Shenandoah - Now And Then (1996)

Uh-oh. It is always a mistake when recording artists allows a new record company to talk them into re-recording their old hits. Not only is it a consumer ripoff, but it also sends the message that the artists are spent as a contemporary force. One would not have thought that Shenandoah, coming off the Top Ten, Grammy-winning hit "In the Vicinity of the Heart," was in such dire straits, but the departure of 40% of the band prior to the release of this album indicates otherwise. And the decision to put only five new songs on the record, along with nine re-recordings and a repeat of "In the Vicinity of the Heart" from last time give the impression that a stop-gap was thought necessary. One can only hope that the remaining trio rebounds from this misstep. © William Ruhlmann