Aaron Tippin

This new set surpasses previous Aaron Tippin collections, like his 13-track Greatest Hits... and Then Some and the 16-track RCA Country Legends. It includes 17 of the 19 singles Tippin charted during his 1990-1997 RCA tenure (only "She Made A Memory Out Of Me" and "Everything I Own" - neither of which cracked the top 50 - are missing). This includes "Honkytonk Superman" which isn't available on either of the aforementioned Tippin sets and ranks as one of his most fun recordings. See the paragraphs below for more information on Tippin the country artist.

Aaron Tippin is hard-core country. His raw, ear-jarring twang often sounds like a howling coyote. Yet Tippin has found a successful niche in country music by consistently relating to working class values on his best singles (most of which he also wrote). "Working Man's Ph.D." and "I Got It Honest" take a proud stance on manual labor. "You've Got To Stand For Something" and "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" celebrate sticking to one's beliefs and doing the right thing no matter where you come from. Tippin also appeals to his less-than -wealthy core audience through humor on "There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio". This novelty number depicts the car from hell which an upbeat Tippin won't unload, due to its lone remaining sonic asset.

Tippin even fits some romantic songs into his repertoire (usually of the unsuccessful at love type). The honky tonkin' "My Blue Angel" finds Tippin yodelling about a lost love he's still searching for, while in the straight forward ballad That's As Close As I'll Get To Loving You," he pines for a girl he can never have. When Tippin does finally get the girl in a song, it turns out he has to answer "The Call Of The Wild." You won't find a lot of emotional depth on this collection. Tippin seeks foremost to entertain his listeners and, within the confines of his working man persona, he usually succeeds. If you are in the mood for some country music that's festive and you don't mind a lotta twang, give this set a try.

Aaron Tippin is hard-core country. His raw, ear-jarring twang often sounds like a howling coyote. Yet Tippin has found a successful niche in country music by consistently relating to working class values on his best singles (most of which he also wrote). All of those very best cuts are found on this thirteen-track collection - along with a few also-rans.

"Working Man's Ph.D." and "I Got It Honest" take a proud stance on manual labor. "You've Got To Stand For Something" and "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" celebrate sticking to one's beliefs and doing the right thing no matter where you come from. Tippin also appeals to his less-than -wealthy core audience through humor on "There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio". This novelty number depicts the car from hell which an upbeat Tippin won't unload, due to its lone remaining sonic asset.

Tippin even fits some romantic songs into his repertoire (usually of the unsuccessful at love type). The honky tonkin' "My Blue Angel" finds Tippin yodelling about a lost love he's still searching for, while in the straight forward ballad That's As Close As I'll Get To Loving You," he pines for a girl he can never have. When Tippin does finally get the girl in a song, it turns out...he has to answer "The Call Of The Wild."

The ... and then some in the album title refers to the four new tracks which you never heard on a radio station near you since Tippin had parted company with RCA (who subsequently didn't give them a promotional push). Too bad, since a couple of the tunes are vintage Tippin. "The Door" uses typical Tippin metaphors like a hammer, saw, and hard work to construct the tale of a struggling relationship whose inhabitants need a little space, while the atmospheric "Cold Gray Kentucky Morning" revisits the lost love angle.

You won't find a lot of emotional depth on this collection. Tippin seeks foremost to entertain his listeners and, within the confines of his working man persona, he usually succeeds. If you are in the mood for some country music that's festive and you don't mind a lotta twang, give this set a try.

Aaron Tippin has one heck of a unique voice, and is a very talented performer. His song lyrics are always from the heart, and one can tell he lives by his own rules. I know people who don't like country who like Aaron Tippin. Stand-out tracks on this album include "My Blue Angel," "You've Got to Stand for Something," "Working Man's PH.D," and "Whole Lotta Love on the Line." Give this CD a try....it's well worth it.

When I first listened to this CD I was reminded of everything I hated about Country Music, back when "twang was the thang" and all songs promoted feelings of suicide. However, this album walks a great middle line between "classic country", and "new American music" - and I have to say does so very well. From the cow call balladeering of Blue Angel to a masterful cover of You have to stand for something. This is the kind of music you can play loud or incidental, a good all round album, with something for everyone. Sadly most New Country in England is unavailable or overpriced unless it is deemed mainstream. This Album is a great introduction to Aaron's extensive vocal and musical range, standing shoulder to shoulder with many of todays other artists, and deserves a wider audience.

