And the Crowd Goes Wild

AMG Review of And the Crowd Goes Wild

Maria Konicki Dinoia
All Music Guide

Putting forth an impressive effort to dispel the myth that he is "the sad guy," And the Crowd Goes Wild is a collection of enjoyable songs that let us know that maybe Wills does have something to smile about. The title track is a get-out-of-your-seat rocker that's bound to inspire; "He's a Cowboy" is a toe-tapper about fun-loving cowboys; "Married in Mexico" is a bouncy song about a proposal, to name a few. But lest we forget, there are several allads on the album that remind us why we first fell in love with Wills' warm baritone wrapped around a sad story-song. "What Hurts the Most" is an ode to a failed relationship. "I Just Close My Eyes" is about the pain of a long-distance relationship. And deserving an honorable mention is "Prisoner of the Highway," a duet with one of Wills' heroes, Ronnie Milsap, on Milsap's 1984 hit.