Charlie Shearer

Breakin' Out
Universal Sound Records
E mail class55@aol.com

Charlie Shearer was born on March 8, 1959 in Garland, Texas, to a family of musicians and music lovers, specifically, county and gospel music. At the age of seven he picked up his first guitar, and by sixteen had put together the Lonesome Outlaw Band. For fifteen years, they entertained in honky-tonks and dance halls in Texas and Oklahoma, such as the world's largest honky-tonk, Billy Bob's, and the legendary Longhorn Ballroom. They opened for such country music greats as Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless, Dwight Yoakam, Vern Gosden, Joe Stampley, Moe Bandy, Gary Morris and Tanya Tucker, and were honoured to be the backup band for Hank Thompson.

In 1993, Charlie left the band to pursue a different path. He became more involved in church and gospel music, but could never leave country music behind, so he sings and records country music interjected with country gospel.

Charlie opens the album with "I Just Destroyed The World," a terrific shuffle, written by Willie Nelson & Ray Price, and straight away you know you are in for an album of real country music.

The tempo slows for "History Repeats Itself," a love ballad penned by Curt Ryle and Don Ray, before the Jerry Abbott penned "When Love's Not In Love With You," a great swing tune that is sure to get the feet moving.

Jerry Abbott also penned the wonderful ballad "I Didn't Come This Far," a song that has the subject hoping his woman will take him back, after he realizes he was wrong to leave her.

If the last track put you in a mellow mood, then "The String" is an out and out rocker that will soon pick you up again.

Curt Ryle and Jerry Abbott get together to provide Charlie with "Denver," a great song about a rodeo rider who's missing his woman at home in Denver. Curt Ryle has also recorded this song himself on his excellent album "Life Time Guarantee," that can be found reviewed elsewhere on this site.

Two stepper, "The Jukebox Has A 45" is a great play on words - The jukebox has a 45 aimed right at my heart, - written by Bobby T Charles that is sure to be popular on the dance floors, before the tempo is slowed again for "Slow Death," a powerful ballad, written by Curt Ryle and Rick Scott, that can also be found on T Jae Christian's fine album,
Marriage On The Rocks. also reviewed on this site.

Another from the pens of Curt Ryle and Jerry Abbott, "Little Lady" is a lively country rocker to complete the country content on here, before the album closes with
"At The Feet Of God," a gospel track written by Marty Stuart and Jerry Sullivan.

This is a fine album of solid, but modern country material from Charlie Shearer, an artist who I understand has been touted around the major labels, only for them to turn him down, because he is either, too country or not good enough for them. What they mean is, he is not POP enough!!

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the majors who have passed up on Charlie Shearer, have messed up BIG TIME. Charlie has a great voice, as good as anyone out there on a major label, and certainly has the potential to be a big name in COUNTRY music. Universal Sound Records must be rubbing their hands with glee!!!

Highly Recommended!!!