For this album, the line-up was Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Erwin and Emily Erwin. Before the Chicks became famous, Robin and Laura left. Robin later became a member of Domestic Science Club. Martie and Emily stayed and were joined by Natalie Maines. On this album, Robin and Laura took turns as lead singer, except for one instrumental track. Banjo (played by Emily) and fiddle (played by Martie) are the dominant instruments.

There are some interesting covers of A road is just a road (Mary Chapin Carpenter), Past the point of rescue (Hal Ketchum), Hallelujah I love him/her so (Ray Charles) and You send me (Sam Cooke), all of which sound very different from the originals, but I love them. There's also a brilliant Irish medley. Most, if not all, of the other songs are originals, several being written by members of the group.

Although I loved this album when I first heard it - and still do - it is very un-commercial and I was therefore taken by surprise when I learned that the Dixie Chicks had made it big time. Somehow, they managed to commercialise their sound while still remaining distinctive - no mean achievement.

This is a fascinating album of a remarkably high quality, but it is a much more rural form of music than the commercial music they became famous for after Natalie replaced Robin and Laura.


The roots of the Dixie Chicks   April 2, 2003
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com (...in Middle America)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The humble beginnings of the Dixie Chicks -- a nice indie effort, which ranges from stringband swing and singer-songwriterish Americana to would-be Nashville demos and cutesy covers of 'Fifties oldies such as Ray Charles' "Hallelujah I Love Her So" and Sam Cooke's "You Send Me." In this pre-Natalie Maines version of the band, guitar and bass are provided by Robin Lynn Macy and Laura Lynch -- the Pete Bests of "young country" -- who also both handle the primary songwriting and singing chores. This album has its weak points and its charms; certainly, the spirit of Nanci Griffith hangs heavily over the whole album, and the band's indie-Americana origins are easy to spot. Released on a small Dallas-based indie label, Crystal Clear Sound.