Waitin' for the Sun to Shine [CD/DVD]

Randy Travis is generally credited with spearheading the New Tradtionalist country revolution, but it was Ricky Skaggs's Epic Records debut WAITING FOR THE SUN TO SHINE that fired one of the very first shots. In his late 20s when the album was released, Skaggs was already a seasoned veteran of the Stanley Brothers, the Country Gentleman, and Emmylou Harris's Hot Band. He brings his wealth of experience to bear here, delivering a completely assured, easy-flowing album that sounds both firmly traditional and refreshingly contemporary. On songs such as the title track and the chart-topping "Crying My Heart Over You," Skaggs' tenor is as pure and strong as Kentucky moonshine, and his virtuoso, multi-instrumental picking is the perfect complement. Released at the height of the URBAN COWBOY-inspired commercialization of country music, WAITING FOR THE SUN TO SHINE was a radical and important album that is also simply good ol' country music.