Music review: Ronnie Dunn 鈥� 鈥楻e-Dunn鈥�
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are recognized as the biggest-selling duo in country music history. Their 1991 debut album, 鈥淏rand New Man,鈥� sparked a legendary career that produced classic country hits like 鈥淏oot Scootin鈥� Boogie,鈥� 鈥淢y Next Broken Heart鈥� and 鈥淣eon Moon.鈥�
After the two cowboys temporarily called it quits and rode off into the sunset back in 2010, both Brooks and Dunn used the time apart to work on solo projects. Dunn鈥檚 latest release, 鈥淩e-Dunn,鈥� is his fourth solo album and proves to be a true labor of love for the 66-year-old Texas native. The new album features Dunn covering 24 country and rock tracks that inspired him throughout his life and helped influence his musical direction.
Dunn kicks off the set with George Strait鈥檚 鈥淎marillo by Morning,鈥� followed by a vibrant version of 鈥淟ong Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)鈥� from the Hollies, as listeners quickly get a taste of the diverse tracks performed by Dunn.
Dunn continues to mix it up with a smooth offering of 鈥淗ow Long鈥� from the British band Ace. Originally written and sung by Paul Carrack, this melodic hit would prove to be the band鈥檚 biggest claim to fame.
鈥淪howdown鈥� is a pleasant surprise with Dunn demonstrating that he鈥檚 not afraid to step out of his comfort zone. Dunn gives a splendid performance on the Electric Light Orchestra number from the band鈥檚 third release that also contained 鈥淒aybreaker鈥� and 鈥淢a-Ma-Ma Belle.鈥� As a huge ELO fan, Dunn鈥檚 cover gets my full approval.
The Eagles鈥� 鈥淧eaceful Easy Feeling鈥� and Bob Seger鈥檚 鈥淎gainst the Wind鈥� are a natural fit for Dunn鈥檚 signature vocal style.
My favorite performance comes on an engaging version of Eric Clapton鈥檚 鈥淲onderful Tonight.鈥� Dunn perfectly captures Clapton鈥檚 romantic narrative that was penned for Pattie Boyd by the guitar legend and included on 1977鈥檚 鈥淪lowhand.鈥�
Other album highlights include Albert Hammond鈥檚 鈥淚t Never Rains in Southern California,鈥� Van Morrison鈥檚 鈥淏rown Eyed Girl,鈥� 10cc鈥檚 鈥淚鈥檓 Not in Love鈥� and Pure Prairie League鈥檚 鈥淎mie.鈥�
Brooks and Dunn were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.