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The following are my favorite tracks on the CD:

"I'm A Little Bluer Than That": What a song!!! This is bound to be a hit on radio, if it's ever released. Alan sings of a man who can't seem to get over a woman who's left him for another man. He explains that even the saddest songs on the radio aren't as blue as he is.

"Bring On The Night": Alan has such a knack for singing a country love song and this is one the best I've heard him sing yet. It's a song about a man coming home after a long, hard day to the woman he loves.

And finally...."Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)": During the 2001 CMA's Alan Jackson premiered this song in tribute to the victims of September 11th. It's safe to say that there wasn't a dry eye in the nation that night after he sang it. Not only are you getting the original album cut, you're also getting that famous live version from the CMA's. There've been tons of tribute songs released since the tragedies but this is far superior to any that I've ever heard. It makes you think REAL hard about what matters in your life and how fragile life really is.

If you're going to buy just one new country CD this year, make sure it's Alan Jackson's "Drive". What makes "Drive" so enjoyable for me is that Alan isn't trying to be something he's not. He's the same down-home, layed-back guy he's always been and it shows in his music. He isn't out to bring new fans to country music or break new chart records. Instead he focuses all of his efforts on making good music. This has got "Album Of The Year" written ALLLL over it!!!

Gennie Bailey-Rogers


Still true to his roots and himself   January 19, 2002
 20 out of 20 found this review helpful

In a career that has produced hit upon hit while maintaining the true spirit of country music, Alan Jackson has recorded his greatest work so far with "Drive". There will inevitably be much focus on the tribute song to the victims of September 11, "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)", which is included twice on this album, as recorded in the studio and also live at the 2001 CMA Awards. Of the many songs about that terrible day, this one best captures the feelings and emotions that we all experienced after the tragedy struck. Hopefully it will provide some comfort to those most affected.
This is a very strong album. Jackson has consistently recorded excellent country music throughout the 12 years since his first album. Encouragingly, in recent years, his own songwriting and choice of other writers' songs has actually improved upon the high standard of his earlier recordings. His albums, particularly Who I Am, High Mileage, When Somebody Loves You and now Drive, have been entertaining, personal and of the highest quality, matching the best of George Strait's recordings. Strait featues on this album in a duet, "Designated Drinker", which gets better with repeated listening, although its tune will be familiar to anyone who has heard Johnny Paycheck's "Don't Take Her She's All I've Got". Jackson has always displayed a sense of humour in his work and that's well represented here with "I Slipped And Fell In Love" and "Work In Progress". Apart from "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)", the highlight of the album for me is "First Love", which tells the story of the singer's first car, which he sold, regretted it ("you can't drive a check"), only to be reunited many years later when he receives it as a present. Those of us who love our car will identify with this song.
I strongly recommend this album and predict that, even in January, we already have the country music album of the year.


In love with Alan all over again.   January 23, 2002
 16 out of 16 found this review helpful

You can tell Alan Jackson is at peace with himself and his music again, because of the way he opens up in "DRIVE". Of course the show stopping "Where Were You" (when the world stopped turning) is what will make this Alan's top CD of his career. The song speaks for itself, and shows America the poet Alan Jackson has always been. Whether a person listens to country or not they will buy this CD for that song. But, what they won't realize until later is that every song on "DRIVE" is a single in itself. A fan can get a wonderful glimpse of Alan's childhood growing up in rural George with a Daddy who loved him very much, in the title track "DRIVE". Seems anyone who learned to drive behind the wheel with daddy beside them can relate to what a wonderful song "DRIVE" is. "A Little Bluer Than That" reveals a classic country song sung in perfect tune with Alan's baritone voice. My personal favorite "The Sounds" is a sad heartbreak song, that revels just how much depth Alan's music can have, if one looks. The last line "you can't hear it, but the silence is killing me" will be sure to give you goosebumps. I would love to know more about why Alan wrote the song.
"Designated Drinker" a duet with legend George Strait is a fun song about getting over a woman with a good friend and a bottle of Jack. "First Love" is another personal story from Alan about his 55 Thunderbird that is his again after setting it free for a down payment on a house years ago. Put your cd player on cruise control and enjoy some good country music with Alan Jackson.


Stirring And Amazing Star Turn For ALan jackson!   July 25, 2002
 13 out of 15 found this review helpful

Can we all say "crossover artist of the year" five times quickly? Like many others, I was familiar with Alan Jackson because of his videos on the country music TV stations, but I was stopped dead in my tracks when I first saw and heard him perform the "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?" song at the Country Music Award fandango. Needless to say, he captured better than anyone could expect anyone to do the range of emotions and reactions that ran through all of our minds last fall, and he articulated the mood of the country and the change on personal outlooks so well that I knew this song had all the juice he needed to make him a crossover star.

His music is deceptively simple, and his lyrics speak to ordinary experiences and everyday people. In this sense he rides down the main thoroughfare of popular country music exceedingly comfortably, a kind of raggedy redneck with a poet's gift for describing the world he sees around him. In the title song, he writes with loving remembrance of his father, who trusted his son enough to teach him how to "Drive" boats, trucks, but his own young life. In the final few scenes of the song's video we see Jackson lovingly carrying on the tradition with his daughters behind the wheel of a beat-up old jeep. This is an artist with legs.

He sings songs that are wistful but hopeful, and shares his take on the experiences he had and the way he feels, and one gets the idea he has been around the block a time or two. So whether he is testing love's murky waters in "When Love Comes Around" or spooning the gentler sex's dogged persistence on trying to change their men in the funny and wry "Work In Progress" Jackson seems straight-forward, open, and quite inventive. He sings of simple virtues, extraordinary experiences, and common pitfalls with equal parts joy, humor, and pathos, and crowns it all off with the unbelievable good delivery of his personal take on the world we have to deal with in "Where Were You". This is an album to have, to start one's collection of an artist who is going to be a major force in both country music and in the popular venues as well. Enjoy!


Where were you?   January 17, 2002
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

This cd can simply be defined by the one great song...and that is 100% Awesome!!! Lets start off on the first track, "Drive(For Daddy Gene). Alan sings about his early memories on his dad's boat, driving his first car and the joy of watching his own girl's drive his jeep. Beauifully done!!! Tracks 2 and 3 are very mellow numbers, great in style, but too early on the cd. The rockin' starts on track #4. Track #5 is a return to the mellow side for very nice melody which may very well be the next single. Track #6 is a very catchy tune called, "Designated Drinker", which is a duet with George Strait. Awesome! Track #7 is the studio release of the song that could and should earn song of the year, "Where Were You(When The World Stopped Turnin), written, recorded and finally debut on the 35th Annual CMA Awards. The live track from the awards is on track #13 as a bonus track, with the full feel of the introduction, song and crowd cheers. Track #8 is a trip to some old country fiddling. Track #9 is the last slow tune on the cd. Tracks 10-12 are just some goold ole' fashioned country. ...and finally track #13...the live CMA track of , "Where Were You". You must buy this cd if you haven't already, and if you have bought it then buy another one for someone that can't afford such luxories as a great cd that can help us all through the evnts of September 11th 2001. God Bless You Alan Jackson!!