It’s an accomplished record in its own right, genre considerations aside, but that does make it tough to assign a grade to on a country blog. While it is a long way from traditional, and a purist might challenge its country credentials on any level, Wynonna was able to take her place in the diverse sounds of 1990s country music. This charming song is about sweet memories of childhood innocence, and Wynonna sings it beautifully. She does show her more subtle interpretative side with a cover of ‘I Just Drove By’, written and originally recorded by Kimmie Rhodes. The production funnels Wynonna’s vocal through an echoey effect which wastes her greatest asset, her powerful voice, and more gospel style backing vocals swamp her at the end. ‘Father Sun’ was written by Sheryl Crow, about to make her own breakthrough as a rock singer-songwriter, and has a rather elusive lyric.

Naomi Judd’s ‘That Was Yesterday’ is performed as a slowed down blues number. ‘Just Like New’ is another memorable Winchester song, a bluesy story about a car once owned by Elvis. While Wynonna’s version was not formally released as a single, it gained some airplay at Christmas. Jesse Winchester’s ‘Let’s Make A Baby King’ is a Christmas song which New Grass Revival had recorded a few years earlier in more bluegrassy style, and which Wynonna gave a black gospel makeover. Naomi Judd and Lyle Lovett contribute backing vocals on the song.

The final single, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s ‘Girls With Guitars’, is a strong country rock number celebrating female musicians by telling the story of one young woman’s progress from high school to adult success, defeating the expectations of sexist listeners along the way. It was written by the songwriters behind Southern Rockers the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and has a bluesy rock groove which suits Wynonna’s confident growl, although it’s not really my favorite style. The most successful single, ‘Rock Bottom’, only just missed the top of the charts.

My favorite track by far, ‘Is It Over Yet’, is a solemn piano-led ballad with a sensitive string arrangement which allows Wynonna’s emotion-filled voice to shine on a song about the pain of a breakup.

Written by Roger Murrah and Marcus Hummon, it doesn’t sound particularly country now, but it featured a strong vocal performance. This performance was matched by its successor, the more delicate and sophisticated ‘Only Love. The first single, the title track, was a mid-tempo Karla Bonoff song with a glossy contemporary country-rock feel, and reached #3 on Billboard. It did not sell as well as its predecessor, but was still certified platinum, and produced five top 10 hits. Wynonna’s second solo album was released in May 1993,produced as before by Tony Brown.

Songs written by karla bonoff