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ROSANNE CASH began work on this album, Rules of Travel in 1998, and it was to be a long voyage. She became pregnant and then a polyp affected her vocal chords and suddenly her singing voice was gone. Although Rosanne continued with her second career writing short stories, magazine articles and children's books and also the new baby arrived, these songs lay waiting for her voice to return. Thankfully it did. Rules of Travel is more than just a return to form, it is a distillation of her earlier music, combined with a fresh verve and technical excellence. Her husband, the producer/songwriter/guitarist JOHN LEVENTHAL has fleshed out the music, enhancing but not obscuring the delicacy of the lyrical writing. There are echoes of country, modern folk, and even some Beatles-influenced flourishes. Featured guests are Steve Earle, Teddy Thompson, Sheryl Crow and most notably Johnny Cash. The symbolism in the cover art and lyrics hold true; Life is indeed a journey.
Capitol Records/EMI Music Australia 7243 5 82581 2 7
Back in 1982, ROSANNE CASH with producer (and then-husband) RODNEY CROWELL had raised the bar as to how high modern country music could jump. The music of Somewhere In The Stars still sounds contemporary today, so you can imagine how it must have been received at the time. Radical because of it's quality; intelligent writing from her own pen and the pick of the hippest writers of the day, plus fresh West Coast session players, inspiring a new generation of country artists. To top it off, on the cover of the follow-up album Rhythm & Romance, Rosanne had spiky hair and was dressed to kill. She had the look, the talent and the family pedigree to overcome any opposition. Raven Records gives us both albums on their second Rosanne Cash budget-priced 'two-for' compilation, replete with cover notes by Keith Glass and a bonus track - Rosanne's version of John Fogerty's Feeling Blue.
Raven Records RVCD-154
Also available Right or Wrong / Seven Year Ache RVCD-129
- Bob Howe
