Nobody's Perfect

This 1995 release by notable songwriter Danny Tate delivers all the pop, soft rock, and commercial country hooks one familiar with Tate's considerable history of crafting hits would expect. After spending most of the '80s and '90s penning songs for artists as diverse as Rick Springfield and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tate struck out on his own in 1992 with his competent self-titled debut, and this follow-up, Nobody's Perfect, has Tate in even finer form. With a cast of excellent musicians backing him up that includes Dusty Wakeman, James Christie, and even Dwight Yoakam, Tate glides through his typically rich, purely crafted pop/country-rock. Each track is focused, yet natural and relaxed, but the one standout has to be the sincere "The Price of Love," which boasts a remarkable chorus even by Tate's high standards. Anyone interested in studying what makes a great rootsy American pop song should give this disc a listen.