COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR REBA McENTIRE GIVES FANS MORE WITH ENHANCED CD
Cover Art Courtesy MCA Nashville
Nashville, TN – May 12, 1998 – Reba has long been known for stepping beyond the normal parameters when it comes to her music. Her latest MCA Nashville release, IF YOU SEE HIM, is no exception. In addition to selecting 12 of the most powerful songs she could find, she has yet again gone the extra mile for her new release.
Utilizing the latest technology, IF YOU SEE HIM is the artist’s first enhanced CD (ECD). Available in stores Tuesday, June 2, the ECD is a multimedia experience for fans. Microsoft has designed an exclusive Reba Browser, which will allow the user to browse the Internet. The Reba Browser has a custom interface design that features web site links, wallpaper, enables one to use Reba screensavers and the RebaNews Active desktop component, which delivers news to the user’s desktop. It also allows the user access to special areas of the album site, such as the “Spotlight,” which contains an interactive music video and an interview with Reba.
“It is a total interactive experience where Reba herself guides you through a multimedia experience,” said James Dutile, Director of Multimedia for Starstruck Entertainment. “From the moment you put your CD in your computer, you are connected with Reba, not only musically, but visually as well. You have access to all sorts of Reba ‘extras,’ such as photos, screen savers, videos, interactive pictures (the virtual tour), online information and a custom Reba browser. Through the enhanced CD Internet users can connect directly to Reba’s web site to continue the experience.”
The ECD also has some behind the scenes footage of the making of last year’s big tour, which features a virtual 360 degree view, as well as a Photo Album section with new photos of the artist.
Adds MCA Nashville Chairman Bruce Hinton, “We are truly excited about this state-of-the-art project. Reba is one of the most dynamic forces in country music today and what better way to bring her fans closer to her music than with the behind the scenes look and personal touch provided in the ECD.”
As always, the music Reba has selected for the new CD is something she and co-producer David Malloy are very proud of. Critics have often praised the artist’s ability to draw every bit of emotion from a song possible. Malloy agrees with the assessment, and wanted to take it a step further. “My goal on this record was to expose as much of Reba as a person through these songs as possible,” Malloy said. “She’s made 27 albums, so my challenge was to give people something of Reba they haven’t gotten before. We wanted people to feel she personally opened her emotions musically, so we went to songs for her to perform more in the ‘first person’ than ‘third person.’ Vocally, I wanted these songs to challenge her more.
I feel, as do many others, that Reba is truly the greatest female vocalist in our format, and possibly the greatest ever. I wanted this record to make that statement,” Malloy says. “Working with her is the biggest thrill of my life. She is a huge talent with tremendous instincts, and challenges herself so much, that I don’t have to worry about challenging her. If I were to write a script of my idea of what the perfect artist and a superstar of her caliber would be like, well, Reba is all those things and more.”
In addition to the hit duet with her touring partners Brooks & Dunn, “If You See Him/If You See Her,” the album features two songs from her upcoming CBS television movie, FOREVER LOVE, scheduled to air in the Fall of 1998. The songs are the title track of the movie and “All This Time.” It also features a reunion with Linda Davis (who recorded the hit song, “Does He Love You” with Reba). This song, “Face To Face,” is part two of their former duet.
The artist continues her tour of North America in 1998, following a successful tour in Australia during the first half of the year.