Tennessee native Mandy Barnett had already been busy bringing Patsy Cline back to life by playing (and singing the songs of) the rowdy, legendary vocalist in the stage production Always...Patsy Cline. Then Barnett, not yet even 21 years old, took that experience and used it to power her self-titled debut album for Asylum Records. Cline's influence is out front on Barnett's handling of Willie Nelson's 1962 classic "Three Days" and the brand-new Kostas/Richard Bennett song "I'll Just Pretend." The downside of Barnett's album is that the production tends toward clean and safe territory (such as the overabundance of strings on the syrupy "Rainy Days"). The upside is that, even during her album's most middle-of-the-road moments, Barnett's voice remains strong, smooth, and confident. And a few of the songs shine with real promise — Barnett's delicate handling of Jim Lauderdale's "Planet of Love," for example, and the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger," which closes the album on a comfortable, unhurried note.
MANDY BARNETT
(Asylum 61810)
February 27/1996
Produced by Kyle Lehning

Steve Gibson, Brent Mason, Billy Joe Walker, Stuart Smith - el.guitar
Richard Bennett, Chris Leuzinger, Dean Parks - ac.guitar
Dan Dugmore - steel
Glenn Worf, David Hungate - bass
Lonnie Wilson, Paul Leim - drums
Matt Rollings, Steve Nathan - piano/organ
Strings by The Nashville String Machine
Vocals:
Beth Anderson, Bill Champlin, John Joyce, Gene Miller, Harry Stinson, Rose Stone
1.
PLANET OF LOVE
(Jim Lauderdale - John Leventhal)
« © '91 Mighty Nice Music, BMI »
I've found a new planet that only I can see
Just came back to get you let's leave this misery
Something can reach us so far from harm's way
Only sunshine and rainbows every day
We've got to get back there hurry up and get your things
The countdown has started go ahead try on these wings
Don't need no spaceship for what I'm thinking of
Did not I tell you that I'd take you to the planet of love
I got tired of losing but now I'm in control
So help me start packing we don't have far to go
I've found a new planet don't revolve around the sun
We'll make a new start there the journey's just begun
Won't get into trouble in our new world so far above
Did not I tell you that I'd take you to the planet of love
Did not I tell you that I'd take you to the planet of love
**********
2.
MAYBE
(Jim Lauderdale - John Leventhal)
« © '91 Mighty Nice Music, BMI »
I know how the story ends where everything works out
I get the feeling once again that I can't shake your doubt
Instead of hiding from romance you're gonna have to take a chance
Baby don't say maybe there'll be no coming back tomorrow baby
I got used to knowing bliss cause more than I deserved
After all this time I find you may have lost your nerve
The voice inside so far away I wanna hide but I hear you say
Baby don't say maybe there'll be no coming back tomorrow baby
Didn't have to tell me I just know
Bird in hand must fly away so let me go
[ guitar ]
I started late but I'm learning fast
I get the feeling this might be my last
Baby don't say maybe there'll be no coming back tomorrow baby
Don't say no baby just say so my baby baby maybe
**********
3.
RAINY DAYS
(Kostas - Pamela Brown Hayes)
« © '95 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Raindrops falling from the sky teardrops falling from my eyes
Too many heartaches since you've been gone
I'm drowning in sorrow and pain
Too many mem'ries won't leave me alone
Oh it's raining raining
Rainy days all I do is think of you
Sies of grey turn my world a deeper blue
With you so far away there's only rainy days
Sunshine hides behind the clouds he's feeling blue like me
Maybe tomorrow he'll come out again
And shine down on this lonely world
I wish my sorrow would come to an end
Cause it's raining raining
Rainy days all I do is think of you...
Wishin' and hoping you hear my heart calling calling
Tears on your picture tears on the floor they're falling falling
Rainy days all I do is think of you...
Rainy days all I do is think of you...
**********
4.
THREE DAYS
(Willie Nelson)
« © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Three days that I dread to see arrive
Three days that I hate to be alive
Three days filled with tears and sorrow
Yesterday today and tomorrow
There are three days I know I'll be blue
Three days that I'll always dream of you
And it does no good to wish these days would end
Cause these same three days start over again
Three days that I dread to see arrive...
[ steel ]
There are three days I know I'll be blue...
