Ronna Reeves says her new album will surprise the millions who have come to know her through her many television appearances or have watched her in concert with Garth Brooks, George Strait, the Judds and more recently, pop star Peter Cetera. After The Dance, she explains, is much more personal and vocally adventurous project than any other she抯 ever recorded. The glamorous Texan credits this artistic leap forward to her new record label, River North Records, and new producer, Joe Thomas, who provided her both plenty of time and firm guidance.
"I started working on the album last October," Reeves says. "So we basically spent a whole year on it." Much of that time, she points out, was spent in search of her true musical core. "No one had been able to really figure out what I did best. I knew, but I don抰 think anyone else did. With this album, I had more input. That抯 why it took so long. We recorded many different songs -- 25 or more -- just to see what I sounded the best on. Some of the songs we started out with aren抰 even on the record."
Reeves?first three albums, all on Mercury Records, demonstrated her poise and remarkable singing skills. They also yielded such hit singles as "The More I Learn (The Less I understand About Love)," "Never Let Him See Me Cry" and the Emmy nominated "He抯 My Weakness." Reeves counts these beginning albums as valuable steps on her road to self-discovery. Only The Heart (1991) showcased her "very traditional side," she says. The More I Learn (1992) emerged as "still in the traditional vein, but a little slicker." And What Comes Naturally (1993) was country music "with much more of an edge."
Although he was endlessly patient in helping her discover her own style, Reeves says producer Joe Thomas was a real taskmaster when it came to her vocals: "He pushed me almost to the point of getting me mad. I抎 say, 慖抦 telling you, I can抰 do this!,?and he抎 say, 慪ou can do it. I know you can.? No one had ever really worked with me vocally or really challenged me. Basically, it had been a case of go in, sing it a couple of times and be done with it. Here I was pushed vocally. I was singing in keys that I was sure I couldn抰?sing in -- really stretching my vocal abilities. Joe refused to let me take the easy way out, which was great, because it opened me up so much more vocally. It抯 even helped me in my live show because I抦 singing so much better than I ever have."
The results of all this labor and attention are evident throughout After The Dance. To begin with, Reeves?reputation as a vocalist attracted songs from some of the best writers in the business including Bob McDill, Robb Royer, Randy VanWarmer, Tommy Rocco and Rob Crosby. For the first time, Reeves also displays her own considerable songwriting skills via "The One Way Ticket," a powerful tribute to strong women everywhere. Among the many other standouts are "Collect From Wichita," a classic down-and-outer抯 lament; the raw and rockin "Rodeo Man"; the doggedly determined "Not Yet, But I抦 Gettin?There"; and the dreamy (but cautious) title cut "After The Dance." Reeves also offers a gloriously emotional interpretation of the Diane Warren tune "Next Plane Out," recast her as "Next Train Out." On the lighter side, Reeves sparkles with "Big Night Out," an effervescent paean to wild flirtations and good times.
Because of her fashion-model good looks and ease before the camera, Reeves has become a video star as well as a recording one. So far, she has six music videos in her portfolio including "Collect From Wichita" which was just completed for the new project. Actress Crystal Bernard, of the NBC sitcom Wings, was the executive producer on this video. Reeves says the videos are instrumental in making her a mainstay on network and syndicated television.
Reeves was also featured on 1994抯 NBC-TV Christmas special and was a cast member on the syndicated action series, "Bandit, Bandit." She also made appearances on the A&E special "Remembering Patsy," a tribute to Patsy Cline, as well as the CBS special "The Women of Country." Reeves has already become something of an international star through her performances in Japan, Hong Kong and Bangkok. She has even starred in a video for the Tahiti Tourism Board.
Early in 1995, while her producer and engineers were working on her album in the Chicago studio where it was recorded, pop singer Peter Cetera chanced to drop by and hear the music. The former lead singer of the group Chicago -- known for his duets with such stars as Amy Grant, Cher and Chaka Khan -- took an instant liking to Reeves?voice and proposed that she record with him. Ultimately, that抯 what happened. He and Reeves did a re-make of the 1972 ABBA hit, "S.O.S." for Cetera抯 new album. That, in turn, led to Reeves touring with him.
"He抯 been great," says Reeves. "He lets me do songs off my album -- a country album! That抯 pretty unique. Not many pop artists would let a country artist come on during the middle of their show and switch musical gears. But it抯 worked well. I feel like his audience is pretty much an adult contemporary audience which probably also listens to country music."
With the release of After The Dance, Reeves?aim is to take her music to even larger and more varied audiences. "It抯 been my dream to do this all my life," she says. "My passion for life is fueled by my love of music and the thrill of performing. I抳e never thought of doing anything else."
Source: http://www.countrystars.com
