Travis Tritt - The Lovin' Side (2002)

AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
In February of 2002, Warner/Rhino offered up two Travis Tritt compilations, one spotlighting his "Rockin' Side," the other his "Lovin' Side." Titles don't come much clearer than that, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that both compilations deliver on their promise without straying from their template. Because they stick to a theme, neither has all of his hits, but that's not a problem since the selected hits -- in this case, tunes like "Help Me Hold On" and "More Than You Will Ever Know" -- are surrounded by sharp selections from his albums, giving each compilation a surprisingly well-rounded feel. If The Lovin' Side isn't as successful as The Rockin' Side, it's because Tritt sounds more engaged on up-tempo material, and his ballads often aren't as compelling as his rockers, but it has to be said that this does sustain a smooth, romantic mood quite well. Note that this really does take "lovin'" seriously, meaning that honky tonk numbers (and big hits) like "Country Club" and "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" are entirely absent, but those looking for either the "Rockin' Side" or "Lovin' Side" of Travis Tritt will find either volume satisfying.