New From Alabama

Posted by Kevan Breitinger Jan 31, 2007

Last year's release marked the first new album for the band in over five years.

“This project is about performing these songs and just laying your heart and soul on the line vocally,” explains Alabama frontman Randy Owen. “Some of it with tears and some with so much feeling that it takes all you can to get the words out. That is all compiled in this project and it’s truly special.”

Songs of Inspiration II is a collection of traditional hymns, standards as well as two original songs. Included are classics like “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” “Down By The Riverside,” “Lonesome Valley” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” The album will be simultaneously released by RCA Records to traditional retailers and by Provident Music Group to the Christian retail outlets.

Owen continues, “The music is more about traditional, inspirational songs that I grew up listening to as a little kid and that have been handed down. These are songs that my mother, grandmother and grandfather – some who have gone and some who are still with us – would like.”

Two original songs, “When It Comes My Time,” written by Teddy Gentry and “One Life,” written by Buck Moore and Eric Todd were also recorded for the album. The Del McCoury Band provided vocals and instrumentation on “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and Riders In The Sky sing vocals on “Love Lifted Me.”

While fans await the release, they can also catch Randy Owen as a celebrity guest judge on the new season of USA’s Nashville Star.