The Heart Of Country Music

In the mid-1980s despite differences with the management at RCA records, Kenny Rogers was determined to carry on his success. His two previous albums "Eyes That See In The Dark" and "What about me?" had enjoyed lengthy runs on the charts.



Rogers had always been diverse (As well as Country he had cut Jazz, Pop, Rock and had also collaborated with R&B artists) and that's why it was a good pairing when he asked George Martin to produce this album (Martin, of course, the man who had-amoung other things-produced all the Beatles records in the 1960s).



"Tomb Of The Unknown Love" is just a classic country song, about a man who faces death after he killed his loved one who cheated on him. The song became a #1 single.



"I don't want to have to worry" (the albums opening track) on the other hand is a uptempo pop song that shows Rogers can rock with the best of them.



Love ballads have played no small part in Rogers lengthy career and it's no suprise there are several here. "Heart of the matter", "Don't Look In My Eyes" and "The Best Of Me" (later covered by Cliff Richard some years later) all deal with love from different point of views and when you hear these you will no doubt understand why Kenny has been called "The King Of Love Songs."



"Morning Desire" is similar to Kenny's 1970's hit "Something's Burning" (although it is less rock and more ballad) but that was intentional (Kenny later said it was written as a cross between "Something's Burning" and Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire").



The remaining cuts on this album "You made me feel love", "People In Love", "you Made Me Feel Love" and the final cut "I Can't Believe Your Eyes" are all very upbeat and sung with passion in the unique Kenny Rogers style that has ensured Rogers has remained a vital figure in popular music for over 40 years now.



My Favourite of all the six albums Kenny recorded for RCA is 1984's "What About Me?", but this is still up there for great music.



10 wonderful songs from one of Country music's finest performers.