In January 1998, The Chicks released their major-label debut Wide Open Spaces. This was their first album with Natalie Maines as lead vocalist, and her bright, steely voice alongside the three-part harmonies made this album a critical success.
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Song choice had a lot to do with its success as well. They covered J.D. Souther’s “I’ll Take Care of You” and Bonnie Raitt’s “Give It Up or Let Me Go.” The opening track, “I Can Love You Better,” set the strong, assertive tone of the rest of the album, and Wide Open Spaces, as a whole, creates an atmosphere of nostalgia as well as a yearning for freedom.
Maines’ vocals shine on the track “Loving Arms,” which was famously performed by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge originally. It’s a gentle, sentimental ballad that allows Maines to stand out while Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer assist on subtle harmonies. As the third track on the album, it provides a break for romance and longing. Then, The Chicks ramp up again with “There’s Your Trouble,” which spins a tale of someone losing a love and not understanding why. Throughout the song, The Chicks posit all the ways this character has caused their own trouble by continuing to hold on to something that doesn’t benefit them.
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The Chicks Created a Longing Landscape for Nostalgia on Wide Open Spaces
Generally, Wide Open Spaces was well received when it released as well as retrospectively. It’s an album with universal appeal despite its specific bluesy country sound. Natalie Maines has a country voice, but she also has a rock and roll voice, and she bridged that genre gap without making it obvious what she was doing.
The Chicks have kept bridging that gap through the years on classic albums like Fly and the powerful Gaslighter from 2020. However, they never seem to overtly set out to do it, and that blending of styles feels more inherent than something practiced. It’s more of an attitude that The Chicks possess in their work than a conscious choice.
“Tonight The Heartache’s On Me” is a great middle-of-the-album song that lets The Chicks run a little wild. Its delightful bluegrass foundation bolsters Maines’ vocal power, but also shows off what Maguire and Strayer can do instrumentally. Overall, Wide Open Spaces is celebrated for its universality and ability to bring many different listeners together. Say what you want about The Chicks now, but their major-label debut album still holds up 27 years later.
Featured Image by Scott Harrison/Liaison
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