VOA常速英语:Collin Raye Returns to Musical Roots on 'Never Going Back'

音频下载[点击右键另存为]
Collin Raye dominated the Country music chart throughout the 1990s. But, the Arkansas native now focuses more on inspiring people with his music than achieving chart success.

Collin Raye returns to his musical roots on his new album, Never Going Back. His early influences include 1970s folk-rock, Country, and rock and roll. Collin traveled to Alabama to record the album at the historic Muscle Shoals Studios.

The 12 tracks include two cover songs: Stealers Wheel's "Stuck In The Middle With You" and a duet version of Harry Nilsson's 1972 Number One hit "Without You," which teams him with contemporary Christian singer Susan Ashton.

Collin refers to Never Going Back as the album he always wanted to make. He says, "To go in and record without Country radio uppermost in my thoughts was very liberating. In the beginning, I wanted hits and all that, but what drives me now is what this music means to people."

The most personal song on the album is the one track Collin wrote himself. "She's With Me" was inspired by his eight-year-old granddaughter Haley, who has a rare degenerative brain disorder.

"She's With Me" is available as a download for a donation of five dollars or more at Operation Kids' website. The non-profit organization funds programs related to children's education, health and safety.

Although Collin is best known for hit ballads, like "Love Me" and "In This Life," he picks up the pace on the first single from Never Going Back, with "Mid-Life Chrysler."