These Days

Vince Gill | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: MCA Nashville
• ASIN: B000HKDEN8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (160 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,908 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Country > Bluegrass > Contemporary
  • #57 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Country Folk
  • #59 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

These new recordings of mostly recent Gill compositions are the culmination of a project aimed at recording four distinct albums: rock, romance, vintage honky-tonk, and acoustic. The Rockin' Record, virtually perfect from start to finish, begins with "Workin' on a Big Chill," its swampy groove straight out of John Fogerty and a showcase for Gill's guitar virtuosity--a groove he resumes on "Cowboy Up," with cameo harmonies from Gretchen Wilson. "Sweet Thing" and a duet with Rodney Crowell on "Nothin' for a Broken Heart" pulsate with Chuck Berry intensity that contrasts with the solid, '60s Memphis groove of "Bet It All on You." The Reason Why showcases Gill's legendary ease with ballads, several of them enhanced by creative string arrangements by David Campbell (Beck's father), including "What You Don't Say" with LeAnn Rimes and "The Memory of You" with Trisha Yearwood. The stunning "Faint of Heart," a remarkably sultry jazz duet with Diana Krall, could become a standard. Some Things Never Get Old revisits classic fiddle-steel honky-tonk, music Gill has long reverenced and referenced. "This New Heartache" is straight out of Ray Price. Gill and Patty Loveless tear up "Out of My Mind" and Allison Krauss and Dan Tyminski join in for the waltz "I Can't Let Go." "Don't Pretend with Me" honors Ernest Tubb's honky-tonk primitivism. Little Brother, all-acoustic and often bluegrass-flavored, shines from beginning to end. Along with "Molly Brown," a stark cautionary about racial violence, Gill sings both "Cold Gray Light of Dawn" and "Give Me the Highway" with the Del McCoury Band. He and Guy Clark close it out with "Almost Home." Despite outstanding past efforts, Gill--one of the top hitmakers of the '90s--hasn't had a Top Ten single since 2000. No matter. His talents and the heart he puts into his writing, singing, and picking remain at their peak. This stellar collection proves it--four times over. --Rich Kienzle

Product Description

In an unmatched outpouring of virtuosity and energy, Vince Gill has created a 4-CD set of 43 new and original songs that MCA Records will release Oct. 17 under the title These Days. The collection is an artistic tour de force that displays Gill’s mastery of lyrics and musical styles, ranging from traditional country and bluegrass to jazz and rock.

"I started looking at all these songs I had," the amiable superstar explains, "and going, ‘Shoot, I want to record that song, and I want to record that song.’ I just kept checking with the other musicians to see if they were available. I had no deadlines, no rules or anything like that. So I just kept trying songs."

To accompany him on this ambitious undertaking, Gill turned both to artists he knew and had worked with before and to those whose music he admired at a distance. "I never try to fill up my records with famous people," Gill says. "I try to fill them up with the most talented people I can find on the face of the earth." By the time the project was completed, that group included Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Rodney Crowell, Phil Everly, the Del McCoury Band, Emmylou Harris, John Anderson, Lee Ann Womack, Jenny Gill, Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Guy Clark, Trisha Yearwood, Bekka Bramlett, Michael McDonald, steel-guitar master Buddy Emmons and many other musical standouts.

Initially, Gill planned to pare down the songs he’d recorded to a single album. Then, in one of the studios he used, he spotted some Beatles memorabilia and recalled that the Fab Four had routinely released multiple albums within the same year.

Gill took the idea to Luke Lewis, Universal Music Group Nashville Co-Chairman, who totally supported his notion of multiple releases. In fact, Lewis came up with an even more radical strategy: he told Vince to go and record more songs that explore his passion for acoustic sounds and release a 4-CD set. And that’s exactly what happened.

Gill co-produced These Days with famed keyboardist John Hobbs and sound engineering whiz Justin Niebank.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wailin' In A Big Way-Funky, Rockin' Balladeer, October 18, 2006

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: These Days (Audio CD)

"Part of me thinks this has a chance to really break down some barriers, a chance to really go places that maybe I've never gotten to before," Gill says of the 43-track set, which includes collaborations with Sheryl Crow, jazz singer/pianist Diana Krall and the Everly Brothers' Phil Everly. "At the same time, my fear is that people will say, 'You know, 11 songs would've been just plenty.: interview with Vince Gill.

But 11 songs wouldn't have been just plenty. "These Days" has the makings of a landmark album. It also traces the musical history of one of country music's most versatile artists. These CD's all started with a call from Eric Clapton. He invited Vince Gill to play at one of his concerts-he said "I want the best guitar players, I know". Vince was deeply touched. He was at a point in his life when he was not sure which direction to turn- this invite gave him a new direction. This began a year of writing, gathering the best musicians, singing and pickin' the songs and putting this 4 CD together. Would 11 songs be best? No, how to choose which songs and how to put them together. The answers came slowly but surely, A 4 CD set was the answer, Never been done before and may never be done again, but it was the chance of a lifetime. 43 all new songs written and sung by Vince Gill and some of his best friends.

In the end the 4 sets of discs came together more easily than anyone thought.

The first disc known as the "Rockin' Record- Workin" On A Big Chill" and loud guitar, This set contains ten songs that all rock- Several duets- Rodney Crowell and "Nothin' For A Broken Heart" my favorite of disc one, but all are fast guitar playin', stompin and had clappin set.

