CASH CREEK

                                                          FT. LARRY STEWART

                                                            "Hard Time" 

                                                            CCB Nashville

Widely recognized for their smash hit “The Bluest Eyes In Texas,” Restless Heart is one of country music’s most respected and renowned vocal groups with a resume of accolades that includes 4 certified gold albums, 6 #1 songs, and an Adult Contemporary #1 with “Tell Me What You Dream.”

Likewise, the Cash Creek Band is compromised of some of Nashville’s most sought-after session players and touring band members: Kimo Forrest, Monty DeVita, and Jim Blaylock.

So, what happens when you take the best attributes of both these incredible bands and combine them into one? You get a tremendous, revitalized version of “Hard Time”; a deeper album cut from Restless Heart’s 1986 album Wheels.

Joined by Restless Heart’s front man Larry Stewart, the Cash Creek Band gives “Hard Time” a fresh spin and decisively modern era touch as it leans into great guitar work to uphold the toe-tapping melody while never losing the flare of the original.

Lyrically, there’s incredible depth and heartstring tugging emotions wrapped into each line of the song as they sing of the lonely feelings you have when you’re living with regrets in the aftermath of a breakup; especially those that occur when the nighttime hours are quickly approaching as is said on the second line of the song, “as the night draws in I feel the walls get close.” 

The chorus (as well as the second verse) puts on display the self-reflective pains of regret through honesty in lines such as:

“Letting you go was a fool's crime.”

“I took your love for granted, didn't even think twice.”

Whereas Restless Heart’s original version carries a smoothness within the vocals that allows you to feel the cry of defeated pain as Larry Stewart sings, Cash Creek’s vocals are filled with a different type of pain due to the grittier vocals of Kimo Forrest which allows them to add a different depth to the song; one that is most felt when Stewart comes in with his vocals on the second verse and you can hear the comparison.

Whether Cash Creek’s version of “Hard Time” makes a major impact on the country radio charts remains to be seen, but nevertheless, they truly honor the legendary Restless Heart with their version of “Hard Time,” while also getting a nod of approval from the group’s front man - - - and that’s a priceless achievement in and of itself!

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)

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