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By VAN ROSE vrose@leader.net
Sunday, January 30, 2000 Page: 1G
Despite country music’s current recession, singer Trace Adkins continues
to be a hot commodity.
Adkins’ new album, “More,” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard album
charts. It follows the footsteps of his first two albums, “Dreamin’ Out
Loud” and “Big Time,” which also garnered Top 10 status.
He’s getting plenty of exposure on national television. Next week, Adkins
is scheduled to make his fifth appearance as a guest on “Politically
Incorrect with Bill Maher.” He also can be seen next week on “The Rosie
O’Donnell Show” and “Donny & Marie.”
And he’s on a national concert tour, which includes a stop at the
Williamsport Community Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Adkins isn’t taking his popularity for granted.
“Every album is a make-or-break album if you’re in my position,” Adkins
said. “I’m still trying to really establish a good, firm toehold and stay
competitive.
“That may not be true for more established artists like George Strait and
Alan Jackson. But for everyone in my position, every album is a crap shoot.
You’re rolling the dice and hoping things work out good.”
Adkins admited he hasn’t enjoyed the best relationship with record label,
Capitol Nashville, but he didn’t point any fingers. He said everybody is edgy
these days.
“That’s because of the whole climate in Nashville,” said Adkins, 38, a
native of Springhill, La. “I don’t think we’re really enjoying that huge
success and popularity that we were a couple of years ago.”
“Everybody’s sitting around, scratching their heads, trying to figure out
why,” Adkins said. “We’re all just kind of in a state of flux and we don’t
know what the hell’s going on.
“I think it’s just a timing issue. These things run in cycles. It’s kind
of down right now, but it’ll come around.”
Adkins said he is pleased with his label’s approach to his new album.
“They said `Here’s your money, go make your album.’ I had total freedom,
which is a luxury not a lot of people get. We came out with an album that
really reflects my personal taste. There’s nobody to blame but myself if it
doesn’t do well.”
The first single, a ballad titled “Don’t Lie,” wasn’t a hit.
“It’s a great song, but I think the timing of its release was really
weird. I should have had the foresight to see that a depressing ballad wasn’t
something people wanted to listen to during the holidays.”
Adkins said he has high hopes for his current single, “More,” which is
much better tailored for country radio. He said he just completed filming the
video for the song.
The album maintains Adkins’ traditional sound. It draws emotion from a
teen’s untimely death (“She’s Still There”), a love song (“Can I Want Your
Love”) and the plight of divorced dads (“Every Other Friday at Five”).
According to thrice-married Adkins, “Every Other Friday at Five” hits
close to home because it paints dads in a positive light.
“The only time you ever hear about single fathers are the deadbeat dads,
the ones that don’t take care of their kids,” Adkins said. “There’s a
multitude of men out there that still place their kids first and foremost on
their list of priorities.
“I have two kids from my first marriage that I don’t get to see as often
as I’d like to. It’s not just because of the divorce, it’s the job I have.”
Adkins has lived his life on the edge. He says he’s lucky to be alive. He
survived two near-fatal auto crashes. He nearly lost his legs in a bulldozer
accident in 1982. Six years later, his left leg was crushed when an oil tanker
exploded while he was working on it.
In 1984, Adkins almost died after he was shot in the heart during an
argument with his second wife.
“I was in the hospital for a month. Three months later, I had to go back
for another open heart surgery and have a patch put in there to seal up that
hole. There were times when I wanted to give up. It hurt so bad, you just
didn’t want to deal with it anymore.”
Adkins said he has always been accident prone. He suffered a broken leg
last year, and broke his finger in a farm accident the day before this
interview.
“I work a lot on my farm,” Adkins said. “I just can’t resign myself to
this worthless existence that I have these days making music. I feel guilty
about it.”
That said, Adkins, who is an imposing figure at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds,
says the only place he’s truly comfortable is on stage. The normally subdued
singer puts on an energetic show.
“I just took a beer-joint show and put it on a bigger stage,” Adkins
said. “I don’t have all the bells and whistles, and I don’t do laser shows.
“Music either calms the savage beast or brings it out in you,” he added.
“Maybe I do turn into somebody a little different. It just gets me moving.”
Rose can be reached at 829-7251.