Ricky Van Shelton: the ultimate balladeer. (Rvs III - Ricky Van Shelton)

Member Name: Glasgow Girl

Product:	Rvs III - Ricky Van Shelton
Date:	01/09/00 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A sensuously serious example of 'new country' at its best

Disadvantages: NONE

or, as Santana's Rob Thomas might say,
"Smooth."


This is a longish review (the longest I’ve written to date) but I believe that Ricky Van Shelton is worth the time and effort involved and -once you’ve hear his voice - I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

There’s a short synopsis of each track - which I hope will lead you to check out RVS for yourselves.
I hope so.

Ricky Van Shelton is a very under-rated artiste and worth ‘getting in to’.

For me, RVS III is his finest album.

His more recent albums have been excellent, yes . . . but you never forget your ‘first time’ and Rick was mine, well almost . . . but that’s for another time, another ‘dooyoo’.


Although RVS III was not my first ‘New Country’ CD purchase (that honour goes to Matraca Berg) it has remained a firm favourite of mine, continuing to receive regular airings, having lost none of its charm, with tracks that are still as fresh and relevant as they were back in 1990.

I’ve Cried My Last Tear for You:

The .opening track is an up-tempo number with Ricky’s voice making a good song sound even better with his intonation and style of singing blending well with the country-swing genre.


The second track should go down in history as being
my all-time favourite country track - bar none.

Statue of a Fool:

This is RVS at his very best.
The melody is smooth and hypnotically soothing, while the words tell a story of lost love that pulls at the heart strings like no other song I know.

Around the time this album came out I remember reading, in a Sunday supplement,
of an Italian who had built a gigantic (but beautiful) statue - dedicated to his late wife, on a wooded hillside.
The photograph of that beautiful white marble statue comes to mind every time I
hear this track and, - if that were possible, - adds to my enjoyment of this WONDERFUL song.

I believe that this track was originally a country hit many years ago for somebody else;
who that was I don’t know but whoever it was first selected this song can rest assured that Ricky Van Shelton is the perfect voice to carry it on into the new century.

Statue of a Fool is a track I would recommend to everyone as an example of just what
true ‘new country’ music can sound like.

You Would do the Same for Me:

In any one else’s hands this would be just another ballad but the mellow ballad is where RVS excels.
The words tell of the way in which love should be a reciprocal affair, with both parties giving and taking in all circumstances, good and bad.
A perfect scenario for a perfect song.
It has always reminded me of the way in which my ‘other half’ has been a constant support through the ups and downs of life and of how, when I tell him of how much I appreciate his support, - he’ll come back with the reply,
“Well, - you would do the same for me, yeah?”

Life’s Little Ups and Downs

Like the last track, this is a song about life; REAL life.
The man getting paid off from work and the wife sticking by him through thick and thin;
- the “ . . .Ups and Downs” of the title.
Give it a listen, - unless you’ve just been paid off and are on your own;
in which case wait till things improve a bit :-)

I’m Starting Over:

If things aren’t going so great, - then this is the track for you.
It tells of the way in which we humans always have
the ability to start over and it is a truly inspirational track

Love is Burnin’:

Sounds like an ‘Elvis’ number to me, but then again, maybe not?
Good, - smootchy/up-tempo all at the same time (?) Yes
it is, check it out.

Not That I Care:

This one is a bit of a ‘tear jerker’.
The man in this song is telling us he isn’t heartbroken and he doesn’t care what his ex-girlfriend is doing, - much!

This song demonstrates just how emotive Ricky’s voice can be.
As with track on one of his earlier albums, “Somebody Lied”, this track is sung
“tongue in cheek”, with guy pretending not to care, while cracking up inside.

What do you mean, real men don’t cry? The one in this song does.

Rick Van Shelton is one gorgeous guy, with a voice to match.
Anyone who’s been lucky enough to actually see him in the flesh
(Pavilion theatre, Glasgow September 1994)
will tell you that RVS can have you crying, laughing and
falling out of your seat
simply with the amount of pure emotion he can put into a song.

Oh Pretty Woman:

The Roy Orbison track done ‘RVS’ style and it is great too.

I Mean Every Word He Said:

A story of a lost love; lost because the guy couldn’t say what someone else could (and did).
Now he stands at the back of the church and wishes . . .
If you feel it - say it, that’s the lesson from this track.

I Still Love You:

IF there is a ‘weak’ track on the CD then it’s this one.
However you might enjoy it more than me . . .
and why miss out on a whole lot of wonderful music for one track?

Sweet Memories:

This, the last track on the CD, is a wonderful version of a ‘standard’ country song.
Ricky is ably assisted by Brenda Lee, with her haunting tones blending soooo beautifully with Ricky’s - that you are left wanting more from this fabulous artiste.

Summary: