Still Restless
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Headquarters | United States |
Still Restless represents the ninth and concluding studio release by the American country music group Restless Heart, issued in 2004 as part of their reunion effort. This album marked their first new collection since the 1998 Greatest Hits compilation and the first project since 1990's Fast Movin' Train to feature all original five members. Distributed through Koch Records Nashville, it yielded the single "Feel My Way to You," which attained the #29 position on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart during late 2004.
Production background
Following their breakup in 1994 and a short-lived reunion in 1998 for a greatest hits release, Still Restless reunited lead vocalist Larry Stewart, drummer John Dittrich, bassist Paul Gregg, guitarist Greg Jennings, and keyboardist/pianist Dave Innis. This project was their first album of original songs since 1994's Matters of the Heart and represented the first full lineup collaboration since Stewart and Innis departed in the early 1990s.
The recording process extended beyond a year. While initially planning to collaborate with longtime producers Tim DuBois and Scott Hendricks, both were unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. Consequently, the band appointed producers Mac McAnally, a distinguished session musician and songwriter recognized for his work with Sawyer Brown and Jimmy Buffett, alongside Kyle Lehning, famed for producing Randy Travis. McAnally also contributed musically and provided backing vocals throughout the album.
Details on songs
Out of eleven tracks on the album, three were penned by Mac McAnally, each previously recorded by him: "Down the Road" from his 1990 album Simple Life, "Miracle" from Knots (1994), and "Looking Back" from Word of Mouth (1999). McAnally's "Down the Road" initially reached #70 on the country charts in 1990 and was later re-charted in 2008 as a duet with Kenny Chesney. The track "Every Fire" had earlier versions by Jason Sellers on his 1999 release A Matter of Time and by Shenandoah on their 1994 album In the Vicinity of the Heart. Additionally, Sellers co-wrote "Makin' Hay," which Clay Davidson recorded for his debut album Unconditional in 2000.
The album features a rendition of The Beatles' "The Night Before," chosen by Jennings to introduce an enjoyable cover. Recording this song initially proved difficult until McAnally performed it at an accelerated pace on his 12-string guitar, encouraging the band to join in.
Only one single emerged from this album: "Feel My Way to You," which became Restless Heart's first entry into the Top 40 country charts since 1998, peaking at number 29. No additional singles followed due to the closure of Koch Records' Nashville branch in early 2005.
Personnel
Information sourced from the liner notes.
- Restless Heart
- John Dittrich – drums, vocals
- Paul Gregg – bass guitar, vocals
- Greg Jennings – acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, Papoose
- Dave Innis – acoustic piano, organ, clavinet, Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Larry Stewart – guitar, lead vocals (except on "Looking Back," "The Night Before," and "Yesterday's News")
- Additional contributors
- Mac McAnally – acoustic piano, guitar, Papoose, mandola, backing vocals
- Jerry Douglas – Dobro
- Dan Dugmore – pedal steel guitar
- Doyle Grisham – pedal steel guitar
- Eric Darken – percussion instruments
- Jonathan Yudkin – fiddle
- Larry Hall – string arrangements
- Production team
- Kyle Lehning – producer, mixing engineer
- Mac McAnally – producer
- Alan Schulman, Chris Stone – engineering
- Casey Wood – engineering, mixing, overdub engineering
- Greg Jennings, Jason Lehning – overdub engineers
- Jim DeMain – mastering engineer
- Glenn Sweitzer – art direction and design
- John Scarpati – photography