Personnel: John Michael Montgomery (vocals); Byron Gallimore (acoustic & electric guitars, baritone electric guitar, horns); B. James Lowry, Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason, Tom Bukovac (electric guitar); Paul Franklin, Russ Pahl (steel guitar); Mark Casstevens (banjo); Stuart Duncan, Larry Franklin (fiddle); Jellyroll Johnson (harmonica); Steve Nathan (keyboards); Glenn Worf, Michael Rhodes (bass); Lonnie Wilson (drums); Russell Terrell (background vocals).
Producers: Byron Gallimore, John Michael Montgomery.
Personnel: Byron Gallimore (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, horns, string synthesizer); B. James Lowry, Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Tom Bukovac, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Paul Franklin , Russ Pahl (steel guitar); Mark Casstevens (banjo); Larry Franklin, Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson (harmonica); Steve Nathan (keyboards); Lonnie Wilson (drums); Russell Terrell (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Byron Gallimore.
Liner Note Author: John Michael Montgomery.
Recording information: Essential Sound; Ocean Way Studios; Stringtown Records.
Photographer: Jim Shea.
A dozen years into his recording career, John Michael Montgomery shows no sign of wear with LETTERS FROM HOME. Those who've followed his career from the beginning will find his trademark warm, amiable voice and straightforward delivery still intact. He continues to work his way through a mix of twangy, barroom rumblers and sentimental ballads, but there are notable touches that distinguish this album from its predecessors. One is the timely but timeless title track, which fits the American involvement in Iraq as well as it might have suited previous military actions. "That's What I'm Talking About" similarly references war coverage on television, as well as contemporary TV shows. Still, the old-school drinking song "Goes Good with Beer" and the mid-tempo, George Strait-like "That Changes Everything" are anything but tied to 2004. LETTERS FROM HOME manages to keep up Montgomery's legacy without getting mired in the past.
