Ricky Van Shelton: A Bridge I Didn't Burn / Love And Honor / Don't Overlook Salvation / Sings Christmas, 2CD

• Ricky Van Shelton was an artist who brought faith to those country fans who might have thought that Nashville had lost the plot after the advent of the early 1980s’ Urban Cowboy movement. In the course of ten years, and two dozen chart successes, he was one of country music’s biggest stars.

• Born in Danville, Virginia, on January 12th 1952 he secured the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award (recognition of a new artist) in 1988 and quickly moved to the top of the ladder the following year by securing the Male Artist of the Year accolade.

• Although Ricky Van Shelton was keen to make country music a full time career, it wasn’t until he accompanied his girlfriend (later his wife) Bettye Witt to take up a job in Nashville in 1984 that his ambitions became reality. Building a reputation by working the town’s nightspots and handing out home-made demo recordings to anyone who would listen, he crossed paths with The Tennessean columnist Jerry Thompson who arranged an audition with Columbia Records. He subsequently signed to Columbia Records in 1985.

• This collection comprises four original albums on 2 CDs that represent the diversity of the singer’s recordings, with the first two being his final country albums to be released by Columbia.

• “A Bridge I Didn’t Burn” (1993) rose to #17 in the album charts and featured two singles – ‘Where Was I’ and ‘A Couple Of Good Years Left’. Two singles are also featured on “Love and Honor” (1994) – ‘Wherever She Is’ and ‘Lola’s Love’.

• On the set’s second disc, two albums move away from mainstream country. Ricky Van Shelton “Sings Christmas” (1989) presented his rendition of seasonal songs (almost an obligatory themed album for all country music performers) which reached #32 in the charts. Three years later “Don’t Overlook Salvation” recalled the gospel music of his childhood days and secured a placing in Billboard’s Christian album charts. It was recorded in the wake of a personal religious conversion.

• Ricky Van Shelton announced his retirement from touring in 2006 to spend more time with his family as well as continuing to write a series of best-selling children’s books. Created some ten years earlier and published through his own company (RVS Books) he displayed further artistic talent by complementing the stories with drawings.

• All CDs produced by Steve Buckingham.

DISC ONE

A BRIDGE I DIDN’T BURN

1. IF THEY TURN OFF OUR LIGHTS


2. A BRIDGE I DIDN’T BURN


3. MY FIRST REACTION


4. WHERE WAS I


5. A COUPLE OF GOOD YEARS LEFT


6. I KNOW THE WAY BY BROKEN HEART


7. TALKING TO GOD


8. HEARTACHE BIG AS TEXAS


9. IF IT WEREN’T FOR ME


10. LINDA LU


11. ROSES AFTER THE RAIN

 

LOVE AND HONOR

12. WHEREVER SHE IS


13. COMPLICATED


14. LOLA’S LOVE


15. I THOUGHT I’D HEARD IT ALL


16. THEN FOR THEM


17. BABY, TAKE A PICTURE


18. LOVE WITHOUT YOU


19. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT


20. LOVE AND HONOR


21. WHERE THE TALL GRASS GROWS


22. THANKS A LOT


23. WHERE WAS I

 

DISC TWO

DON’T OVERLOOK SALVATION

1. DON’T OVERLOOK SALVATION


2. TO MY MANSION IN THE SKY


3. FAMILY BIBLE


4. HOLY (I BOWED ON MY KNEES AND CRIED HOLY)


5. SUPPER TIME


6. I SHALL NOT BE MOVED


7. MANSION OVER THE HILLTOP


8. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS


9. I WOULDN’T TAKE NOTHIN’ FOR MY JOURNEY


10. I SAW A MAN


11. JUST AS I AM / HE SMILED AS HE RAN OUT TO PLAY

 

SINGS CHRISTMAS

12. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS


13. WHITE CHRISTMAS


14. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN


15. SILVER BELLS


16. SILENT NIGHT


17. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S


18. PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS


19. PRETTY PAPER


20. COUNTRY CHRISTMAS


21. CHRISTMAS LONG AGO


22. WHAT CHILD IS THIS?