Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Adam Harvey, Sony Music 2018.
Adam Harvey is an eight-time Golden Guitar winner and one of Australia’s most popular and enduring country stars.
For his 10th studio album Adam fulfilled a life-long dream and jetted off to Nashville, armed with some new songs and a clear vision of what he wanted – to work with Aussie producer Nash Chambers.
Adam says “I want(ed) to make a 70s country album: that’s my favourite era in country music. While everybody else is heading further and further away from classic country music it’s a good step for me to, not only follow my passion and my heart, but also to go the other way.”
The beating heart of The Nashville Tapes is the track I’d Rather Be A Highwayman.
“Nothing makes me give a damn more than country can, I’d rather be a Highwayman than a Rolling Stone.”
The track is pure country, cliched barroom piano, cowboy drums, shmaltzy lyrics and all.
Even in the most up-tempo songs Adam has resisted the temptation to drift into rock and roll (although he does get close on tracks like Loving You).
A number of songs make reference to rock and roll but only to show how authentic country music is as an alternative.
For the most part the songs are classic country ballads sung beautifully with heartfelt emotion.
In addition to the new songs Adam has included covers of some of his favourite tracks like Ricky Nelson’s There Will Never Be Anyone Else But You and Neil Diamond’s Solitary Man.
On the track We’ll Have To Drink Our Way Out Of This Adam is joined by Brian Cadd who was in Nashville and just happened to drop by the studio.
Lee Kernaghan joins him on Three Rivers a song about the Three Rivers Hotel.
The Nashville Tapes is an album dripping with nostalgia; think Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, etc. and even for someone who only has a passing interest in country there’s plenty to enjoy.
