion, the best track here, "River Roll On" is just beautiful, and their cover of "Workin' in a Coal Mine" is quite fun and daring. "I Wish She Wouldn't Treat You That Way" is also a very fun song. If you like the Judds at all and don't have this release, you are missing one of their best works.

The Judds have one characteristic that should be a requirement for all country singers; that is, they're from the country (Kentucky to be exact). I have little interest in country music from Canada (yea, that lady with the bare midriff) or Southern California. The fact that the Judds are "country" gives Rockin' With The Rhythm integrity. The vocal "twang" is natural and unforced; in fact, Rockin' sounds effortless. The name, "The Judds," is a bit of a misnomer: Wynonna leads with her strong blues style, while Naomi adds beautiful and delicate harmony vocals. The mother-daughter combination is dazzling.

Producer Brent Maher makes a smart move on Rockin' by showcasing the Judds' vocals: the instrumentals, though pleasant, are secondary. The "county" aura of Rockin' (1985) predates the release by about a decade. Typical "country" trappings such as peddle-steel guitar and fiddle are kept to a minimum. With no big production orchestra, the Judds are forced to stand on their own - the results are impressive. Rockin' presents two different musical images of the Judds. One is of mom and daughter barefooted on the porch with guitars in hands, and the hills of Kentucky in the background - a down home feel (Grandpa, If I Were You, Tears For You). The second image is more cosmopolitan - two bright ladies wise to the ways of the world, and determined to their mark on popular music (Have Mercy, Cry Myself To Sleep). Both musical images are compelling.

So forget the fact that Wynonna and Naomi are traffic-stopping gorgeous, Hit Makers, Million Sellers and as popular as Thomas Edison; concentrate of just the music. It's commanding enough to make one forget all the accolades, and enjoy the aural pleasures.

I know every word to every song on here! I love EVERY song on here. THIS IS A MUST HAVE! I've had this tape since I was one or two and I'm 14 now!

This CD is excellent. Rocking With the Rhythym is one of my favorite songs. Too bad they're not together again!

As many people have already said, this is a great follow-up to the Why Not me cd. One of my all-time favorite Judd songs is Grandpa, Tell me bout the good ole days.(which is about Wynonna's grandpa) I think this really is a showcase of Wynonna's vocals and Naomi's accompanying harmony.

I just love their music. This is a good CD to sing along, full blast. Love the CD.

The Judds became major country stars as a result of their previous album, Why not me, which yielded four number one country hits (although one of them had already appeared on their debut min-LP). So - how did they follow that? The answer is - with this album, which yielded a further four number one country hits. The overall sound is different with the backing music much more restrained. The result is a smoother but sparser album than Why not me. This album therefore relies much more heavily on the voices of Wynonna and Naomi, which are of course excellent. Of the two, I prefer Why not me but I can understand why a lot of people prefer this album. The songs are of an equal standard.

The four big hits here are the title track, Have mercy, Grandpa tell me about the good old days and Cry myself to sleep. You've probably heard most or all of these tracks but there is much to like about the other six tracks here. Those tracks include a cover of Allen Toussaint's Working in the coalmine (originally a pop hit for Lee Dorsey). If I were you, Tears for you, River roll on, I wish she wouldn't treat you that way and Dream chaser are all wonderful songs.

Traditional country fans looking for a relaxing album full of quality need look no further.

The Judds are one of the best country acts in recent history. I agree with several reviewers, this is their best album. The Judds, Especially Wynona (whose real name is Christina) effectively comebine country and rock and roll. Have Mercy, Tears for you, and cry myself to sleep have a strong blues feeling. Rockin' with the rhythm has such a driving tempo you can't help clapping your hands and stomping your feet. The bittersweet "Grandpa" is a plea for understanding in today's world where relationships are meaningless. Dreamchaser is a very haunting melody about a girl who decides to return home after trying to chase that elusive dream.

The songs on this album vary from spirited tunes to very soulful ballads. Each song has its own uniqueness. "Working in the coal mine" is a remake of an old country classic. The Judds sing in perfect harmony.

We have a joke in Atlanta: "Didja hear about those two ***s that attacked that woman? One of 'em held her down, and the other one did her hair." As on all first five Judds' albums/CD's, Wynonna is...well, I can't be totally "disinterested" here, becaue I've had a crush on her since about '85 - but - ugh - Naomi looks like those ***s got to her. Regardless, "Rockin" is a fine, FINE bit of music: back when Don Potter was directly responsible for their sound, and before Naomi got sick. And it's been mentioned (a LOT) of places elsewhere, but about this time, I got fed up with what was considered "popular music," Rock And Roll having died with E in 1977. DREADFUL time, folks - but Country was going thru one of its all too rare renaisances, beautiful Women, and Men that didn't whine, like Dwight and Clint. And the seventh song on the album, "Cry Myself To Sleep," honest, was the VERY CATALYST that finally made me put down my treasured Presision Bass and pick up my ancient Epiphone-something acoustic. And I began frequenting "Open Mike" nights whereever, and was very gratified whenever I'd find a Lady who sing Wynonna's part, and let me sing Naomi and play my acoustic. Rambling, yes, but this album/CD - WOW: "Have Mercy" "Grandpa" "Workin In The Coal Mine" (God Bless Don Potter for the beautiful guitar he played for them!) - but as I said, "Cry Myself To Sleep" has since become one of my equals with treasures such as "Gimme Shelter," "Once Bitten Twice Shy," "In My Life," "Whiter Shade Of Pale," "Dock Of The Bay" - I guess you get the message. The ultimate compliment: "Rockin' With The Rhythm" is one of those all-too-rare CD's that you can put on and PLAY ALL THE WAY THRU without skipping over yucky tracks.

This is probably the Judds signature album to date. Many of the songs on this album continued to play throughout their concerts in the 80's and very early 90's, and so was the case for their reunion new year's eve concert in 1999. Many of the songs are this album are reflections of what could be and have been. Guitar playing and great harmony is what the Judds are all about and this album is, ofcourse, no exception.