Arnold's Warm and Nostaglic "Years"
Prime Cuts: I've Been Down Some Road, Old Porch Swing, To Life

When Nashville's critic Robert Oermann wrote in the sleeve notes: "Cherish this music and cherish this man. We will not see his like again." Indeed, those words were prophetic as Arnold just passed away just before he hit 90 years of age. Arnold is country music's juggernaut--his career spans for more than seven decades totaling a staggering 67 top 10 hits selling over 85 million records over his lifetime. In fact, Billboard has deservingly named Arnold the no. 1 country star of all time. "After All These Years," Arnold's last studio CD recorded in 2005, is presumably his 100th album. Helmed by Jack Clement and Jim Malloy this autumnal effort finds a warm, unassuming and relaxed Arnold at his nostalgic best. However, tempo wise don't expect any salacious drive in any sense of the world-- most of these tracks are string-laced ballads. Further, Arnold's voice reflects his age: often short of breath, sometimes out of tune, and at times trailing a sonic mile behind the melody.

Kudos are in orders to producers Jack Clement and Jim Malloy as they have chosen songs most appropriate to Arnold's age and experience. Opener "Front Porch Swing," for instance, is a gentle ballad finding Arnold putting on his storytelling hat as he recounts with perspicuity the many memories transpired at the family swing. Just like watching a nostalgic movie told with care, this track conjures up bittersweet sentiments so dear to the heart. Current single "To Life," which is giving Arnold yet another hit, is an inspirational ode to the joys and tribulations of life. Listening to this single posthumously, it's always as if Arnold was eerily really singing his own eulogy. Arnold who had had recorded his share of love ballads indulges yet in another in Jim Weatherly's "If I Had Lived My Life Without You." Despite the song's beautiful sentiments, the song's chipped by Arnold's dubious delivery--his snail paced delivery and slurred enunciation tarnished an otherwise good song. Much better is the reflective "I've Been Down Some Roads" where Arnold gives the lyrics a priceless fragility and a wizened presence.

Arnold also re-visits some older chestnuts including Crystal Gayle's "When I Dream"--keeping so close to the original that he makes no attempt to remove the line "I can put my make-up on." Roger Miller's "King of the Road" gets a more zesty resurrection with Arnold keeping the lilt and carefree tone of the original. Naturally, in hindsight, it makes sense for Arnold to reprise his own biggie "You Don't Know Me." The gruffness to his aging vocals actually works in Arnold's favor: he gives his signature ballad a warmer and a more thoughtful reading than the first time he cut it.

In the bluster and hustle of today's country music where loudness seems to be equivalent to success, "After All These Years" is a breath of fresh air. This is a warm, gentle, understated affair performed by someone who had had lived and learned. Not an album to party to; but one to reflect on with Eddy Arnold one last time.

WHAT A GREAT LEGACY
This is being written on the day of Eddy's death at the age of 89 (5/8/08). How grateful we must all feel that at the age of 87, Eddy returned to the studio to make the world one more recording. This is his most emotional, tender and emotional effort. Those who didn't like this CD because it isn't the Eddy Arnold of yesteryear, really don't get it. Johnny Cash, too, was a shell of his original voice at the end of his career, but deserved and won accolades for his efforts. So, too, Eddy Arnold. Thank you, Eddy, for 60 years. This recording reminds us all of our immortality.

Sad to say but this is an album that never should have been released.
When I think of the great Eddy Arnold I fondly recall all of those great country ballads he recorded during his heydey in the 1950's and 1960's. Tunes like "You Don't Know Me", "Make The World Go Away", "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" and "What's He Doin' In My World" are timeless classics that I still enjoy listening to today. I guess that is why I was so uncomfortable sampling Eddy's brand new 2005 release "After All These Years". I assumed that in spite of the fact that Eddy Arnold is 87 years old now he still had something left in the tank. Unfortunately for Eddy, RCA records and his loyal fans this is simply not the case. I sampled "After All These Years" because I was curious to see if the old master could pull it off. After all, I have heard any number of black artists who still sound terrific well into their 80's. But Eddy Arnold's voice is a shell of it's former self. He can no longer hold a note. There is really not one track on the entire album that I can get enthused about. To me this disc was a disaster.
According to the liner notes "After All These Years" was the 100th album that Eddy Arnold has recorded. That is certainly quite an achievement. Still, in my view it is really too bad that the decision was made to release this CD. I would avoid it at all costs. If you happen to be looking for a good collection of Eddy's hit recordings might I suggest BMG's 2003 release "Ultimate Eddy Arnold". That is a disc I am sure you will enjoy!

Don't expect Eddy to be Eddy
This could be worth a final chapter to your Eddy Arnold collection.

However, don't expect the Eddy Arnold of almost
90 to be the one we have memories of.

Maybe two cuts are good...the rest find Eddy unable to
hit the low...and some high notes.

The Best Of Eddy
I listen to this album over and over. His singing reminds me of times gone by. Eddy does a superb job on each song. It's not a young Eddy Arnold, but it's the best of Todays Eddy Arnold.