THE COUNTRY YEARS Signed CD

DOUBLE ALBUM on one CD - the debut of Ronnie Lee Keel, "Western Country," along with The Rat'lers "Thick As Thieves" album. Limited Edition Jewel case, autographed by RLK. “These are songs of alienation, remorse, defiance, and a whisper of vulnerability. This is good stuff, intelligent and real. The man can write a song and pick a guitar, and he has an emotional well he knows how to tap.” SANDY LOVEJOY – KNIX 102.5 Country Spirit In 1995, long before any of his 80s peers ventured into country music, Keel was the subject of the highly rated MTV program “Where Are They Now,” and the now-infamous declaration of his commitment to country music created a dust storm of dissent in the rock and metal community. This is the album that started it, along with the stellar debut from The Rat'lers (the Nashville band Ronnie joined in 1998 that went on to tour the world). TRACK LISTING:  1) My Horse Is A Harley 2) Last Call 3) I Want A New Job 4) Down In Mexico 5) Who's Gonna Love Me Tonight 6) Girls, Bars, & Steel Guitars 7) Born To Be Lonely 8) Say No More 9) Living Well Is The Best Revenge 10) Last Call (Unplugged) THE RAT'LERS - THICK AS THIEVES: 11) Redneck Radio 12) Show On The Road 13) Caroline Caroline 14) Honky Tonk Highway 15) Thick As Thieves 16) Put Me Down In Memphis 17) Sister Annie's Jubilee 18) Heartbreak Special 19) Prove You Wrong 20) Dang Me BONUS TRACK (Ronnie Lee Keel): 21) Because We Love “Western Country,” released in 1995, was a shameless statement that reinforced that commitment in words and music. This is pure 90s radio country in the tradition of George Strait, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and other chart-topping icons; the songs were inspired by Keel’s roadhouse and rodeo experiences as he embraced a relentless schedule of over 250 shows per year during that decade, including opening slots for Chris LeDoux, Jo Dee Messina and others. Many of these tracks found their way onto major TV shows (“X Files,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Touched By An Angel,” “King Of The Hill”), movies (“Where The Money Is” starring Paul Newman, “1000 Acres” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, “Chill Factor” starring Cuba Gooding Jr.) sports broadcasts for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, and the background music for the “CMT Insider” series. “Western Country” won the Best Album award from the Phoenix chapter of the Country Music Clubs of America and earned the artist a Lifetime Achievement Award from the same organization. While alienating a legion of metal fans who just didn’t understand, this album broke down many barricades between the two genres and gave birth to Keel’s modern identity as the “Metal Cowboy.” Pristine digital production compliments the traditional country instrumentation; the songs are laced with the brilliant country guitar picking of Hal Michael Monti, beautiful pedal steel guitar work by Ralph Borchert, honky-tonk piano from Wayne Holland, masterful fiddle tracks by Craig Delphia, drumming by Joe Morris, and tied together with bass lines by Mike Wood.