Storms of Life
WhenStorms of Life's singles were climbing the charts  in 1986, they sounded like a miracle. After all, at the time, Randy  Travis was just about the only young exemplar of traditional country  you could hear on the radio. Travis's first hits ("1982," "On the Other  Hand," "Diggin' Up Bones") helped put twang, briefly, back in the  saddle, inspiring what was quickly dubbed the new traditionalist  movement. So, yeah, this is an important album, but what's really  important here is Travis's beautifully expressive and quivering  baritone. On the bridge of "No Place Like Home," he gets down on his  knees and begs his wife to take him back in--and, with that voice, it's no wonder he pulls it off.--David Cantwell