''Country Music Heaven'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in February 1993 on

Curb Records Curb Records (also known as Asylum-Curb and formerly known as MCG Curb) is an American record label started by Mike Curb, originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963. From 1969 to 1973, Curb merged with MGM Records where Curb served as President of ...

and was produced by Mike Johnson. His 34th studio album, the project also marked Anderson's second release for the Curb label. The album was a collection of gospel recordings, which totaled to 12 tracks.

Background, content and release

''Country Music Heaven'' was recorded in two separate locations: the Hilltop Studio (located in Nashville, Tennessee) and

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(located in Mount Juliet, Tennessee). The sessions were produced by Mike Johnson, Anderson's band leader in his touring band. Johnson had produced some of Anderson's previous album releases. ''Country Music Heaven'' was Anderson's second album for the Curb label, with his first being a compilation set issued in 1991. The project was a collection of 12 gospel music recordings. It was Anderson's second album of gospel recordings. He was inspired to record the cut because his grandfather was a Methodist preacher. Anderson often performed many of the songs featured on the collection in church gatherings. Two of the album's track were new compositions by Anderson himself: "Footprints in the Sand" and "Serenity Prayer". Additional tracks were cover versions of traditional gospel and inspirational songs. ''Country Music Heaven'' was released in February 1993 on

, becoming his 34th studio recording. The project was issued as a cassette and compact disc. The album's title track was released as a single in 1992, receiving a review from ''

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'', which compared the song to that of

Garth Brooks Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. His integration of pop and rock elements into the country genre has earned him popularity, particularly in the United States with success on the co ...

. The album itself was reviewed by Allmusic, who only gave the release 2.5 out of 3 possible stars.

Track listing

CD version

Cassette version

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of ''Country Music Heaven''. Musical personnel * Bill Anderson – lead vocals * Kelly Black – guitar * Gene Chrisman – drums * Greg Dotson – drums * Glen Duncan –

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mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

* Lee Hilliard – background vocals * Dirk Johnson – keyboards, piano * Kirk Johnson – harmonica * Mike Johnson –

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steel guitar A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...

* Roger Morris – piano * Larry Paxton – electric bass, upright bass *

Michael Severs Michael Severs (sometimes Mike Severs) is an United States of America, American guitarist. While living in Nashville, Severs has played on many Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200/U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums-charting records. He has worked on m ...

– acoustic guitar, electric guitar * Lester Earl Singer – acoustic guitar, dobro Technical personnel * Bill Anderson – arrangement * Dennis Carney – photography * Mike Johnson – producer * Don Ovens – liner notes

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1993 albums Bill Anderson (singer) albums Christian music albums by American artists Curb Records albums