The last Judds album may not be their strongest but nonetheless featured some killer tracks and is by no means unsuccessful when taken as a whole. There is plenty of merit here. With an opening track like "Born to Be Blue" that begins as an old swinging blues tune à la the 1930s and moves into a hot fusion of country and R&B, the album is off to a good start. There are a handful of Naomi Judd co-writes that feature everything from roots and progressive country to strutting, punchy rock & roll to heartbreaking ballads. The remake of Lawrence Hammond's "John Deere Tractor" may not have be the best move to make, but then, it's not bad either. "Calling in the Wind" sounds like Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" at the beginning, but Wynonna dispels any of that quickly in the verse. "Rompin' Stompin' Bad News Blues" is a ferocious blues rocker with acoustic guitars roiling under the voice of Wynonna, who sings as loud as she growls, and guest star Bonnie Raitt's greasy electric slide doesn't hurt either. Ultimately, Love Can Build a Bridge is a fine sendoff for one of the most successful and revolutionary bands in country history. There is much pleasure here, and it is all in the way two voices weave, Wynonna's command of her instrument, and Brent Maher's production that accents all the strengths and leaves just enough weakness in the mix to make the band human.
THE JUDDS
LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE
RCA 2070August/1990
Produced by Brian Maher
Don Potter - lead guitarMark Casstevens, Craig Bickhardt - rh.guitar
Sonny Garrish - steel/dobro
Paul Franklin - steel
Bonnie Raitt - slide guitar
Jack Williams - bass
Eddie Bayers - drums
Bobby Ogdin, John B. Jarvis - piano/organ
Farrell Morris - percussion
Mark Tanner - cello
Christ Church Choir - vocals<
Recorded:
1990 in Nashville
1.
BORN TO BE BLUE
(Mike Reid - Mack David - Brent Maher) « © '90 Almo Music, ASCAP / Brio Blues Music, ASCAP /Vancou Music, ASCAP / Welbeck Music, ASCAP / Welk Music, ASCAP »
Maybe I'm wrong maybe I'm right maybe I just don't know
Will I ever fall in love and never have to worry that I'm falling all alone
Maybe it's true I was just born to be blue
Maybe it's true I was just born to be blue
They say everybody's got a someone a sweet somebody to love
It might be fate or destiny may be written in the stars above
But I can't help but wonder after all that I've been through
Maybe my baby's nowhere to be found and I was just born to be blue
Was I born to be unhappy just to live on heartache street
Was I born to go to bed each night and cry myself to sleep
Can somebody out there help me give me some kind of clue
Tell me I'm wrong tell me I'm right but don't tell me I was born to be blue
[ piano ] They say nobody dies from a heartache you can't drown in your own tears
But who wants to live in this world alone where minutes turn into years
So I'd rather go down believing suffer a heartache or two
Tell me I'm wrong tell me I'm right but don't tell me I was born to be blue
[ piano ] Was I born to be blue born just to cry
Born to be alone till the day I die
Somebody tell me
Was I born to be loved born to be kissed
Born to find the one to show me what I missed
Was I born to be blue born just to cry
Born to be alone till the day I die
Tell me mama
Was I born to be loved born to be kissed
Born to find the one to show me what I missed
**********
2.
CALLING IN THE WIND
(Don Schlitz - Craig Bickhardt - Brent Maher) « © '90 New Don Songs, ASCAP / BMG Songs, ASCAP /Colgems Music, ASCASP / Welbeck Music, ASCAP / Welk Music, ASCAP »
You said I could call on you if I was ever lonely
You swore you'd always be my friend
And now my heart is tired and oh my soul is hungry
I need to talk to you again
I can hear love calling in the wind
Open up my heart and let it in love's calling in the wind
You said I may not see you standing there beside me
But you would be there just the same
Your hand upon my shoulder always there to guide me
All I had to do was call your name
I can hear love calling in the wind...
If I need to talk to you if I need to talk to you
If I ever need to talk to you again
If I need to get a message through all I really have to do
All I ever have to do is call your name
I can hear love calling in the wind...
Love's calling in the wind
**********
3.
IN MY DREAMS
(Austin Cunningham) « © '90 MCA Music, ASCAP »In my dreams you belong to me
She doesn't mean a thing she never wore your ring
In my dreams my greatest wish comes true
My arms are holding you in my dreams
I hear your laughter and I taste your lips
I feel you tremble at my fingertips
Each night you're mine but each morning finds you gone
In my dreams my soul is wide awake
Craving the love we make in my dreams
[ steel ] I hear your laughter and I taste your lips...
In my dreams I'll hide this love I steal
Till you feel what my heart feels in my dreams
In my dreams in my dreams in my dreams in my dreams
**********
4.
ROMPIN' STOMPIN' BLUES
(Don Schlitz - Naomi Judd) « © '90 New Don Songs, ASCAP / BMG Songs, ASCAP / Mike Curb Music, BMI »His letter came this morning COD
Says he's found somebody who reminds him of me
He says he needs some space that might be the case
Wasn't even man enough to tell me to my face
I got the rompin' stompin' bad news blues
He stole my money he stole my time
When he stole my heart honey he really crossed that line
A major felony send out an APB
Go tell that thief of hearts to bring it on back to me
I got the rompin' stompin' bad news blues
Well come tonight I'm steppin' out
Gonna sing and dance gonna shake and shout
Forget about ol' what's his name
You know two can play this game
Whatever it takes to lose
These rompin' stompin' bad news blues
[ guitar ] Well men are full of trouble girl that ain't nothin' new
We ain't found nothin' better and until the day we do
Sister friend be wise just realize
Stay away from the ones who'll do you wrong and tell you lies
They'll give you the rompin' stompin' bad news blues
That's right they'll give you the rompin' stompin' bad news blues
**********
5.
LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE
(Paul Overstreet - Naomi Judd - John B. Jarvis) « © '90 Scarlet Moon Music, BMI / Mike Curb Music, BMI / Inspector Barlow Music, ASCAP »I'd gladly walk across the desert with no shoes upon my feet
To share with you the last bite of bread I had to eat
I would swim out to save you in your sea of broken dreams
When all your hopes are sinking let me show you what love means
Love can build a bridge tween your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge don't you think it's time
Don't you think it's time
I would whisper love so loudly every heart could understand
That love and only love can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire so that you might see
The first step is to realize that it all begins with you and me
Love can build a bridge...
[ piano ] When we stand together it's our finest hour
We can do anything anything if we keep believin' in the power
Love can build a bridge...
Love can build a bridge...
**********
6.
THIS COUNTRY'S ROCKIN'
(Keith Sykes - Robert Johnson - Naomi Judd) « © '90 Bro'n Sis Music, BMI / Herb Omell Publishing, BMI / Mike Curb Music, BMI »It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor if you're old or young
Everybody, every now and then has got to have some fun
So turn up the music turn up the juice
Put me in the spotlight and turn me loose
You better hold on tight this country's gonna rock tonight
This country's rockin' to the beat of a brand new drum
Back in Kentucky where I come from they love to hear that old guitar strum
This country's rockin' jump back and let the bad boys play
Everywhere across the USA this country's rockin' all the way
You might ride a horse drive a Porsche or cruise in limousines
Eat caviar with champagne or cornbread with your pinto beans
But there's one thing in which we all agree
We love our country music like the Queen loves tea
What a lovely sight we're gonna rock tonight
This country's rockin'...
[ piano - guitar ] This country's rockin'...
Yeah everywhere across the USA this country's rockin' all the way
**********
7.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWO
(Paul Kennerley - Don Potter - Wynonna Judd) « © '90 Little March Music, BMI / Mike Curb Music, BMI / Sheep In Tow Music, BMI »There's one hundred and one little reasons why
I should leave you here say goodbye
But I just can't seem to say we're through
And the reasons why are one hundred and two
One hundred and one little tears fall
And every drop makes me feel so small
But as hard as I try I can't leave you
And the reasons why babe are one hundred and two
I'm countin' up the times I've cried
The times you'd leave the times you lied
And everyday I'm keeping score
When it all adds up I need you more
One hundred and one lonely nights
You leave me here now honey that ain't right
But still I forgive everything you do
And the reasons why are one hundred and two
Yeah the reasons why baby are one hundred and two
There's one hundred and one little reasons why
But one hundred and two keeps me by your side
**********
8.
JOHN DEERE TRACTOR
(Lawrence Hammond) « © '83 Radadara Music, BMI »Dear mama here's a letter from your girl
Well I think my city days are done mom
And it ain't been three weeks since I came
And mama do remember what you said
Say your prayers before you go to bed child
And remember city boys ain't the same
I'm like a John Deere Tractor in a half acre field
Tryin' to plow a furrow where the soil is made of steel
How I wish I was home mom where the blue grass is growin'
And the sweet country boys don't complain
And mama so much perfume I thought I'd drown
And the Lord didn't seem to be nowhere around
Hey I felt just like a flower from the vine
I'm like a John Deere Tractor in a half acre field
Tryin' to plow a furrow where the soil is made of steel
How I'd like to be home mom where the blue grass is growin'
And the fire light shimmers and it shines
I'm like a John Deere Tractor...
**********
9.
TALK ABOUT LOVE
(Jack Sundrud - Carl Struck) « © '90 Curb Magnasong Music, BMI / Red Quill Music, BMI / Reynsong Publishing, BMI »Love talk about love why do you always wanna talk about love
Love talk about love why do you always wanna talk about it
I say that love is something you feel
You know in your heart if it's real
But you've got to analyze
Organize synchronize formalize and compromise
Love talk about love...
I say love it's like when you sing
You move to the music when the words don't mean a thing
But know you've got to clarify
Define it and refine it align and realign it
Love talk about love...
You don't have to understand
Every little thing between a woman and a man
True love comes from deep inside
Try to use your logic and you'll only lose your mind
Love talk about love...
**********
10.
ARE THE ROSES NOT BLOOMING
(Thom Schuyler) « © '90 Screen Gems Music, BMI »Are the roses not blooming this morning
Has the sun lost its beautiful ray
Have the children no reason for laughing
Or my darling are you walking away
Has the sky lost its brilliant blue color
Are the robins not singing today
Has that river no reason for running
Or my darling are you walking away
Has my heart found a reason for breaking in two
Have my eyes found a reason to cry
Have my ears heard the voice of a stranger
Or my darling are you saying goodbye
Has the earth lost its power for turning
Has the winter decided to stay
Are the roses not blooming this morning
Or my darling are you walking away
Are the roses not blooming this morning
Or my darling are you walking away
Or my darling are you walking away
**********
