Hal Ketchum - Lucky Man

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Free Music Notes for Lucky Man

Free Music Review: Love's all Hal sings to
Hit: 4 Stars

Since Hal Ketchum's first record on the Watermelon label many years ago, he's been singing about love and where it's leading. Through the years, that destination's not always been clear, though now, like a man twice redeemed and this time for good, he offers us this excellent record rich with the theme of love's many blessings.

Throughout this record Ketchum shows the growth that's made his later works so consistently good -- high-caliber songwriting, a unique voice, and enough honest style and delivery to make the common extraordinary. "The Richest Man in Texas," the album's best song, sets this out plainly, with nearly sentimental lyrics that Ketchum elevates with his perfect delivery.

The remaining songs are equally well-crafted, with 2 notable exceptions. The record includes not one but two duets, one with Dolly Parton and the other with Lisa Brokop, and they're simply awful. Out of place, they seem like last minute efforts to make the record more radio-friendly, and they're decided stinkers.

Ketchum's so consistently good it's hard not to crave some luck for him to return to the commercial success he had with his first two major releases, though that doesn't seem meant to be. Still, Ketchum appears content to show his growth. 15 years ago he sang that love's a word far better left unsaid. Today, he's less poetic and more sincere, proof if we needed it that our best singer/songwriters grow with age, and to have 10 songs about love from someone of Ketchum's level is a stroke of luck indeed.

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