Small Town Girl

Description

Small Town Girl is the third solo album by the American singer and songwriter Cindy Cruse of the Cruse Family fame, released on Intense Records in 1991, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by FMG Distribution. The album was recorded by Tim Miner, Mark Cassimatis, Mike Stitts, Mark Stitts, David Ebensberger, John Wirtz, and Jeffrey Mingle at Knightlight Studios in Dallas, Texas; with Miner and Cindy Cruse producing. Mixed by Win Kutz, Tim Miner, Leland Bennett, Mike Stitts and Mark Cassimatis at Eagle Mountain Recording Studio in Newark, Texas.

I’m totally confused, pleasantly so, but confused nonetheless. Picture the scene: a study of the cover indicated I was in for a “redeemed” combination of Judie Tzuke and Stevie Nicks – angels, not fairies, at the bottom of the garden? So I switched into Kate Bush mode and waited. Ten seconds later I feel like Norm from ‘Cheers” in the latest Jackson video (is that weird or what?), blown out of my house by some maniac on stun guitar – Jennifer Batten to be precise, the player on the ‘Bad’ tour – who rips into the riff of «Written In Red» like some crazed piranha and who’s now chasing me around the garden firing off a barrage of notes subtly called «Say What You Mean». «Colour Blind» allows a brief respite then we’re off again for a gallop around «Wonderland» and «Way Over Your Head». (Put my tea in the oven, mother, I’ll be back in a minute!) Seriously though, once you’re over the initial shock you’ll find an album stuffed full of American hard rock given a little funk twist, courtesy of Tim Miner‘s production – check out «Luke 17:2» for a typical Miner. Cindy, whom CCM buffs will tell you once fronted popular pop-gospel team Cruse, has a voice that isn’t brilliant, but then neither is it mediocre and she tackles her lyrical subjects with weight and thought – sorry, got to run as that guitarist’s back again, playing «I Wouldn’t Trade It». Back to the garden again! MORAL: never judge a CD by its cover. [Paul Kinvig, Cross Rhythms, February 1992]

[Dave Steiner, Harvest Rock Syndicate, September 1991]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/small-town-girl/385665710)

CD tracklist:

01. Written In Red – 3:23
02. Say What You Mean – 2:57
03. Colour Blind – 4:19
04. Wonderland – 3:38
05. Way Over Your Head – 3:35
06. “Interlude” – 0:54
07. What Is This World Coming To? – 4:13
08. I Wouldn’t Trade It – 3:31
09. Luke 17:2 – 3:48
10. The Wise – 3:44
11. The Dream Will Never Die – 4:14

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Intense Records.

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