I’ve listened to the songs on this CD and have to say I love them all! My favorite for 2-steppin would have to be the opening title track “The Heartbreak Grill And Bar”, although my favorite of all for listening or dancing My Heart's Got a Mind of It's Own! Awesome!!!

Next favorite is Not Getting Caught and I see it as a great line dance song or 2-step, or Houston shuffle!! I love the voice & the music. Makes me really want to get out there and dance. It is a great CD & I didn't find any songs I didn't like

And this isn’t part of the review... but had to mention Mike has cute dimples!

Mike Clifford has followed up his last CD “All Night, All Day” with this new CD titled “The Heartbreak Grill and Bar”. The first track is the title track and is a perfect start to this classic country style offering. Joining Clifford on vocals is Texan Pauline Reese. Reese’s vocals mingle perfectly with Clifford’s on “My Heart’s Got a Mind of It’s Own”. Reese also collaborates on “It’s All Texas Music To Me”. Her strong, rich voice adds depth to the songs, without losing Mike in the mix. “It’s All Texas Music To Me” is a great retrospective of today’s music industry. The lyrics demonstrate the frustration by today’s artists, having to be labeled by the industry, versus just letting music be music.

Clifford has demonstrated that he has grown as a songwriter, case in point being “Lonesome Boulevard”, possibly the best song on the CD. “Lightning In A Bottle” is a strong, edgier offering and is a song that will have your toes tapping along from the first time you hear it. The only song not written by Clifford himself, “Something Deep Within Me” is a strong ballad in which he demonstrates his ability to convey a strong emotional tie with the listener.

Overall, an enjoyable listening experience from Mike Clifford, with music that will translate well from the CD straight to the live performance.

Mike Clifford's website promises that this CD has the 5 staples of great country music: dancin', drinkin', fightin', lovin', and leavin. So I'm putting that claim to the test… His song "It's All Texas Music To Me" is a great honky tonk tune. And while the song claims he's too rock-n-roll for Nashville and to Country for L.A. I say it's a perfect mix of both and it's just plain good music to this Virginia gal. And I may be wrong but to me this is our dancin' song. "My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own" is certainly our lovin' song. The lyics to this song trully captures the feelings of how we are totaly consumed by our hearts when love beings. Mike and Pauline Reese bring to mind the classic love songs of Conway & Loretta!

The leaving song is "Lonesome Boulevard". It's a song about being left right at the alter no less. It's a slow sweet song that showcases Mike's ability to sing a soft-sounding melody as well as a rowdy hell raising song. I didn't find a fightin' song in the way of beer bottles flying across the room, although “Hand-Me-Down Love” probably fits as the fightin’ song. Also "Not Getting Caught" is a song for outlaws who like to fight against the rules and resist the restraints of authority. Everyone knows when it comes to drinkin' songs you can hardly do better by a country man than moonshine! So hail to Mike's song "Lightning In a Bottle".
There it is folks the 5 staples of Good Old Country Music and that's only 5 of the 11 songs you'll get when you buy Mike Clifford's new cd "Heartbreak Grill & Bar".

After listening to Mike Clifford’s new CD I thought to my self wow what a great CD to dance to. From slow dancing to line dancing, he covers it all. It is solid old school country album that makes you want to get on the floor and dance, dance, dance. If this is a dance hall concept album it works for me. Great job Mike!

Mike Clifford's new CD "The Heartbreak Grill And Bar" is his best Album in my opinion. From "Not Getting Caught" (which is my favorite) to the title track "The Heartbreak Grill and Bar", this whole album is just great. Not a song on it I don't like. A must have CD for your music collection . You should order one today!

“The Heartbreak Grill And Bar” is TX honky-tonk music at it's best! Songs range from Rockin' to Ballads that will have you either craving a sawdust covered dance floor or getting emotionally involved in a well told story. (I get a little misty every time I hear "That Used To Be Me"!)

 
Mike's unique voice, the awesome instrumentation and impressive lyrics make this CD a major accomplishment for an as yet unsigned artist! The addition of Pauline Reese singing backup on several songs as well as two duets was a very nice touch as they blend so naturally.

If you like great honky tonk music, you're going to love "Heartbreak Grill & Bar" by Mike Clifford. This is the third CD I've gotten by Mike and I think his music just gets better and better. That's saying a lot since I really enjoy listening to his first two CDs, "Welcome To The Other Side" and "All Night All Day". Mike has written some great songs here, from the fun, up-tempo songs ("All Texas Music To Me') to the tender songs that tell of a lost love ("That Used To Be Me"). Two of my favorites from the CD are "Not Gettin' Caught"–we all like to get away with something now and then-- and "Family Reunion", which sounds like a lot more fun than the last family reunion I attended, but I think I recognize a few of the characters. I recommend this CD to everyone who likes good country music. Make sure you have your dancing shoes ready when you play Mike's music because you'll want to do some two-steppin'! I love this CD!!!

Reviewer:  Rod Bradley, Program Director Yarra Valley FM 99.1

Mike Clifford takes you on a wild ride with this CD! Put it in my CD player a couple of months ago and haven't taken it out! If you aren't a fan, after buying this CD you will be!! Country with a Texas Flavor and a Flare all it's own!

I've had this CD for about a month, and it has fast become a favorite. Just bought one for a friend, plus Mike's first CD. This is usually the first music I play DAILY. It gets me moving and gets me happy really fast. The songs are fun to listen to, those honky-tonk guitars will fire up anyone, and yet the softer sound on "Senorita" fits well too; the well-written lyrics will have you singing along in no time. "Senorita", "Honky-Tonk Road" and "Lonesome by Myself" are my picks, but the story in "Get the 'L' Outta L.A." is hysterically funny. What's that saying.."a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll"? If you like both George Strait and the Eagles - this one is for you, baby!

I’ve had this CD for a few weeks now and have now concluded that this album is quite remarkable and truly is a Rhinestone in the Rough. Mike Clifford takes you on a Honky-Tonk roller coaster ride through the country on this one! What is not to like on All Night All Day. This CD has a little bit of everything – from great toe-tappin’ two-steppin’ fun to the cry-in-your-beer type tunes…it’s all good! Some stand-outs include Senorita, Get the “L” Outta L.A., Between The Highway and the Sky, and Goin’ Down Swingin’. The production on this CD is superb too. You can really appreciate the hard work and musicianship on this one. The steel guitar and piano work really put life into Mike’s lyrics. His voice is firin’ on all cylinders and puts him right up there with the country industries best. A must have in any CD collection !

Reviewer: WalnutValleyGal

"All Night All Day" is a good, solid, fun listen from the first song to the last. "Senorita" is my favorite song from this CD, but there isn't a song I don't enjoy. Since I'm a sucker for baritones and generally prefer traditional country, I've been pleasantly surprised how much I enjoy Mike Clifford's work. To me, he has an original sound that blends the influence of several genres into a sound that is distinctly his own. I hear an influence of Marty Robbins in "Senorita" but only at a level which pays homage to the talent of that artist. My second favorite song on this CD is "Happy Anniversary, the lyrics of the song really appeal to me.

I guess the true mark of a great CD is whether I want to take it out of my CD changer. And I can't. A friend gave me the CD and I love it. Great mix of tunes and funny, smart lyrics. I normally put my CDs on shuffle, but the mix of ballads, country, rockabilly, party music is great -- so I catch myself listening just to Clifford over and over (ON REPEAT, NOT SHUFFLE!) "Senorita", "Lonesome by Myself," "L Outta LA" -- I dig them best. I don't know where this dude came from - but this CD should be required to be stocked in bar jukeboxes all across Texas. It just puts me in a good mood. What can I say??