25 Years of Country Club

In 1989 Travis Tritt had his first big hit, the title song from his album Country Club. Over the past 25 years he has released many albums, sold millions of copies, and established himself as a force in the music industry. His success can be attributed to many factors in my opinion. He has a wide appeal since he mixes country with Southern Rock, and he throws in blues and gospel influences. His sound borrows from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Allman Brothers of course, but he also has been influenced by Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr. and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He has appealed to men and women with a mix of high energy fast songs as well as emotional ballads. His big hit poked fun at the white collar types who spend their free time playing golf and tennis. His lyrics can be thought provoking, emotional, motivational and even funny, in the case of Country Club. Here are some of the lyrics. "I'm a member of a country club/ Country music is what I love/ I drive an old Ford pickup truck/ I do my drinkin' from a Dixie cup/ I'm a bona fide dancin' fool/ I shoot a mighty mean game of pool/ At any honky tonk roadside pub/ I'm a member of a country club" Yes, the video looks kind of funny and dated when it is watched now, but the music is still outstanding. Watch it here.

A&E Travis Tritt Biography

Fans of Travis need to check this out. It tells the story of Travis' early years and his struggle to make it to the top of the country charts. In 1989 he got his big break with Warner Brothers records. His single "Country Club" took the country by storm. This program tells about his early partnership with Charlie Daniels, who believed in Travis' abilities. Travis had bonded with his father over love of country music and they would listen to the legendary Grand Ole Opry radio show. In 1992 he was welcomed as a member of the Opry. This was a sign he had made it big. His career was on fire but his personal life was in a shambles, with 2 marriages ending at a young age. In 1992, he criticized Billy Ray Cyrus. He has always said what is on his mind. His comments solidified his reputation as an outlaw who does not play by the rules. But, in a conservative town like Nashville, his attitude turned off some of the country music big wigs. In 1995, Travis married his third wife Teresa and their marriage has lasted almost 20 years. He has had ups and downs, but no one can deny that he has made his mark on country music. View the video here.

Travis Tritt - Take It Easy (live)

Travis gave this great performance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. I personally like Travis' version of this song better than the original by The Eagles. Membership in the Opry is only offered to select country music artists. Travis has been inducted and he sees it is a great honor. Other members include stars such as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Martina McBride. He was inducted in 1992, after his career got off to a rousing start with his first 2 albums, Country Club and It's all about to Change. Seven of Travis' albums are certified platinum, with his second album, It's all about to Change, being his biggest seller, certified triple platinum.

* Some information from en.wikipedia.org.

Travis Tritt - I'm gonna be somebody (live)

This is from Travis' Live & Kickin' video. I'm Gonna be Somebody is from his debut album, Country Club from 1989. I find this song to be inspirational. It describes Travis in many ways, as a young man who wanted to make it big in the music industry. That work is filled with so many gems, including the title track, Put Some Drive in your Country, Help Me Hold on and more. Dixie Flyer is on that CD also, and it remains my favorite Travis song, even though it was never a single. Son of the New South is another one of my favorites off of Country Club. It has some amazing lyrics such as "Son of the new South, stepchild of uncle Sam. Baptized in 100 proof and saved by the blood of the lamb. This is the new South, still drink our tea from a Mason jar. Got a backbone that is country, we're proud of who we are." The live videos of Travis performing demonstrate how much he loves performing. He is clearly passionate about music, and that has been a key to his success. Few live performers have his charisma.

Travis Tritt - Put Some Drive In Your Country (Video)

The Bible Belt's Country Outlaw

Anyone who has an appreciation for country music owes it to themselves to check out the work of Travis Tritt. He incorporates his many influences from three genres to craft a unique sound. He has admired the work of folk type artists like James Taylor and John Denver, classic country greats like George Jones and Merle Haggard, and southern rock groups like The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Travis always begins his concerts with one of his early hits "Put Some Drive in Your Country." A line in this song says "I made myself a promise, when I was just a kid, I'd mix southern rock and country, and that's just what I did." Another lyric of his says "Man I miss Duane Allman, I wish he was still around". He has replaced this name in the song with Stevie Ray Vaughn and Waylon Jennings over the years, to pay tribute to other heroes of his who are gone. Tritt grew up in Marietta Georgia and started playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song at age 14. In 1988 he signed a deal with Warner Brothers records and released his first album, "Country Club" a year later. The release was a huge hit, showcasing Travis' songwriting skills and he was declared top new male artist in 1990 by Billboard magazine. In 1992 he was humbled with the great honor of becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The early 1990s was a time of growth for country music and other artists from Tritt's era included Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie and Vince Gill. All of these performers were also inducted into the Opry. Curiously, some great artists who are not Opry members are George Strait, Brooks and Dunn and Alabama, as well as many others. Opry members must perform 20 times per year at the venue, so maybe those like Strait were offered the chance to join, but turned it down due to time commitments. Travis Tritt was instrumental in reuniting The Eagles, and he recorded his own rendition of "Take it Easy". I have seen Travis in concert 5 times, and would see him again in a heartbeat. He is someone who gives 110% at every performance, and he is a magnetic entertainer who seems to love playing for his audiences. He will even perform cover tunes of some of his favorite songs. A few years ago when I saw him, he played songs by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings and even "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi.

Here is a discography of Tritt's albums from oldest to newest. My favorites are his early recordings, from Country Club through Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof.

Country Club
It's all about to Change
A Travis Tritt Christmas/Loving Time of Year
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof
Greatest Hits-from the Beginning
The Restless Kind
No More Looking Over my Shoulder
Down the Road I Go
Strong Enough
My Honky Tonk History
The Storm

Welcome to my Travis Tritt blog!