DATE: Monday, November 17, 1997             TAG: 9711150074

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

COUNTRY GROUP RETURNS TO ITS ROWDY ROOTS

ATLANTIC RECORDS wanted Confederate Railroad to straighten up and fly right.

``They didn't want us to do so much about the South,'' said lead singer Danny Shirley. ``(They) wanted more love songs.''

To placate the brass, the band, which plays Tuesday night at Chrysler Hall, recorded ``When and Where.'' It went gold, somewhat short of the guys' expectations. ``We were used to double platinum,'' Shirley said.

Can't hardly blame them. Their self-titled debut and the follow-up, ``Notorious,'' sold millions of copies. They also introduced such gems as ``Queen of Memphis,'' ``Elvis and Andy,'' ``Redneck Romeo'' and the opposites-attract pieces ``Trashy Women'' and ``Jesus and Mama.''

Now, there is good news for the band's fans. ``The label is going to let us raise hell again,'' Shirley said, ``have a good time, loosen up.''

How loose? Coming up are the barroom pieces ``I Would Take You Home to Mama But Mama Ain't Home to Nap Tonight'' and ``Wish I Was Somewhere Stoned Playing Pinball.'' A new album, ``The Big One,'' is due in April.

``We have four or five singles planned from the new album and three or four videos.'' The title tune, Shirley added, ``is better heard than explained.

``We've had fingers pointed at us from the time we named the band. But a lot of people are sick of being told what's right or wrong to do. The name was very successful for us.''

What Shirley does take issue with is country music's cookie-cutter philosophy.

``I'd like a little more variety. Now, it's like hearing the Barney theme over and over,'' he said. ``I'll keep on. My kids will graduate when I'm 80. I'm 41 now. That's ancient for country music.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WANT TO GO?

Who: Confederate Railroad with Tonja Rose and Troy Hedspeth

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Chrysler Hall, Norfolk

Tickets: $21.50 and $16.50 plus service charge; order at 671-8100

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