Personnel includes: Kenny Rogers, All-4-One, Michael McDonald, Kim Carnes, Bekka & Billy, The Katinas (vocals) Jerry Kimbrough, Biff Watson, Brent Rowan (acoustic & electric guitars); Jim Horn (soprano saxophone); Bobby Ogdin (piano, Electric piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Randy McCormick (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Steve Glassmeyer (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, background vocals); Gene Sisk (keyboards, background vocals); Warren Hartman (keyboards); Duncan Mullins, Willie Weeks (bass); Paul Leim (drums, percussion, tambourine, congas); Eddie Bayers (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Bergen White, Vicki Hampton, Cindy Walker, Robert Bailey, Paula Chavis, Damita Chavis-Haynes, Jana King Evans (background vocals).
Recorded at Creative Recording, Moraine Recording, Nashville, Tennesse; Bravo Studios, Los Angeles, California.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
Personnel: Biff Watson, Jerry Kimbrough, Brent Rowan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Jim Horn (soprano saxophone); Bobby Ogdin (piano, electric piano, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Randy McCormick (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Steve Glassmeyer (Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards, background vocals); Gene Sisk (keyboards, background vocals); Warren Hartman (keyboards); Willie Weeks, Duncan Mullins (bass guitar); Paul Leim (drums, congas, tambourine, percussion); Eddie Bayers (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Cindy Walker, Jana King Evans, Robert Bailey, Jr. , Paula Chavis, Kim Flemming, Damita Chavis-Haynes, Vicki Hampton, Bergen White (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Brent Maher.
Recording information: Bravo Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Creative Recording, Nashville, TN; Moraine Recording, Nashville, TN; The Work Station, Nashville, TN.
Photographer: Randee St. Nicholas.
Kenny Rogers took some time out from his chicken empire to cook up, as he describes it in the liner notes, "an album where the only criteria is great songs." He had some top-flight help on this one, from Kim Carnes to Michael McDonald, and it shows. ACROSS MY HEART is dominated by ballads, but they're good ones.
"Write Your Name" is a gospel-inflected tune with a strong chorus, and Rogers shows he still knows how to get the most out of a song. He's no belter, but he does have a great feel for the music, and the emotion within it. "The Only Way I Know" is another quiet, simple love song, perfectly executed and tastefully arranged. Rogers' fans will surely not be disappointed with this effort from one of America's most enduring country-pop singers.
