Regina Leader-Post

TIME MARCHES ON FOR SINGER

Country star Lawrence is still motivated by his passion for the creative process

- JEFF DEDEKKER jdedekker@postmedia.com twitter.com/theploughb­oy

He may no longer have the killer mullet or the wicked moustache but Tracy Lawrence is still making his mark on country music.

Lawrence, who turned 50 on Jan. 27, might not have the badass style that he rocked during the 1990s but he’s managed to fashion a remarkable career that’s heading toward the 30-year mark.

He’s got eight No. 1 and 22 Top 10 singles to his credit with hits like Sticks & Stones, Alibis, The Good Die Young, Time Marches On and Can’t Break It to My Heart making Lawrence a staple on country radio during the ’90s.

Lawrence, who will perform at Country Thunder Saskatchew­an on Saturday, has found that a recent resurgence of that ’90s sound has brought the spotlight back to him. His latest album, Good Ole Days, was released on Nov. 10 and its reimaginin­g of the Lawrence hits as duets with other artists has caught the attention of a younger generation of fans.

The album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and hit No. 1 on the itunes Country chart. Lawrence admitted in a recent telephone interview that the success was a bit of a surprise for him.

“I was pleasantly surprised. I haven’t had a record hit like that in a long time. It’s done quite well, we’re selling a lot on the road,” said Lawrence.

Good Ole Days contains 11 tracks with the likes of Tim Mcgraw, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Chris Young and Justin Moore teaming up with Lawrence for new versions of his best-known songs.

While he is enjoying the success of the album, Lawrence is also savouring the fact that the ’90s style is finding an audience not only with younger country music fans but with younger artists as well.

“I’ve learned a couple of things through this process. I didn’t really realize how big of an impact this music had on this younger generation,” said Lawrence. “Getting in the studio and talking to the artists and finding out that my music had an impact on them. I’ve also seen what’s happening out there in the concert world where a lot of guys from my era, the ’90s era, the Mark Chesnutts, the Joe Diffies and the Clay Walkers, there’s a resurgence and a passion for our music. We’re seeing the numbers go up at concerts. We’re seeing a lot of young people gravitatin­g to this music so I think we’re at a time where we’re going to have at least a few years of resurgence. I’m just going to enjoy it as much as I can.”

So why is the ’90s style so popular?

“There were some really great songs and the individual­ity of the artists from that era, I enjoyed being a part of it but I also enjoyed being a fan of my peers, being in that inner circle,” said Lawrence. “If you look from 1989 through the mid-’90s, there was some really great music coming out. Everybody had their own style and place where they fit into the format. The producers were making really good production on these records. It had a different feel to it back then than it does now.

“Everything is compressed and shoved up in your face now and it’s mixed more for the ear bud world. It has a different sound to it than that era and I affectiona­tely miss that era. It just feels too sterilized at times and I feel like there’s a pull back within the industry to soften things up a little bit and people are starting to write clever lyrics again ... I feel that trend happening right now.”

Lawrence is also keeping busy with a nationally syndicated radio show, Honky Tonkin’ With Tracy Lawrence, which is currently heard in 90 markets. While he loves the show, Lawrence is still motivated to write and record new music.

“There’s still that creative thing that needs to be satisfied, at least there is in me,” said Lawrence. “Writing songs is extremely therapeuti­c for me. You get to collaborat­e, talk through things and the sense of accomplish­ment of putting several hours in and finishing with something is beautiful and special and unique, it’s very gratifying for me. To be able go through that process and see it evolve from its infancy of the concept and the melody to getting to the place where it is a finished product, I enjoy that.”

Before the interview ended, Lawrence was asked if he had a favourite song from his long list of hits. His answer was very diplomatic.

“I have a few favourites for a few different reasons,” he explained. “Sticks & Stones is one of my favourites because it was the very first No. 1 and none of the rest of them could’ve followed behind without that. Alibis is one of my favourites because it broke the sophomore jinx. I love that song because it still impacts in a huge way. Time Marches On to me is the best song I’ve every recorded lyrically, from a poetic standpoint. There’s so much about life in three and a half minutes and it’s timeless. Paint Me A Birmingham, what can you say about it? It was a huge, monster record. It wasn’t even a No. 1 record but it’s a big, if not bigger, than anything I’ve ever had. But my personal favourite of all them is I See It Now. I love the melody of it, I love singing it every night. It was just a really special song. Those are kind of my babies right there.”

We’re seeing a lot of young people gravitatin­g to this music so I think we’re at a time where we’re going to have at least a few years of resurgence.

 ??  ?? Tracy Lawrence, who is set to play the mainstage of the Country Thunder Saskatchew­an festival Saturday, is enjoying a career resurgence thanks to his latest album of duets with today’s stars.
Tracy Lawrence, who is set to play the mainstage of the Country Thunder Saskatchew­an festival Saturday, is enjoying a career resurgence thanks to his latest album of duets with today’s stars.

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