I WAS TOTALLY DELIGHTED WITH THIS CD. I QUIT LISTENING TO COUNTRY MUSIC ON THE RADIO QUITE A WHILE BACK BECAUSE I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE NEW COUNTRY ARTISTS TODAY ALL SOUND ALIKE. I ACCIDENTALLY FOUND A COUNTRY STATION THAT PLAYS ONLY "OLD" COUNTRY MUSIC AND AARON TIPPIN WAS THE FEATURED ARTIST FOR THE DAY. WHEN HE SINGS "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I HOLD YOU" -- EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SMOKE -- I NEED A CIGARETTE! THAT HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG I HAVE EVER HEARD. I BOUGHT THE CD JUST FOR THAT SONG. I WAS THRILLED WITH THE REST AND SOON BECAME QUITE ENTHRALLED WITH HIS "THAT'S AS CLOSE AS I'LL GET TO LOVING YOU". THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN CRITICIZE ABOUT THIS CD OR THIS MAN. WHAT A MAN! WHAT A SINGER!

The rest of the CD isn't bad, but I have three strong favorites and the rest are good if you like strong country. (Note: I am more of a roots music fan, but the three titles I mention are standouts)

Of course, "Kiss This" had me laughing. Nice to see a C&W artist respecting tough women.

"Big Boy Toys" is so true. It's just as good as "Kiss This" in a masculine way. Had me laughing all the way through.

"29 and Holding" is another song that respects women. It talks about the Atlas level tasks a single woman has to go through just to keep the lives of the ones she loves together.

Rebecca Kyle, September 2008

this CD is like the man, simple and forthright. Aaron sings like he has been there and done it.

AARON TIPPIN SONGS ARE THE BEST!!! AARON IS AN EXCELLENT SONG WRITER AND SINGER. I LOVE ALL OF THE SONGS FROM THIS CD. LOVE THE SONG BIG BOY TOYS! THAT'S A GOOD WAKE UP SONG TO GET YOU OUT OF THE BED IN THE MORNINGS. HEARING AN AARON TIPPIN SONG AND GOING TO HIS SHOWS ALWAYS BRIGHTENS MY DAY!!

I own this album, and I definately recommend it to anyone else. I will admit that the album does have more slower balads than I might generally like, but it's still a good album. As well as the more well known songs ( Kiss This and People Like This), there are also some real gems that you don't often hear on the radio. Big Boy Toys is awesome. There is also a great duet with his wife to end it. Start to finish, it's a great album.

Nice to see Aaron doing what he does best...what a nice CD to listen too. Of course love the soon to be classic "Kiss This"...but there are many other well written and of course well sung songs on this CD. (Gotta luv the "BIg Boy Toy's") Only skip maybe 2 songs...hence the 4 star instead of 5 star rating.

This is a collection of somewhat older songs. They are well -done, and the little skits included are nice, but I was disappointed that the song, "I've got friends in low places..." was not included. I believe the title leads one to believe that song is one of the tracks, and felt like I was "taken" to some degree. It was a gift, and the receiver enjoyed it, nonetheless.

Alvin is having a nervous breakdown. He tries to relax to his favorite country songs [track 1], but it's no use. He brings in his favorite singers to sing with him in his latest album, but every duet ends with an argument [tracks 2-3]. His girlfriend Brittany is in the final process of breaking up with him [tracks 4 and 10]. He gets so depressed at the consequences of his mischief toward the community that he loses touch with reality and sinks into fairy tale addiction [track 5]. He starts to be nice to his brothers, but the conversation between them results in the unloading of a lot of unpleasant memories [track 6]. He does one more concert in Nashville, but cannot resist destroying his and his brothers' instruments--something he never normally does [tracks 7-8]. He doesn't even have the strength to argue with Waylon Jennings, who is badmouthing his normal behavior [track 9]. Finally having scared everyone in his life away, he utters one final, futile act of self-indignation [track 11].
The album reflects gap in Alvin's knowledge. One that over the last decade has had an increasingly deleterious effect on his ability to conduct, let alone maintain a meaningful relationship with your audience.
This story is a manifestation of a running theme appearing in their post-2nd-television-show albums--the tendency to use mythology in order to avoid depression. But as cheery as this sentiment may sound on the surface, when viewed on a deeper level, it is in fact a morally reprehensible act on the part of the human psyche (not to mention the chipmunk psyche!). In fact, this is the core of any addiction. Basing one's dreams on externally-generated escapism is the behavior that leads to it.
Fortunately for us all, Alvin has recently educated himself out of the soul-destroying tendency to "run away" to mythology whenever there is a crisis situation in the community involving any real-life Alvins, as their latest album, "Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks" would attest. The world's children and the macrostructure of Generation X couldn't afford to have Alvin Bennet Chipmunk lose touch with reality.
(That's the time to STAND AND FIGHT! The kids need a leader, not a pusher.)

ordered this item september 30 and it came December 3. Very impressed! The quality was excellant!

