Lari White - Don't Fence Me In (1996)

By Peter Durward Harris HALL OF FAME TOP 500 REVIEWER on January 24, 2005
Lari had a certain amount of success with her second album, ‘Wishes’, but this follow-up album attracted insufficient attention from American country radio stations and her record label dropped her. Although she has recorded albums for other labels since then, most notably ‘Green Eyed Soul’, which has made some impact in Britain - a welcome surprise, as I thought Lari's career was over by then.
The album opens with a 33-second chorus of the classic Cole Porter song originally recorded by Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters, here performed live with Trisha Yearwood and Shelby Lynne. In this brief version, it sounds much as you would expect it to sound. Later in the album (the last named track), Lari does a full-length solo version, this time given a completely different (speeded up) arrangement. I prefer the original arrangement but Lari's is well worth a listen.
Between those contrasting versions of the title track is a wonderful selection of contemporary country songs, all of them originals and several co-written by Lari including “Ready, Willing And Able” (different from the Doris Day oldie) and “Woman Of The World” (different from the Loretta Lynn oldie). Australian country fans will recognize the brilliant up-tempo song, “Wild At Heart”, which Beccy Cole (an excellent Aussie country singer) covered for one of her albums. Most of the album is filled with ballads, at which Lari excels.
After the main album finishes, there is a long pause then a hidden track - a second version of “Soul Searchin' Blues”, much longer than the 42-second version in the main album.
This is a brilliant album that should have consolidated Lari's career but didn't. Nevertheless, if you enjoy contemporary country music, nineties style, you should enjoy this album.