Album Notes

Country music has always had a split personality: do-right family values on the one hand, and rip-roaring drunken hell-raising on the other. The songs on Wine Stained Heart explore both sides of the divide and how they push & pull on each other.

Musically it picks up where Tom Armstrong's previous records (Sings Heart Songs & Songs That Make The Jukebox Play) left off. Clean, gutsy lead vocals put the lyrics over with feeling. Tom's own idiosyncratic lead guitar shares the spotlight with pedal steel and piano. As in Western Swing, the individual players are given room to stretch and express themselves, to come up with their own parts and improvised solos, breathing life into well-worn forms like the two-step and the Ray Price shuffle.

Produced by Rob Douglas, recorded in Los Angeles by Pete Curry (Los Straightjackets). Featuring the talents of David Berzansky (Hacienda Bros) on pedal steel guitar, Brian Whelan (Wheelhouse, Dwight Yoakum) on piano and harmony vocals, and Les James (Red Meat) on drums.