Mystery Road is the third studio album by hard/Southern rock band Drivin' N' Cryin', released on March 28, 1989, by Island Records.Drivin' N Cryin' >> Mystery Road. Drivin' N Cryin' official website. Retrieved 25 October 2017. The Washington Post said the album "remains a classic of the genre."Deusner, Stephen M. Georgia on Their Minds: Drivin' N' Cryin, 'The Great American Bubble Factory'. The Washington Post 29 September 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2017
Overview Originally, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, a friend of the band, was going to produce the album, and they recorded demos together. However, Island Records refused and chose Scott McPherson to produce.Mystery Road. The Recoup. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
Mystery Road "is like a map of late-'80s college radio, wandering from folky protest songs to crunch-heavy hard rock to warm, pseudo-country rock, with a little punk thrown in for good measure".Harris, Vincent. Drivin' N Cryin' brings guitarist Warner Hodges along for their three-decade ride. Charleston City Paper 28 July 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017
"Straight to Hell" is the band's most well-known song.Tucker, Brian. Since '85, Drivin' n' Cryin' has been honing its identity. StarNews 14 December 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2017 Singer/guitarist Kevn Kinney said of the song:
"Honeysuckle Blue" was a "gorgeous Southern rock ballad that sounded like it should have been a big hit". Kinney recalled it was
On October 6, 2017, Mystery Road was reissued with the original Peter Buck demos as bonus tracks.Drivin' N Cryin' >> Mystery Road Reissue. Drivin' N Cryin' official website. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
Darius Rucker's fifth album When Was the Last Time was released October 20, 2017, and featured a cover of "Straight to Hell" with guests Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Charles Kelley. Darius said the song "was huge in my day—when it was played in the bar, every single person in the bar was singing and hugging their best friend".Casey, Jim. Darius Rucker’s New Album Features a Collaboration With Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean & Charles Kelley on “Straight to Hell” Nash Country Daily 26 September 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017
Reception
Denise Sullivan of AllMusic called Mystery Road the "least memorable record in the Drivin' n' Cryin' canon". Red Dirt Reports Andrew W. Griffin wrote of the reissue that "this new rerelease of a 28-year old album from Drivin' N' Cryin' is refreshing, primarily because we get to hear a band really starting to take off and become the band that refuses to throw in the towel all these years later".
Track listing
Personnel The following people contributed to Mystery Road:Mystery Road – Credits. Allmusic. Retrieved 25 October 2017Drivin' N Cryin Kevn Kinney – lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars Buren Fowler – guitars, Dobro Tim Nielsen – bass, backing vocals, percussion Jeff Sullivan – drums, backing vocals, percussionAdditional personnel''' Scott MacPherson – acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar Edd Miller – banjo Randy DeLay – drums Peter Buck – electric dulcimer Mikel Kinney – fiddle Gary Nielsen – Hammond B-3 organ Michelle Malone – vocals Kevn Kinney, Scott MacPherson, Tim Nielsen – producer Dan Vaganek, Edd Miller – assistant engineer Scott MacPherson – recorder, mixer Norma Kinney – paintings
See alsoMacDougal Blues'', a 1990 Kevn Kinney solo album that features members of Drivin' 'n Cryin'
References
External links Mystery Road page on Drivin' N Cryin's official website