Brilliant second album

Review Score: (10/10)
Alan's debut album, Here in the real world, was a hard act to follow but this is certainly impressive. While I slightly prefer Here in the real world, that preference is only marginal. Four of these tracks earned a place on Alan's first hits collection, these being the title track, Dallas, Midnight in Montgomery and Someday. Whether these are the best four tracks here is debatable as every track here is a classic. This is one of those albums - like its predecessor - where choosing what to release as a single must have been a hard but enjoyable job.

The title track was inspired by an event that actually happened, where somebody was leaning on a jukebox and somebody else told him not to rock it. Alan took the phrase and wrote a song in which he changed the meaning of the phrase Don't rock the jukebox - the song is actually a plea to fill the jukebox with country music (especially George Jones records) rather than rock music.

The next song, That's all I need to know, is about a relationship that appears to be ending. Until I heard the song Dallas, I didn't know it was a girl's name as well as a city in Texas, allowing Alan to sing about Dallas leaving Tennessee and going back to Texas. Midnight in Montgomery is a tribute to Hank Williams, the title referring to his death. Love's got a hold on you is a light-hearted song about going to a doctor and discovering that his problem is being in love. Someday is about the end of a relationship. Just playing Possum is about George Jones and features a guest appearance by the man himself.

From a distance is not the famous song of that title, which was originally recorded by Nanci Griffith and later became a UK hit for Cliff Richard in 1990 and a transatlantic hit for Bette Midler in 1991. No, this is an original song that Alan wrote with Randy Travis about a former relationship.

Walking the floor over me is yet another play on words - this time the subject of the song is a lady who lives in the apartment above Alan's. The album ends with the upbeat Working class hero, about a man reaching retirement.

This is an outstanding traditional country album with a contemporary edge - exactly what you expect from Alan Jackson.

More Reviews:

• Don't Rock the JukeBox
• Maybe the greatest album of all-time!
• Alan rocks the JukeBox!!!
• His Greatest
• Jackson's songs really "touch a nerve"
• Pure hardcore country music - the way it should be.
• Good