Alabama are an American band who took their name from their home State who won a huge reputation in the arenas of country music and southern rock. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), and his cousin Teddy Gentry (bass guitar, background vocals), plus Jeff Cook (lead guitar, fiddle, keyboards).
Alabama is often credited with originally bringing country music bands into the mainstream and paving the way for the success of today's top country groups. This band has experienced unprecedented success and has over 30 number one country records on the Billboard Magazine charts.
They have also sold over 75 million albums, making them one of the world's best-selling bands of all time.
With a massive back catalogue, it is impossible to pick the ultimate song selection for a greatest hits collection. So, Alabama do the next best thing in asking nine different performers to interpret some of their most widely loved songs. We get to hear Rascal Flats, Kenny Chesney and Trisha Yearwood in quick order and many of the songs are kept close to the original arrangements. Some new country talent is also given free reign with the appearance of Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line.
Alabama also include two new songs in That’s How We Were Raised and All American both of which sit comfortably with the more famous tried and tested songs. The final song is a Jamey Johnson take on the hit My Home’s in Alabama and it proves to be a fitting conclusion to a record that celebrates everything that is good about country music and points an arrow at the past to realise just where country rock was born. A very timely and welcome release.