Wide Open Spaces

Dixie Chicks

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 1998)
• Original Release Date: January 27, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002BZ0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (357 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,905 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #38 in	Music > Country > Neotraditional
  #96 in	Music > Country > Today's Country

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

The major-label debut from this Texas trio proves their instrumental abilities, blending more traditional twang with slow melodic blues, foot-tapping rockabilly, and bluegrass-inspired pop harmonies. From the opener, "I Can Love You Better," the Chicks let their love of music and genuine joy shine through while the energy on this album reminds one of Carlene Carter. Solid musicianship, topnotch vocal performances, and infectious pop hooks make this a stellar project. --Paula Ghergia

Country Music

Like a lot of young Nashville acts, The Dixie Chicks borrow a lot from 70's and 80's California pop-rock; unlike a lot of their peers, The Chicks go to the originals for their material, and cover songs written by J.D. Souther, Maria McKee, Tom Jans and Bonnie Raitt.... Until they can make a song crackle with danger and lust, The Dixie Chicks will merely be a pleasant but inconsequential diversion.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a wonderful CD!, July 23, 2000

By	Michael Fletcher (Murrieta, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first song I heard from this album was "Wide Open Spaces." I immediately liked the harmony and sound of this song, but was a little hesitant to buy the album since The Dixie Chicks was a new group to me (they had been performing for years prior) and I didn't know if the other songs would be as pleasing.

Well, later I heard "There's Your Trouble" and found the beat and melody very infectious indeed. So I decided to buy the CD on the merits of those two songs. Soon afterward, the hit, "You Were Mine," a beautiful and melancholy song about divorce was released. Following "You Were Mine," another country hit, "Tonight the Heartache's on Me" was released. This tune is also very catchy and much more country sounding than the previous hits mentioned, but very good nonetheless. Then there's the more universally appealing hit, "I Can Love You Better." This is a fun and peppy tune I love too.

The Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces" has become one of my favorites in my 1,000 CD collection. I have come to enjoy every song on the album. It's one of those handful of CDs in my collection that I can listen to from start to finish over and over again. I believe this CD will appeal to Country and Pop music lovers alike. The Dixie Chicks' follow-up album, "Fly" is good, but I don't believe it has the same magic and cohesiveness that this album exhibits. Enthusiastically recommended!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

First off, let me say that I listen to ONLY country music. I don't see why people are saying that this CD is not country enough. It's packed with country songs, and while it does fit in with the crossover music that's popular today, it definitely stays within the country boundaries. I have both of the Dixie Chicks album's, and I prefer Wide Open Spaces over the newer album Fly. I think Wide Open Spaces is one of the best country albums available today. It combines upbeat, fun-loving songs with tender, heart-felt ballads. My personal favorites are Wide Open Spaces, Loving Arms, You Were Mine, Never Say Die, and Am I The Only One (who's ever felt this way). If you're considering purchasing a Dixie Chick's album for the first time, this one is the one you want. While Fly is a good album, it doesn't have the emotion and energy of Wide Open Spces. So purchase this album today, especially if you're a country music fan! You'll be glad you did!

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's hard to stay sad listening to these gals!, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

I absolutely hated country my whole life, with exception of Garth Brooks and Shania Twain. I mostly always listened to pop or alternative rock music...until I started noticing a change in my attitude and moods while I listened to that music. The lyrics of some of those alternative songs are so depressing and lifeless, I finally realized, I have my own problems, why do I need to listen to these jokers snivel? So a good friend of mine who always listened to country got me into country and for the last seven months, I haven't listened to anything else. But I have to admit, when I first heard the Dixie Chicks, I thought, "These are the girls I've been hearing so much about?" And then I noticed what a strange but unique voice the lead singer has. It actually grows on a person. But I heard Wide open spaces and there's your trouble and loved them. And when you were mine came out, that just caused me to go buy the cd, and I have yet to get sick of it. I've read all these reviews on here and someone said that their songs lack instrumental depth. I'd have to beg to differ. Listen to the last track. These girls kick butt to put it mildly. And I've also read people saying that the Dixie Chicks are more pop than country. NO WAY! I heard Wide Open Spaces on a pop station the other day without the fiddle in it, and with a pop beat and I have to say, it sounded ridiculous, because one hearing it can obviously tell it's a country song. There's no way to disguise that. Anyway, Dixie Chicks are great. I love their new song, Ready to Run. My boyfriend turns it up for me every time it comes on. Can't wait for "Fly"!