Drive

Alan Jackson

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 15, 2002)
• Original Release Date: January 15, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B00005UP4E
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,945 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

He sings straight, writes songs without a half dozen Music Row hacks pitching in their two cents, and keeps the music basic. On Drive, Jackson mixes wistful visions with satire, sorrow, and eloquence, using old cars--"Drive (For Daddy Gene)"--to explore growing up and, on "Work in Progress," spoofing a woman obsessed with "improving" her man. As usual, he explores love's joy ("When Love Comes Around") and anguish ("The Sounds"). His flair for thoughtful, evocative expression reaches its zenith with his classic September 11 commentary "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," included in both the studio version and the song's live debut on the CMA Awards. Non-originals, including the Mark Irwin-Irene Kelley tune "A Little Bluer Than That," fit the album's tone. "Designated Drinker," a duet with George Strait, is a pleasant vocal event, though it's rendered mundane by the quality of the other material. Yet again, Jackson zaps Nashville's fallacy that any recipe for success requires generous helpings of dated pop and rock. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best releases of 2002, January 15, 2002

By	Gennie Bailey (Savannah, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

It's safe to say that Alan Jackson's new release, "Drive", is going to be a huge hit in 2002. If you're already a fan of Jackson, you know pretty much what to expect...some good ole country music that doesn't stray from it's roots. You've got everything from great love songs ("Once In A Lifetime Love") to the obligatory car song ("Drive" & "First Love") to the fun ("Work In Progress" & "I Slipped and Fell In Love"). There's also an awesome duet with the King of Country himself, George Strait, called "Designated Drinker", about a pair of drinking buddies trying to get over a gal who's broken their hearts. There's not a bad track on the CD, which is not something you can say for most of what's released today in country music. There's something for everyone here.

The following are my favorite tracks on the CD:

"I'm A Little Bluer Than That": What a song!!! This is bound to be a hit on radio, if it's ever released. Alan sings of a man who can't seem to get over a woman who's left him for another man. He explains that even the saddest songs on the radio aren't as blue as he is.

"Bring On The Night": Alan has such a knack for singing a country love song and this is one the best I've heard him sing yet. It's a song about a man coming home after a long, hard day to the woman he loves.

And finally...."Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)": During the 2001 CMA's Alan Jackson premiered this song in tribute to the victims of September 11th. It's safe to say that there wasn't a dry eye in the nation that night after he sang it. Not only are you getting the original album cut, you're also getting that famous live version from the CMA's. There've been tons of tribute songs released since the tragedies but this is far superior to any that I've ever heard. It makes you think REAL hard about what matters in your life and how fragile life really is.

If you're going to buy just one new country CD this year, make sure it's Alan Jackson's "Drive". What makes "Drive" so enjoyable for me is that Alan isn't trying to be something he's not. He's the same down-home, layed-back guy he's always been and it shows in his music. He isn't out to bring new fans to country music or break new chart records. Instead he focuses all of his efforts on making good music. This has got "Album Of The Year" written ALLLL over it!!!

Gennie Bailey-Rogers

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still true to his roots and himself, January 18, 2002

By	Dino (Scotland) - See all my reviews

In a career that has produced hit upon hit while maintaining the true spirit of country music, Alan Jackson has recorded his greatest work so far with "Drive". There will inevitably be much focus on the tribute song to the victims of September 11, "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)", which is included twice on this album, as recorded in the studio and also live at the 2001 CMA Awards. Of the many songs about that terrible day, this one best captures the feelings and emotions that we all experienced after the tragedy struck. Hopefully it will provide some comfort to those most affected.
This is a very strong album. Jackson has consistently recorded excellent country music throughout the 12 years since his first album. Encouragingly, in recent years, his own songwriting and choice of other writers' songs has actually improved upon the high standard of his earlier recordings. His albums, particularly Who I Am, High Mileage, When Somebody Loves You and now Drive, have been entertaining, personal and of the highest quality, matching the best of George Strait's recordings. Strait featues on this album in a duet, "Designated Drinker", which gets better with repeated listening, although its tune will be familiar to anyone who has heard Johnny Paycheck's "Don't Take Her She's All I've Got". Jackson has always displayed a sense of humour in his work and that's well represented here with "I Slipped And Fell In Love" and "Work In Progress". Apart from "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)", the highlight of the album for me is "First Love", which tells the story of the singer's first car, which he sold, regretted it ("you can't drive a check"), only to be reunited many years later when he receives it as a present. Those of us who love our car will identify with this song.
I strongly recommend this album and predict that, even in January, we already have the country music album of the year.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In love with Alan all over again., January 23, 2002

By	Kimberly Holland (Indiana) - See all my reviews

You can tell Alan Jackson is at peace with himself and his music again, because of the way he opens up in "DRIVE". Of course the show stopping "Where Were You" (when the world stopped turning) is what will make this Alan's top CD of his career. The song speaks for itself, and shows America the poet Alan Jackson has always been. Whether a person listens to country or not they will buy this CD for that song. But, what they won't realize until later is that every song on "DRIVE" is a single in itself. A fan can get a wonderful glimpse of Alan's childhood growing up in rural George with a Daddy who loved him very much, in the title track "DRIVE". Seems anyone who learned to drive behind the wheel with daddy beside them can relate to what a wonderful song "DRIVE" is. "A Little Bluer Than That" reveals a classic country song sung in perfect tune with Alan's baritone voice. My personal favorite "The Sounds" is a sad heartbreak song, that revels just how much depth Alan's music can have, if one looks. The last line "you can't hear it, but the silence is killing me" will be sure to give you goosebumps. I would love to know more about why Alan wrote the song.
"Designated Drinker" a duet with legend George Strait is a fun song about getting over a woman with a good friend and a bottle of Jack. "First Love" is another personal story from Alan about his 55 Thunderbird that is his again after setting it free for a down payment on a house years ago. Put your cd player on cruise control and enjoy some good country music with Alan Jackson.