Don't Rock the Jukebox

Alan Jackson followed up his successful debut with 1991’s Don’t Rock The Jukebox, a well-rounded song collection that solidified his neo-traditionalist stance. The essentials of his sound — particularly the deep-twanging guitar leads and high, undulating pedal steel lines — gain more definition here. The connection Jackson feels with an earlier generation of Nashville heroes is made more explicit as well. George Jones is referenced twice — first in the infectious title track and again in the more low-key “Just Playin’ Possum” (the latter title referring to Jones’ nickname) — and the shade of Hank Williams is raised in the eerie “Midnight In Montgomery.” Jackson draws upon these and other inspirations to deliver impeccably-crafted story-songs like “Dallas” and genial toe-tappers like “Love’s Got A Hold On You.” His celebration of the common man, a theme developed on future albums, finds expression in the empathetic “Working Class Hero.” Jackson's unaffected charm throughout helps make Don’t Rock The Jukebox a honky-tonk revival classic.