Cass County with 18 tracks

If you like real country music, then you'll love this album.I've listened to all the country styles over the years, and like it all. In the last few years though, the slick and over-produced music has become tedious. It's mostly country cliches and paint-by-numbers songs by perfectly photogenic singers. Boring. One act seems indistinguishable from the other. So I gravitate to the good stuff. And Cass Country is good stuff.When I hear 'Waiting Tables' I can't help but think back to one of the all-time great songs, Lyin' Eyes. But Waiting Tables isn't about the loneliness of a middle-aged woman being trapped in a comfortable, loveless marriage - it's about a young woman who has a child with a young fool for a father. She works hard at the best job she's likely to ever get, and hopes for something better. The song captures the age we live in, both socially and economically. The waitress is yearning for something she'll likely never find, (but at least she won't end up a childless old lady with 20 cats. She already has more than she thinks.)'A Younger Man' has one line in it that is just brilliant song-writing: "You're an angel from the future, I'm an old devil from the past." Goose bumps all the way. This song is haunting and sung with such authenticity. It's not angry or resentful. It's just the realization that time marches on, and sometimes you have to gracefully march with it.Fellow Texan Miranda Lambert is a perfect fit on Bramble Rose. Mick Jagger - nobody's idea of the perfect vocalist - brings that same something special that made Far Away Eyes such a classic.Cass County is just great, traditional country music. How can you not love it

This album is destined for a classic status. Aside from Don Henley it is really incredible the amount of talent that surfaces throughout this disc. From the song writing to the personnel, this album has the potential to leave you awe struck. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the input of Stan Lynch throughout this CD. Lynch was the former drummer in Tom Petty's band. To me it is really a positive to see Lynch collaborating with the likes of Henley's immense talent as well as all the incredible musicians and singers on this collaboration of tunes.. From the opening cut "Bramble Rose" you will be sucked in to a fascinating perspective written by Tift Merritt and delivered by the superb vocals of Henley, Miranda Lambert, and Mick Jagger all of who have never sounded better or more convincing. The band here is perfect. If this was the only cut on the CD it would be worth the purchase price but this is only the beginning of opening this albums door to eleven other songs. Each song is as powerful as the last one. Each song here has the capacity and demeanor to be the favorite. What a plus it is to hear Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Martina McBride sing lead and individually share the vocals with Henley on different tracks. This album is country music, real pure heartfelt country music with vision. Something evident here is Henley's tremendous growth as a musician, and song writer. I get the feeling that this is a very personal album not to be taken lightly. Songs like "I Pray for Rain", I hope will resonate with listeners in a way which will motivate and reinforce people to support the greater good for us all.

Don Henley is one of the best singer/songwriters of all time(maybe the best. That is why I sprung for the extra money to get this Deluxe edition of this album with six more songs than the standard album. After listening to the extra songs I am glad I did get this album.Over all the album is what you may call mellow or melancholy in tone with many new Henley songs. The Henley lyrics still often maintain most of the hard edged social/personal storytelling style I like in him but the music is definitely more laid back and a bit blue while always being country(mostly acoustic) in style -which is also to my liking. Don't expect much of the "Eagles" style country/rock music.The six extra songs in this Deluxe edition are mostly older songs that include: Too Far Gone, The Brand New Tennessee Waltz, She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune, It Don't Matter To The Sun and an old Jackson Browne tune Here Comes Those Tears Again. The other extra song is a new Henley song - Too Much Pride. The quality of the extra six songs are every bit as high as the rest of the songs on the standard album. No filler here. My favorite at early listening is the extra Henley song Too Much Pride. It could have been a raucous "Eagle" type rocker to fit the tough lyrics but it is a more blue/slightly jazzy tune.Henleys voice is as good as ever and the featured guest vocals are greatA uniformly great album - a rare commodity.