CD Review: Classic Chris LeDoux
By: Will Manly
4/30/2008
Classic Chris LeDoux is not for the classic Chris LeDoux fan.
That is, it's not for the classic type of fan, the die-hard, cult-member, would-go-to-the-sword-to-defend-the-man's-honor type of Chris LeDoux fan. There's nothing new in it.
Admittedly, it's tough for an artist to produce new songs when he's dead (remove hats for moment of silence, please). And that's the greatest downside of Classic Chris LeDoux: Like a handful of his earlier releases, this album is repetitive, it's got a bunch of sons we've heard before. Yes, it's a 'greatest hits' compilation — but we've heard most of these songs on those compilations before, too.
That said, we can't find many faults with the 16 songs and 16 videos in this collection. And if we were to write down any 16 of our favorite LeDoux numbers, our list would overlap with this one most of the way up and down the list.
Classic Chris LeDoux features the world-class cowboy-turned classy musician's iconic titles, Cadillac Ranch and This Cowboy's Hat.
It also bears LeDoux's softer side in Silence on the Line, Tougher Than the Rest, and Look at You Girl.
It features his LeDoux's soulful streak — Bang a Drum, his lively side — Life is a Highway and Honky Tonk World. It even features swinging, early-1980s, fiddle-blazing country — Under This Old Hat.
And it shows LeDoux's lighter side — Five Dollar Fine and Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy.
The only side to LeDoux's music that's missing here is his ultra-early, homemade rodeo- and cowboy songs. And that's a shame, because some of those were really good.
But if you're a fan of genuine music from a genuine kind of artist, Classic Chris LeDoux is a good place to start.