And it was much better than I expected. The Chipmunks are not the kind of act I would listen to very often but they make a change from conventional singers. Originally, I steered well clear of their music but they turned up as guests on (for example) Christmas albums by Alan Jackson and Jaci Velasquez so I got used to them that way. There are some good original songs together with some entertaining covers, sometimes featuring the original singer.

Guests featured on their own songs are Billy Ray Cyrus (Achy breaky heart), Aaron Tippin (There ain't nothing wrong with the radio), Tammy Wynette (Stand by your man), Alan Jackson (Don't rock the jukebox) and Waylon Jennings (Outlaws - my favorite track here). Charlie Daniels also puts in a guest appearance, but on an original song - Brothers and old boots. There are two covers of Mary Chapin Carpenter songs - Down at the Twist and Shout and I feel lucky - but Mary does not put in a guest appearance.

The other three songs are all originals without guests. Country pride is one of those name-dropping songs paying homage to country singers old and new. Gotta believe in pumpkins at first appears to be a piece of nonsense, but it has a serious message about faith and hope. I ain't no dang cartoon appears to be autobiographical.

If you have not heard the Chipmunks, I recommend that you hear some of their music before considering buying any of their music. If you enjoy their other music, your enjoyment of this album will depend on whether you like country music or not.

RECENTLY ACQUIRED AN OLD COPY OF THIS ON CD. MY 6 YR OLD GRANDSON LISTENED TO IT ALL SUMMER WHILE VISITING ME. HE LEARNED NEARLY ALL THE SONGS BY HEART AND SANG THEM WHEN IT PLAYED. I COULD NOT ASK FOR BETTER ENTERTAINMENT FOR HIM. I AM INTERESTED IN THE SINGER ON "BROTHERS AND OLD BOOTS". THIS WAS A FAVORITE OF HIS. I CHECKED ALL SUMMER FOR A DUPLICATE COPY OF THIS CD SO THAT HE MIGHT TAKE IT HOME BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I WILL PURCHASE THIS FROM YOU SHORTLY.

I just love that song Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly!
I just LOVE how he's so patriotic

Julie
P.S. I hope he makes more albums!

I had never heard of Aaron Tippin before hearing his single Stars and Stripes. Having bought the CD I am a new fan. The bold, deep quality of his voice and lyrics that you can actually understand distinguish A.T.'s music from that of so many others. Thank you A.T., for bringing back music that sends shivers through your skin.

Aaron Tippin's music has always been simple--sung for the people, about the people, BY the people...er, rather, a person. He's one of us--and he makes that clear on this album, one of his best yet.

The first song and title track expresses our patriotic views; "I'll Take Love Over Money" is quirky and funny, even though it is mostly spoken. "I Believed" is about growing up and moving out--and still believing in hope and love. "Honky Tonk..." follows similar themes as Tippin's own "What This Country Needs"--basically, if you are country, BE country! "If Her Lovin' Don't Kill Me" and "We Can't Get Any Higher Than This" express relationships at their peak; "Love Like There's No Tomorrow," a duet with his wife, is moving and beautiful. "At The End of The Day" and "Five Gallon Tear" both have messages wrapped up inside their lyrics and harmonies. "This Old Couch" explains a man's dog-house, while "Love Me Back" is a country-rocker about a man's plea to the one he loves...the title explains it all.

"Stars and Stripes", though not a patriotic CD, is aptly titled. The songs contained here-in are about the American people...which is what country music is all about, isn't it? Going by this, you could say that Aaron Tippin is everything country music should be...good songwriting, could songs, and a great voice. Yes, if it's country, it's Aaron Tippin! Don't miss out on this album; you won't know what you're missing.

Yeah, Aaron Tippin's a man's man. But he can also woo the ladies (or so I've heard) and with this CD, he can get down and celebrate a holiday...country style!

Now, this CD isn't going to be for everyone. For starters, there's the obvious fact over half this CD is new material, written by Tippin. And some of the others are "modern" classics. If you're wanting a traditional Christmas, you just might want to go somewhere else.

