Winds of Change (Russ Taff album) explained
Winds of Change is the seventh studio album by singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1995 on Reprise/Warner Bros. Nashville.[1] [2] [3] [4] It is Taff's first, and only, full-length mainstream country album. The title song and "I Cry" are the only two songs from his 1989 album The Way Home that he re-recorded for this album. The first country single "Love Is Not a Thing" debuted on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart on January 14, 1995, at number 64, peaking at number 53 on February 25, 1995, spending a total of 9 weeks. "One and Only Love" and "Bein' Happy" were also released as singles and music videos performing moderately well on country radio and CMT. Well-known country songwriter/producer/musician Randy Scruggs produced the album's first six tracks, while Taff and his long-time guitarist James Hollihan, Jr. produced the remaining four tracks.
Track listing
- Tracks 1 - 6 produced by Randy Scruggs
- Tracks 7 - 10 produced by Russ Taff and James Hollihan, Jr.
Personnel
- Russ Taff – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Larry Hall – acoustic piano
- James Hollihan Jr. – acoustic piano, keyboards, organ, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, bass, percussion, string arrangements
- John Barlow Jarvis – acoustic piano
- Steve Nathan – keyboards, organ
- Matt Rollings – acoustic piano
- Billy Joe Walker Jr. – acoustic guitar
- Chris Leuzinger – electric guitar
- Randy Scruggs – electric guitar
- Jerry Douglas – dobro
- Terry Crisp – steel guitar
- Paul Franklin – steel guitar
- Al Perkins – steel guitar
- Mike Brignardello – bass
- Jackie Street – bass
- Willie Weeks – bass
- John Hammond – drums
- Paul Leim – drums
- Tom Roady – percussion
- Rob Hajacos – fiddle
- John Darnall – string conductor
- Carl Gorodetzky – string contractor
- Nashville String Machine – strings
- Michael Black – backing vocals
- Cynthia Clawson – backing vocals
- Michael English – backing vocals
- Bonnie Keen – backing vocals
- Mac McAnally – backing vocals
- Jonell Mosser – backing vocals
- John Wesley Ryles – backing vocals
- Dennis Wilson – backing vocals
- Curtis Young – backing vocals
Production
- Doug Grau – executive producer, A&R
- Lynn Fuston – recording
- James Hollihan Jr. – recording
- Russ Long – recording
- Ron "Snake" Reynolds – recording
- Paul "Salvo" Salveson – recording
- Steve Tillisch – recording, mixing
- Brian Hardin – second engineer
- Benny Quinn – digital editing and mastering at Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Laura LiPuma-Nash – art direction, design
- Peter Nash – photography
- Zack Glickman – management
- Walt Quinn – management
Critical reception
Tim Griggs of AllMusic said "With the aid of Nashville's elite studio musicians, Russ Taff makes a joyful noise on 'Bein' Happy,' the album opener on Winds of Change. Taff and gang then tackle topics such a marriage, love, and heartache with mixed results."[5]
Singles
| Year | Single | Position |
|---|
| 1995 | "Love Is Not a Thing" | 53[6] |
| 1995 | "One and Only Love" | 51[7] |
| 1995 | "Bein' Happy" | 66[8] | |
Notes and References
- Russ Taff: Winds of Change. 1995. Reprise Records.
- Book: Billboard . 1995-05-20 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en.
- Book: Billboard . 1995-01-07 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en.
- Book: The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music . . 2002 . 0-8230-7718-7 . Alfonso . Barry. 251, 252.
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/winds-of-change-mw0000627714
- News: Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard. February 25, 1995. 36.
- News: Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard. May 13, 1995. 52.
- News: Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard. August 5, 1992. 31.
