hooked up with fledgling Capitol Records in 1942 (becoming its first country singer), and his recording career truly took off. His plain but smooth baritone made him one of the biggest country acts of the 1940s, hitting the top 10 a dozen times and the top spot three times, with "You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often" the biggest country song of 1945. This 15-song collection provides a basic introduction to Ritter's music, blending his most popular hits with oddities and a couple of welcome rarities, although the omission of "Rye Whiskey" and especially "Blood on the Saddle" (his most stirring record) is a bit confounding. --Marc Greilsamer  (less)

into the formulas presented by other singers and returns to the acoustic-based style that originally helped him establish a following. In doing so, he sought production assistance from one of his childhood heroes, singer David Gates, former leader of the ‘70s acoustic pop band, Bread. Gates helps Dean bring depth to his overtly sincere songwriting by adding a string section behind the acoustic guitar and straightforward rhythms. The results shore up Dean's strengths nicely. --Michael McCall  (less)

one of country music's most versatile and powerful artists.That versatility is once again strongly in evidence. With Ladies Love Country Boys, Swing, Southern Hallelujah and the title cut, Trace is back in the territory that has made his rowdy take on love and romance a staple of honky-tonks, dance floors and video screens. Then there are songs like Words Get In The Way and I Wanna Feel Something, in which he explores that place in the male psyche that recognizes and struggles to rise above its own limitations, reaching out in pure need across the chasm that can exist between a man and a woman. The Stubborn One and I Came Here To Live are Trace at his emotional best, bridging generations to talk about those things we take from and give to each other, and the beautiful bond those interactions build through time. Through it all, Trace proves himself again to be one of the most engaging singers in the industry, with an eye for songs that draw power both from their sweep and from their telling details.In addition, Trace makes his debut as a producer, teaming in that role with Casey Beathard and Kenny Beard on I Wanna Feel Something. The project's debut single provided plenty of evidence that Trace has found a way to make his art connect with the public. Swing, with its clever use of baseball metaphors in describing the art of romantic pursuit, became an immediate favorite not only with fans but with Major League Baseball, which debuted it on its website, helping kick off a process whereby it became a favorite at baseball stadiums around the country.  (less)