Wynonna had no problem with the spotlight; or, as the tabloids regularly revealed, with opening up her private life for all to poke through and ponder. For all of her cultivating of celebrity, her albums continued to turn down the lights and focus on the softer glow of emotional verities her albums. Revelations is another worthy solo effort by the younger member of the Judds, the mother-daughter duo through which she first found massive fame. Often somber, and just as often right on the money, she casts a blue tint to several reflective songs that examine spirituality (without sermons) and the quiet discoveries that come with mature relationships. Ballads like "Don't Look Back," "Love By Grace," and "My Angel Is Here" — all album highlights — prove how sympathetic her rich, expressive voice can be when applied to a well-written, sensitive lyric. As in the past, she's equally convincing on up-tempo, R&B-infused strutters, such as Delbert McClinton's "Somebody to Love You" or the gospel rave-up "Dance! Shout!" It's a mystery as to why she would include her version of "Freebird," which previously was released as part of a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute album. (Maybe someone should tell her that those people who yelled it out during encores were kidding.) Otherwise, Revelations is just that; a revealing next step by a country music star who understands the power of subtlety in an age that tends to prefer overstatement.
WYNONNA JUDD
REVELATIONS
MCA 110901997
Produced by Tony Brown
Don Potter, Steuart Smith, Dann Huff - guitarPaul Franklin - steel/dobro
Willie Weeks - bass
Eddie Bayers - drums
Steve Nathan, Matt Rollings - keyboards
Terry McMillan - harmonica
Tom Roady - percussion
Mike Haynes, Hollywood Paul Litteral - trumpet
Jim Horn, Jim Hoke, Roger Williams - sax
Vocals:
Robert Bailey, Max Carl, Kim Fleming, Andrew Gold, William Greene,
Vicki Hampton, Gordon Kennedy, Jonell Mosser, Suzy Willis
Arrangements by Steve Dorff
Recorded:
1997 in Nashville
1.
TO BE LOVED BY YOU
(Gary Burr - Mike Reid) « © '97 MCA Music, ASCAP »Love that's worth fighting for that's what this is
And how how I could I want more then the warmth of your kiss
No matter how many miles and dreams come between us now
In each step I take with each prayer I make this love will live somehow
Let the mountains rise I will climb them all
When my body's weak I will not fall
Baby come what may I'll find a way to get through
There's nothing that I won't do to be loved by you
There will be lonely nights when you'll whisper my name
Know on those lonely nights I'll be doing the same
Should every star in the sky go out just keep your faith alive
We were meant to be this is destiny tt cannot be denied
Let the mountain rise I will climb them all...
And even when we're worlds apart
Just keep this promise in your heart
[ guitar ] Let the mountain rise I will climb them all
When my body's weak I will not fall
Baby come what may and I'll find a way to get through
There's nothing that I won't do (nothing that I won't do)
There's nothing that I won't do (nothing that I won't do)
There's nothing that I won't do to be loved by you
To be loved by you to be loved to be loved by you to be loved by you
**********
2.
SOMEBODY TO LOVE YOU
(Gary Nicholson - Delbert McClinton) « © '97 Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP / Lew Bob Songs, BMI »You need a job so you can make some money you need a nice warm place to stay
A sense of humor cause life is funny a big stick to keep the wolf away
You need a car with good tires on it the right place to eat barbecue
A heavy duty set of jumper cables and no holes in you walking shoes
The main thing you're gonna find you need is a fertile place to plant your seed
Boy you got to find somebody to love you
Someone to be there for you night and day
Someone to share it with and be part of you
Love ain't no good till you give it away
You got to give it away
I recommend you get some life insurance
And be prepared to dial 9-1-1
Pay close attention to your high blood pressure
And stay away from the man with the gun
You need a reason to get up in the morning
Make sure your clock has got a snooze control
Be sure you got a place to run for cover
Cause overnight things can sure get cold
You're gonna find that sooner or later
You need a common denominator
You got to find somebody to love you...
[ guitar ] The main thing you're gonna find you need is a fertile place to plant your seed
Boy you got to find somebody to love you...
You got to find somebody to love you...
You got to find somebody to love you...
**********
3.
CHANGE THE WORLD
(Wayne Kirkpatrick - Gordon Kennedy - Tommy Sims) « © '97 Careers Music, BMI »If I could reach the stars I'd pull one down for you
Shine it on my heart so you could see the truth
That this love inside is everything it seems
But for now I find it's only in my dreams
That I can change the world
I would be the sunlight in your universe
You would think my love was something good
Baby if I could change the world
If I could be a queen even for a day
I'd take you as my king I'd have it no other way
And our love would rule in this kingdom that we made
Till then I'll be a fool wishing for the day
That I can change the world...
I coukd change the world...
**********
4.
DON'T LOOK BACK
(John Keller - Charlie Sexton) « © '97 MCA Music, ASCAP »Time to walk away you've run out of things to say
Everything ends up the same old story
You don't know where love went oh but nothing's making sense
You both know you can't fake it anymore
Don't look back he'll see you crying don't look back on love that's dying
Make believe your heart is made of stone
Don't look back into his eyes you've already said goodbye
It's over now you've got to let him go
He's the one you love but sometimes love is not enough
It's too complicated to explain
No you never will forget oh but you'll get over it
Someday just sweet mem'ries will remain
So don't look back don't break your will don't look back at him until
You're far enough to let your feelings show
Don't look back into those eyes you've gone back so many times
It's over now you've got to let him go
There's a time for everything including leaving
There's a time the heart admits defeat and starts its grieving
[ dobro ] So don't look back don't break your will...
