THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020050
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Interview
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
THEY'RE CALLED ``CAREER records'' - megahits that resonate with the country music audience to such a degree that an artist can work off them forever. Randy Travis has had more than one such hit, but his signature song remains ``Forever and Ever, Amen,'' the declaration of never-ending love that helped push his 1987 album ``Always and Forever'' to platinum four times over.
``It's been used at weddings and funerals,'' Travis said in a phone interview, marveling over fan identification with the number. ``We've been singing it for so long, and we still get requests for it.''
Of course, Travis, who comes to Norfolk's Scope Saturday night, has had many smashes since then. But he's heard the talk of how, at 35, he's among an aging generation of what were called ``new traditionalists'' not too many years ago.
He says that's all right with him, and he does sound secure in his decision to undertake fewer tour dates and to concentrate on other areas of his career. Concerts these days are much less a chore for Travis.
``Oh, very much so. You're in better voice. You tend to enjoy them more'' when they're limited to a few months of the year.
As for records, he's still enjoying a high degree of comfort; his current album, ``This is Me,'' is gold, and the title single is all over the airwaves.
``I'm pretty well established, so radio's gonna give me a shot. George Strait is another one they'll always give a shot; in fact, he's been at it even a few more years than I have. Reba's another. We're in that position that radio will give us a chance.''
Travis sees the trends toward handing out dozens of record contracts and youth at all costs as sometimes damaging to the development of the music.
``I think that the labels at this point need to slow down on signing new acts, and concentrate on quality and not quantity. There's a lot of soundalikes coming out, and people are just gettin' on the bandwagon. They should think about signing some folks that are real stylists. A lot of songs that are getting airplay have nothing to say.''
Not so in the case of ``This is Me.'' One of the strongest, most balanced mainstream country discs in a good while, its offerings range from the heart-rending title ballad to the wry, rocking ``Before You Kill Us All.''
Perhaps the two best tracks are the most thoughtful. ``The Box,'' co-written by Travis with Buck Moore, is the tale of a surprise left behind by a father after his death.
``That was a song I thought a lot of people could connect with,'' said Travis. ``I think a lot of people with parents from that generation have fathers who find it hard to show emotion. I know that's true in my case.''
Writer Don Schlitz stretched a Nashville custom - that of putting a tune ``on hold'' for an artist's next release - in the case of ``Oscar the Angel,'' the offbeat spiritual that closes the set.
``I cut that song four years ago,'' said Travis. ``It just didn't fit the album we were doing. Don said, `I love the way you cut it. I'll tell you what, I'll let you hold it for five years if you want to.' ''
When Travis gets done with this three-month series of dates, what's next? How does he spend his time off? He laughed.
``I haven't had any time off, except for the Christmas vacation I took. We went to Maui. I have a couple of horses there I like to ride.''
He'll be putting wraps on a follow-up album to ``This is Me'' soon. His method of compiling a tunestack may account for the fineness of his records.
``What other people do is record everything at once. When we find something we like, we do it, and eventually we'll have enough for an album.'' ILLUSTRATION: AARON RAPOPORT
[Color Photo of Travis]
THE CONCERT
Randy Travis with Sammy Kershaw
8 p.m. Saturday at Norfolk Scope
Tickets: $21.50. To order, call 671-8100.
by CNB