I Loved Her First [by Heartland (Country), CD, 2006]

All it takes for a popular regional act to be catapulted into the national spotlight is one special song. Suddenly hometown heroes find themselves climbing the charts and enjoying that first brus... more

All it takes for a popular regional act to be catapulted into the national spotlight is one special song. Suddenly hometown heroes find themselves climbing the charts and enjoying that first brush of stardom. That is exactly what's happening to Heartland, a talented band of Alabama musicians who are rapidly becoming the most talked about new act in country music. Collectively, Heartland encompasses a variety of musical influences including Johnny Cash, Alabama, Van Halen, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, AC/DC, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. Each member of the band grew up absorbing a rather diverse musical diet and those varied influences have helped shape the full-bodied, robust sound that defines Heartland's musical persona. Like all young bands Heartland practiced, performed and dreamed of stardom. Seeing that whole package earned the band an enthusiastic legion of fans. In addition to headlining their own shows, they've opened for Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Neal McCoy, Diamond Rio and many others. The members of Heartland soon found themselves in the studio working with hit songwriter-producer Walt Aldridge, a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. That association led to the group's fast-rising single, "I Loved Her First," which was penned by Aldridge and Elliott Parks. Working with Aldridge in Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios, the band has put together a potent collection of songs defined by the inimitable Heartland sound. Jason says the band tak... less