Songwriters often fashion themselves vocalists, but haven't the pipes to back it up. That's not the case here. Lauderdale's baritone has the confidence and style of a seasoned performer. The result is an energetic album of superb songwriting, solo and in collaboration with legends Howard Harlan, Frank Dycus and Melba Montgomery. The lyrical craft shines through a timely Titanic metaphor, "Didn't know my heart was in harm's way / Couldn't see the truth `til it was in my face / If I'd seen it coming, could have turned away," while the dance floor calls out for the honky-tonk recriminations of "Goodbye Song" and "Hole in My Head." "Take Me Down a Path (My Heart Won't Know)" could easily be mistaken as a good page from the Buck Owens' songbook.