Not all of the new tracks are all that great, either. "It's Way Too Close To Christmas..." and the title cut are a bit...well, not pleasant. "Christmas is the Warmest Time of the Year" is a bit more listenable. "It's a Good Thing Santa Ain't Single" is a bit tacky, but I still enjoyed it. "The Year That Santa Never Came" is downright enjoyable, while "He Said That He Was Jesus" is a powerful, inspiring ballad. And "Mamma's Gettin' Ready for Christmas" is a good ol' rockin' redneck tune. Thank God I'm not in THAT family!

Tippin's covers of "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Blue Christmas" aren't as good as the originals, but they're okay. "Away In a Manger" (a duet with his wife, though I honestly think the song would be better of without her) is still a Christmas classic. Tippin's version of "Run Rudolph Run" is the best--and funniest--I've heard yet. And "Silent Night" stunned the heck out of me...my favorite Christmas song, done with my favorite country baritone. Perfect!

So. Christmas. Aaron Tippin. You might not have previously put the two together--but now you can! "A December to Remember" isn't the best Christmas album to come out, that's true. Still, it's a pretty good album, and it'll certainly get you in the holiday mood. From baby Jesus to an electric eight-foot Santa, this CD has got it all!

Aaron has a baritone voice that at times sounds a bit like Charley Pride, but Aaron's voice is gritty whereas Charley's is smooth. On this set, Aaron combines a well-chosen selection of standards with new songs of his own. The new songs were co-written with his wife Thea, who also sings on some of the tracks.

I've not heard her sing except on this album but she has a lovely voice, which is particularly effective on Away in a manger. This is sung as a duet in which both Aaron and Thea sing some lines solo, while singing together on other lines. When you've heard as many renditions of this song as I have, it's great to hear something a little different like this.

Aside from Away in a manger, the other standards here are Jingle bell rock, Run Rudolph run, Blue Christmas and Silent night. The first three are particularly well suited to Aaron's style, while Silent night provides another chance for Thea, this time singing harmony to Aaron's lead vocals.

The original songs cover a range of themes. He said that he was Jesus is about a homeless person. It's a good thing Santa ain't single is an amusing song about a man reassuring himself that Santa won't tempt his partner a way. Christmas is the warmest time of the year is an uplifting song of love. The year that Santa never came is another amusing song about a time when a substitute had to be found to ride the sleigh. Things get sadder with It's way too close to Christmas to be this far from home, but not for long. My favorite original song here, Mama's getting ready for Christmas, takes an amusing look at putting up the decorations. The final original song, A December to remember, is another masterpiece and it provides another opportunity for you to hear Thea singing with Aaron.

A combination of well-chosen covers and brilliant original songs ensured that this album far exceeded my expectations. If you enjoy traditional country music with a slight bluesy flavor, this is just what you are looking for.

Aaron Tippin's A December To Remember effectively combines modern favorites tailor-made for his blue collar twang like " Jingle Bell Rock" and "Run Rudolph Run," traditional hymns such as "Away In A Manger" and "Silent Night" that showcase the lower regions of his burly baritone, plus seven great new songs, most of which are co-written by Tippin and wife Thea. The new tunes cover a wide range of holiday-related topics, from the romp "It's A Good Thing Santa Ain't Single" (a humorous take on Santa as a gift-giving stud muffin) to the poignant "He Said That He Was Jesus" (detailing the true story of a homeless man who claimed that he was Christ). Overall, it's a well-balanced, nicely executed collection.

I love all of his music, but this one is by far one of the best. His dedication to his music and his fans , shine far above the normal singer.

...but if you do then you know that Aaron is "the man". Don't settle for a cheap imitation if you are looking for the Country Throne of Rockabilly! If you have that true Celtic fringe in your blood then you must own this essential piece from the Dark Corner!

What's up with "Working Man's PHD"? Listen to it, the music is nothing but a rip-off of "Steppin' Stone" by the Monkees! Pretty bold. Still, even with the "borrowed" music, it's still a pretty good album.

I really enjoyed this CD. The songs stayed in my head long after the CD had stopped playing. One of my favorites was "Ten Pound Hammer". I remember the chorus to this day. Besides the comical songs there were some beautiful, meaningful ballads. A must-have in any country music collection.

Aaron Tippin continues to bring to the public, morals he's apparently learned and a great deal of respect for his fellow man. His latest album, "What This Country Needs" is typically his style. My personal favorite on the album is "Somewhere Under the Rainbow", but they're all beautiful. I hope he continues to record morally decent music. The world is desperately short of that !