Track Listing

1. I Can Love You Better
2. Wide Open Spaces
3. Loving Arms
4. There's Your Trouble
5. You Were Mine
6. Never Say Die
7. Tonight The Heartache's On Me
8. Let 'Er Rip
9. Once You've Loved Somebody
10. I'll Take Care Of You
11. Am I The Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)
12. Give It Up Or Let Me Go

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1287 in Music
• Released on: 1998-01-27
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com essential recording
The major-label debut from this Texas trio proves their instrumental abilities, blending more traditional twang with slow melodic blues, foot-tapping rockabilly, and bluegrass-inspired pop harmonies. From the opener, "I Can Love You Better," the Chicks let their love of music and genuine joy shine through while the energy on this album reminds one of Carlene Carter. Solid musicianship, topnotch vocal performances, and infectious pop hooks make this a stellar project. --Paula Ghergia

Country Music
Like a lot of young Nashville acts, The Dixie Chicks borrow a lot from 70's and 80's California pop-rock; unlike a lot of their peers, The Chicks go to the originals for their material, and cover songs written by J.D. Souther, Maria McKee, Tom Jans and Bonnie Raitt.... Until they can make a song crackle with danger and lust, The Dixie Chicks will merely be a pleasant but inconsequential diversion.

People
This Dallas Trio ... have a lively delivery and tightly harmonized sound reminiscent of Georgia's Forester Sisters. Although the politically correct may growl at the Chick's throwback tendencies--they do a lot of stand-by-tour-man and grieve-over-the-loss-of-him songs--this is an old-fashioned, good-time album, affable and rich with sweet-toned melodies.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful - just beautiful
I really love these girls and the songs on this album are incredible. Even if you don't like country I think you can find something to enjoy on this album. The songs are full of hope about love and happiness and they make me happy when I listen to them. I often have to stop what I'm doing just to listen to a song. Despite what their political history is...they are amazing and incredible artists that can't be denied - give this album a chance if you want to hear some lovely tunes.

It doesn't get any better than the Dixie Chicks
With all of the controversy in recent years, it's easy to forget that the Dixie Chicks aren't just excellent musicians, they were groundbreaking. This is the album that started it all.

Wide Open Spaces
I can't say that I am a fan of the country music genre but at the same time I can't pretend that there aren't a few artists in the genre that I listen to. After listening to the Dixie Chicks's last album TAKING THE LONG WAY, I was surprised by how much I liked it (despite not liking a few of the songs). I recently decided to check out the band's first album WIDE OPEN SPACES on a whim. While there were quite a few songs on the album that I did not like (for example the first two songs on the album, there were still quite a few songs that I did enjoy listening to. I am particularly fond of the ballads like "Loving Arms", and "You Were Mine", and the hopelessly infectious first single "There's Your Trouble". The biggest flaw with the Chicks' music is Natalie Maines' vocals. It sometimes comes off as a bit screechy for my liking so I can only take her voice in small doses if I am not in a good mood. On the ballads, her voice is more tolerable. I think that is her biggest strength. I really enjoy it when Natalie harmonizes with Emily and Martie. Despite not liking a few of the songs here, I still like WIDE OPEN SPACES.