Three days that I dread to see arrive...
Three days (three days)
Three days (one two three days)
**********
5.
BABY DON'T YOU KNOW
(Jamie O'Hara)
« © '90 Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP »
You walk down the street with a smile on your face
Hand in hand with somebody new
From the window above I look down through my tears
Wondering why you treat me so cruel
You're so cruel baby don't you know I still love you
Baby don't you know I still miss you
Baby don't you know you're breakin' my heart
Oh oh oh Baby don't you know I still want you
Baby don't you know I still need you
Baby don't you know you're tearing me apart
All the talk going round says you're out on the town
Having fun till the early morning light
While you're showing all the world that you're happy and free
I'll stay home all alone and cry all night
I cry all night baby don't you know I still love you...
Has the memory of our love died so soon
Can't you see what you're doing to me
Why can't you see
[ steel ]
Baby don't you know I still love you
Baby don't you know I still need you
Baby don't you know you're tearing me apart
Baby don't you know you're tearing me apart
Baby don't you know you're tearing me apart
Oh baby don't you know you're tearing me apart
**********
6.
NOW THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME
(Kostas - Tony Perez)
« © '93 Seven Angels Music, BMI »
All you have to do now babe is pull on my heart strings
Let me know which way to go now that's all right with me
Love me like a river babe I'll love you like the sea
Love me anytime at all cause that's all right with me
Oh but the night is tender and the night is long
And I like what I see
There's a sparkle in your eyes like the stars in the sky
And I know what that means
Oh anytime or anyplace wherever we may be
We're wild and we're young and we're free to love
And that's all right that's all right with me
So close your pretty eyes now babe put me in your dreams
In your world of fantasy that's all right with me
[ guitar ]
Oh but the night is tender and the night is long...
Oh that's all right that's all right with me
Yeah that's all right that's all right with me
**********
7.
SIMPLE I LOVE YOU
(Karen Brooks - Randy Sharp)
« © '83 Babbling Brooks Publishing, BMI »
Give your heart and soul away never doubting if it's true
Is there no price that we won't pay for a simple I love you
After all the pride is gone hope has all but fallen through
We can still make ourselves hold on to a simple I love you
There's a time if love's to say when no other words will do
When all it takes to clear the way is a simple I love you
[ piano ]
There's a time if love's to say
When no other words will do say a simple I love you
**********
8.
I'LL JUST PRETEND
(Kosta - Richard Bennett)
« © '95 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Somewhere between the here and now
Heartaches begin I'll just pretend
You'll never know the way I feel
We've reached the end I'll just pretend
Pretending you still love me the way you used to do
Pretending that the promises you made will still come true
They still come true
And if by chance we meet again
You'll smile and then I'll just pretend
[ guitar ]
Believing don't come easy pretending it's not true
I can't convince this heart of mine you're pretending too
You're pretending too
And if by chance we meet again
You'll smile and then I'll just pretend
You'll smile and then I'll just pretend
**********
9.
WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU
(Kostas - Kelly Willis)
« © '95 Seven Angels Music, BMI »
My heart of hearts stay true to me
Don't be swayed so easily
I walk the line come running round
Driving my love in to the ground
What's good for you ain't good for me
Can't have this pain and misery
Take me to heart or set me free
What's good for you ain't good for me
[ guitar ]
So baby please make up your mind
Cause it hurts too much this time
I can't go on with you this way
It's time to go or time to stay
What's good for you ain't good for me...
Take me to heart or set me free
What's good for you ain't good for me
**********
10.
WAYFARING STRANGER
(Frankie Laine - Bernard Green)
« © '55 MCA Music, ASCAP »
I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through a world of woe
Where there's no sickness toil or danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my mother
She said she'd meet me when I come
I'm only going over Jordan I'm only going over home
I know dark clouds are gonna gather round me
I know my way will be rough and steep
But beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed their vigils keep
I'm going there to see my loved ones
Gone on before me one by one
I'm only going over Jordan I'm only going over home
[ guitar ]
I'll soon be free from earthly trials
This body rest in the old churchyard
I'll drop this cross of self denial
Then I'll go singing on to God
I'm going there to see my Saviour
I'll dwell with him and I'll never roam
I'm only going over Jordan I'm only going over home
**********