David Glenn · Candles Fade Away

"This one is country from top to bottom."

That's how Dave describes Candles Fade Away, his latest DCENT Records collection. At a time when "country" is used to describe just about any style recorded in Nashville, leave it to Dave to remind us that this music does have authentic roots and branches.

"There are a lot of left-field country songs out there," he observes. "And I've certainly made my share of them. But lately I've found myself just missing real, true country music. Searching the radio, you don't hear very much of it. And I just miss singing those kinds of songs.

"This time, I had a very definite idea of how I wanted the album to sound. In the past, I'd get with my fellow songwriters and just go with whatever came out. But I knew I wanted to write a very traditional record. I knew the kinds of songs that needed to be written. So I just decided to buckle down and do it."

David Glenn wrote all 10 tunes for Candles Fade Away. They include "The Bird," his first song to hit the radio airwaves; "Candles Fade Away," a ballad inspired by an old friend; "I'm Drivin' On," which is about leaving his home in Kentucky to pursue his musical career, and a jukebox weeper titled "Rainin' In my Heart." The last inspired from being on the road away from his children.

Along the way he zips through the western swinger "Save The Last Dance For Me," a controversial tune called "The Final Cry" and the instant-classic "Remind Me." The lead-off hit single, "The Bird," is David's way of responding to the male-bashing going on in the music industry.

"I'm not afraid to tell somebody where I got a musical idea. 'The Bird' was inspired by a lady who said the last thing her husband gave her was the bird at their divorce deposition. "Candles Fade Away" was a real life story about a friend of mine. I would be thrilled to death if somebody heard 'Abilene' and walked up to me and said, 'You know, that reminds me of being out West during the days when cowboys ruled.' You flatter someone by trying to be like them, by being inspired by them. Guys like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and the late Keith Whitley have truly influenced my style and even my love for country music. I learned how to do what I do from their records."