After scoring big hits in the 1990s with hits like “Amen Kind of Love,” “Too Much Fun” and “The Note,” Daryle Singletary’s traditional country-minded musical style became out of favor as country radio followed Shania Twain into a more ‘pop-based’ sound.  Daryle first tried to twist some songs, like a cover of Savage Garden’s “I Knew I Loved You,” enough to get radio hits but his new record label, Koch Records Nashville (where he signed after Giant Records closed), couldn’t get him up the charts.   Rather than try to get singles up the charts after that failure, Koch and Daryle recorded a covers album and then after the label closed, Daryle followed that up with another album of covers.  When Koch decided to re-enter the country label market with their rebranded label E1 Music,  Daryle was re-contracted to release a record that was recorded for Koch before they closed. 

“Rockin’ The Country” leads-off with the title track and finds Daryle singing the punchy Paul Overstreet and Sonny Tillis track with legendary guest artist Charlie Daniels.  While the song feels like a forced attempt at a radio hit at first, it feels less so upon repeated listening.   The lead single “Love You With The Lights On” feels like a long lost Conway Twitty romantic ballad updated for the latest decade.  It’s a classic country love ballad with modern production values sung expertly by Daryle.  “That’s Why God Made Me” is a sweet, heart-felt ballad written by the master of sweet, heart-felt ballads, Harley Allen (“The Baby,” “The Little Girl,” and more) and as such, it’s crafted with strong lyrical prose and where something this sopping in emotional sweetness might feel forced if it weren’t coming from Singletary and his powerful, rich and emotive baritone (check out Shannon Walker’s 2008 reading to see what I mean). 

Originally recorded by the late, great Vern Gosdin in 1984, “How Can I Believe In You (When You’ll Be Leaving Me)” reminds one of Daryle’s past two covers albums while Jimmy Wayne’s co-penned (with Don Poythress and Wynn Varble) “Goin’ Through Hell (With You Again)” has the feel of a hit worthy of country radio airplay.  I first heard “If I Ever Get Her Back” when the song’s writer Billy Yates (a co-write with Billy Lawson) recorded it on one of his stellar albums.  Singletary sings the song in a way that stays true to Yates’ original yet gives the feeling that it too could be a radio hit if radio would give guys like Daryle Singletary another shot. 

“She’s A Woman” glides along like a late 80s or early 90s George Strait hit while “They Know How To Grow ‘Em” playfully discusses the charms and appeal of southern girls.  The album closes out with a bonus modern twist to John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”    While he’s been languishing on the outskirts of mainstream country music the last few years, Daryle Singletary is still very much one of the best vocalists making records today.  While “Rockin’ In The Country” isn’t perfect (the rockin’ songs don’t fit Daryle as well as the mid-tempo and ballads do), it is a much welcomed addition to Daryle Singletary and country music’s 2009 album catalog.

You can support Daryle Singletary by purchasing this album at iTunes | Amazon.