Mary-Chapin Carpenter
Even when she is not singing something as immediately infectious and commercial as "Down at the Twist and Shout," Carpenter, the Judy Collins of her generation, has an ingratiating way with a country-pop song.
Her fourth album includes the characteristically vivacious, topical bar song "I Feel Lucky," which Carpenter wrote with Don Schlitz. There is also a Carpenter-Schlitz contribution to the current Nashville trend to celebrate romantic longevity, "He Thinks He'll Keep Her"; Mark Knopfler's "The Bug"; and Lucinda Williams's earthy "Passionate Kisses," an ideal vehicle for Carpenter's heated-up, husky voice.
Joe Diffie appears for a not-overly-cute duet on the fence-mending song, "Not Too Much to Ask." And throughout, the melodious electric guitars of John Jorgenson complement Carpenter's always tuneful singing. (Columbia)
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