Disc Two: The Reason Why-The Groovy Record
These are thirteen ballads and contain the most duets with women, Lee Ann Rimes Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Alsion Krauss and my favorite song of the entire set with Diana krall "Faint of Heart"- such a lovely, romantic set.

Disc Three: Some Things Never Get Old-The Country & Western Record
Eleven of the best country songs you have heard. Favorite alert again- a duet with Emmylou's Harris called "Some Things Never Get Old" and a secret between us. Vince changed the lyrics of the song to include "Blueberry Wine". This was the first song he heard Emmylou sing when he was a 16 or 17 year old. It changed the course of his life- He decided right then and there that he wanted to sing country like Emmylou.

Disc Four:-Little Brother- The Acoustic Record
Ten self explanatory songs- lots of music and real songs from the heart. One of them with his daughter, Jenny Gill, called "A River Like You".

"In making this set-The sessions quickly took on an air of something special. "The session players, they wouldn't go out and get coffee after a take," notes former NRBQ guitarist Al Anderson, who played on the album and co-wrote 13 of its songs with Gill. "They'd come in (to the studio's control room) and listen really intently to what was going down on Vince's record. Guests play a key role in These Days, not only for their musical contributions but for their relationships to Gill and his career. Rodney Crowell used to play in a band with Gill; Emmylou Harris was one of his early supporters. Guy Clark, who joins Gill for These Days' final track, Almost Home, headlined the first gig Gill played when he moved to Los Angeles in the mid-'70s. Some of the folks I've known for 30 years," Gill says. "We've gone through this big circle, and we're looking at it 30 years later. And a handful of people are new relationships. Diana Krall, LeAnn Rimes, Sheryl Crow -- quite a few folks that I had never recorded with, so they're new friends." USA Today

"Listening to Gill talk about "These Days" and his respect for the Opry might make one consider if the concept of "These Days" borrows a bit from a successful page in the proverbial Grand Ole Opry handbook. The page which might read something like, "Occasionally showcase musical styles that don't walk an absolutely straight and narrow country/bluegrass line, but be sure to remain true to your musical heritage." Gill says, "I love that this record is going to cover so many musical bases and is diverse as it is. Yet it is equally eloquently pointed to the country and bluegrass music I revere." Grand Ole Opry

This 4 set CD is unlike anything else I have heard and it is marvelous. An eclectic mix of every kind of music- something for everyone and everyone will love this. 43 songs and each one so special in its own way. There are bound to be favorites and I have picked mine. Vince Gill has opened the door for his friends and fans. We have something special here. This is a set of 4 CD's so highly recommended. prisrob 10-19-06

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vince Gill's InVINCEable masterwork!!, October 17, 2006

By 

Troy Snuffer "Cd man" (fredericksburg, va United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: These Days (Audio CD)

This 4 CD set is Vince Gill at his best! 43 brand new songs on one collection with a list of guest artists that would astound anyone! 4 distinct styles of music bundled neatly into what will easily become his finest work to date! Already a favorite among critics and fans alike, this compilation shows that Vince can still be that triple threat in music: singer, songwriter, and musician.

There are too many songs that truly stand out to name them all here. CD#1 known as "The Rockin' Record" features up-tempo music and proves that Vince is not just a balladeer. Filled with great guitar solos and crisp clean vocals it is sure to please the ears and get the feet tapping to some good old country soul (and blues). "Love's Standin", which I believe is set to be the second single, is very remnicent of Vince in the early 90's. More importantly this CD stretches his artistic wings to a style that fits Vince perfectly and leaves the listener with a smile.

CD#2 known as "The Groovy Record" features the first single, "The Reason Why", a smooth beautiful ballad like only Vince can do with a touch of old-time piano to add the heart and soul of the song. Also featured on this section is one of Vince's finest songs to date, "Everything and Nothing". This song will move you with his high tenor voice soaring the melody to where only Vince can take it! "What You Give Away" is another powerful song backed by a choir that will amaze you at what Vince has been able to accomplish on this record.

CD#3, "The Country and Western Record" is all about country music at its finest. It's honky tonk, it's country swing-- everything country music has been about for the last 40 years. You'll feel like you took a step back in time while at the same time having a fresh modern sound. In fact, you have to wonder how Vince could have written this record along with the more contemporary sounds of the previous disks. "Sweet Little Corrina" really stands out on this set.

Finally, CD#4, "The Acoustic Record" features Vince's acoustic and bluegrass side. From moving ballads to rowdy up-tempo numbers, this set has been a long-time coming for Vince Gill. With everything from gospel to love gone bad, many fans will be happy to finally get a CD of this nature. As mentioned earlier, there are just too many songs that stand out to mention them all by name.

Whatever your style, whatever your interests, this newest work has it all! And it's top rate, top quality! You won't find a more complete collection by another artist that is capable of being so satisfying and original. If you've ever liked Vince Gill, These Days is for you. He is an artist at the top of his form. It's hard for words to really describe what 43 stand-out songs on one collection sounds like(no fillers on these CDs). And all this for such a reasonable price! You won't be dissapointed. If anything, you'll fall in love with Vince all over again!

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This review will not be helpful!, October 18, 2006

By 

John A. Gregorio (Castalian Springs, TN) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: These Days (Audio CD)

Everything good about this great collection is listed below. I just want to add another five stars to a ten star collection. When Vince announced this collection at the Bluegrass at the Ryman series, this summer, I thought I know I will like the country and acoustic disc, but I was not sure about the others. I figured they would be ok. Wrong! Vince could probably, I hope not, do hip-hop and make it sound good.