**********
5.
OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER
(Guy Clark - Jeff Silbar) « © '97 April Music, ASCAP »You'd think I'd have the sense to run knowin' where you're coming from
I can't bring myself to go heaven help me I can't say no
I see forever in you deep blue eyes and I know where the danger lies
Tell me what's a girl to do when she's up against the likes of you
I'm old enough to know better but too young to resist
I'd lay awake at night wondering what i might have missed
But something tells me your trouble the only trouble is
I'm old enough to know better but too young to resist
Now good things come to those who wait something tells me this is fate
And after all that I've been through I'm gonna trust my heart to you
I'm old enough to know better...
I suppose where love's concerned some fools just never learn
Lying here in your arms tonight
I can't help but feel it's gonna be all right be all right
[ guitar ] I'm old enough to know better...
Yeah I'm old enough to know better
Yeah I'm old enough to know better but too young to resist
**********
6.
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART
(David Tyson - Tina Arena - Dean McTaggart) « © '97 Blackwood Music, BMI »Two smiling faces that's how it used to be
What once was forever is now a faded memory
The perfect illusion for a while i guess it was
Without explanation the bloom fell off the rose
Heaven help my heart cause it's a lot like me
I'm wondering when this all will end and I'll find the love I need
I know it's out there somewhere somehow I still believe
I'm asking please heaven help my heart
This world can get crazy these are troubled times
Ooh I'd walk through the fire if love is what I'd find
It's out of my hands now so I put my faith in you
And I say a little prayer and hope that it comes true
Heaven help my heart...
[ guitar ] Heaven help my heart...
**********
7.
LOVE BY GRACE
(Dave Loggins - Wayne Tester) « © '97 MCA Music, ASCAP »I remember the rain on the roof that morning
And all the things that I wanted to say
And the angry words that came from nowhere without warning
That stole the moment and sent me away
And you standing there in the doorway crying
And me wondering if I'd ever be back
I said I didn't come here to leave you I didn't come here to lose
I didn't come here believing I would ever be away from you
I didn't come here to find out there's a weakness in my faith
I was brought here by the power of love love by grace
And I remember the road just went on forever
I just couldn't seem to turn that car around
Till in the distance like a long lost treasure
The phone booth that just could not be found
And you standing in the doorway waiting
And the moment when we lay back down
I said I didn't come here to leave you...
That was just a moment in time the one we'll never forget
But one we can leave behind cause when there is doubt you'll remember I said
I didn't come here to leave you...
**********
8.
FREEBIRD
(Allen Collins - Ronnie VanZandt) « © '97 Songs Of Universal, BMI »If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me
For I must be traveling on now there's too many places I got to see
And if I stay here with you boy things just couldn't be the same
Cause I'm as free as a bird now and this bird you cannot change
And this bird you cannot change and this bird you cannot change
Lord knows I can't change
[ guitar ] Bye bye baby it's been a sweet love yeah oh this feeling I can't change
Please don't take it so badly Lord knows that I'm to blame
And if I stay here with you boy things just couldn't be the same
I'm as free as a bird now and this bird you cannot change
Oh and this bird you cannot change and this bird you cannot change
Lord knows I can't change Lord help me I can't change
Lord I can't change so won't you fly high free bird
[ guitar ] **********
9.
MY ANGEL IS HERE
(Billy Lawrie - Mark Crawley - Lulu Kennedy) « © '97 Songs Of Windswept Pacific »They say there's a state of heaven somewhere way beyond the clouds
And I know there's a piece of heaven in every little thing that you do
Cause every time you walk in the room
My angel is here my angel is here
Lying saying I ain't lonely crying when no one sees my tears
Dying whenever love's disowned me
Each night I've prayed for help to get through
And when I felt you near me I knew
My angel is here my angel is here
I'm so protected and heaven's so near
When I am under your wing
My wounds are healed and my spirit is clear
So come on angel make my heart sing
[ ac.guitar ] So when I'm lost and alone who will find me
Who's there whenever I call
Show me the way to the strength that's inside me
Pick me up whenever I fall
You say love is no conditions and each soul is free to come and go
Stay strong I don't need permission cause paradise is waitin' for me
And every time I hear my heart speak
My angel is here my angel is here
My angel is here my angel is here
**********
10.
DANCE SHOUT
(Gary Oliver) « © '97 MCA Music, ASCAP »You told me that you wanted somebody to talk to
You told me that you needed a friend
You told me that you wanted somebody to stay with you
Somebody to stick with you to the end
So let me introduce you to someone who knows you
He knew you before you got your name
He's closer than a brother more than your father
And all you've got to do is call his name
Let's dance shout come on everybody lets turn his praises out
Let's dance shout come on everybody it's all worked out
Well it's all so very simple it's all so very plain
You don't need nobody to explain
When you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord
You will know for yourself that you've been born again
Let's dance shout...
Let's dance shout...
When we get to glory we will tell the story
Of how we lived in this world below
My soul will look back and wonder how I made it over
But when I see his face that's when I will know
Let's dance shout...
Let's dance shout...
**********
