Winds of Change is the seventh studio album by singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1995 on Reprise/Warner Bros. Nashville. It is Taff's first, and only, full-length mainstream country album. The title song and "I Cry" are the only two songs from his 1989 album The Way Home that he re-recorded for this album. The first country single "Love Is Not a Thing" debuted on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart on January 14, 1995, at number 64, peaking at number 53 on February 25, 1995, spending a total of 9 weeks. "One and Only Love" and "Bein' Happy" were also released as singles and music videos performing moderately well on country radio and CMT. Well-known country songwriter/producer/musician Randy Scruggs produced the album's first six tracks, while Taff and his long-time guitarist James Hollihan Jr. produced the remaining four tracks.
Track listing Tracks 1 - 6 produced by Randy Scruggs Tracks 7 - 10 produced by Russ Taff and James Hollihan Jr.
Personnel Russ Taff – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar Larry Hall – acoustic piano James Hollihan Jr. – acoustic piano, keyboards, organ, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, bass, percussion, string arrangements John Barlow Jarvis – acoustic piano Steve Nathan – keyboards, organ Matt Rollings – acoustic piano Billy Joe Walker Jr. – acoustic guitar Chris Leuzinger – electric guitar Randy Scruggs – electric guitar Jerry Douglas – dobro Terry Crisp – steel guitar Paul Franklin – steel guitar Al Perkins – steel guitar Mike Brignardello – bass Jackie Street – bass Willie Weeks – bass John Hammond – drums Paul Leim – drums Tom Roady – percussion Rob Hajacos – fiddle John Darnall – string conductor Carl Gorodetzky – string contractor Nashville String Machine – strings Michael Black – backing vocals Cynthia Clawson – backing vocals Michael English – backing vocals Bonnie Keen – backing vocals Mac McAnally – backing vocals Jonell Mosser – backing vocals John Wesley Ryles – backing vocals Dennis Wilson – backing vocals Curtis Young – backing vocalsProduction''' Doug Grau – executive producer, A&R Lynn Fuston – recording James Hollihan Jr. – recording Russ Long – recording Ron "Snake" Reynolds – recording Paul "Salvo" Salveson – recording Steve Tillisch – recording, mixing Brian Hardin – second engineer Benny Quinn – digital editing and mastering at Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee) Laura LiPuma-Nash – art direction, design Peter Nash – photography Zack Glickman – management Walt Quinn – management
Critical reception Tim Griggs of AllMusic said "With the aid of Nashville's elite studio musicians, Russ Taff makes a joyful noise on 'Bein' Happy,' the album opener on Winds of Change.'' Taff and gang then tackle topics such a marriage, love, and heartache with mixed results."
Singles Year Single Position 1995 "Love Is Not a Thing"53 1995 "One and Only Love"51 1995 "Bein' Happy"66
References