Giddyup with the Oak Ridge Boys

Contemporary country radio has retired acts such as the Oak Ridge Boys, but that isn't stopping them from making albums.

In fact, bass singer Richard Sterban has to pause to total up the four, yes, four albums the venerable quartet has recorded in as many years.

"The Boys are Back" in 2009 included a cover of the White Stripe's "Seven Nation Army" and a title song written for them by Shooter Jennings.

That was followed by "It's Only Natural," which Sterban says sold quite well as an exclusive through Cracker Barrel's 600-plus stores. The latest is the new gospel-leaning disc "Back Home Again," and Cracker Barrel will have a Christmas album - the group's sixth - on its shelves by late September.

All these recording sessions have "put new life and new energy into us, and keeps us going," says Sterban, whose bass singing anchors the Boys' best-known lineup, with Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall and William Lee Golden.

"We're not a hot item on country radio. Things change, you know. But we still feel like we have a very important place in the country music industry," Sterban says. "We're still doing things at a very high level for this stage of our career."

The Oak Ridge Boys were as pop as a country group could be when "Elvira" became a national obsession in 1981. But the recent recordings are more back to basics.

"We are a vocal group, and to let the voices be out in front are what people expect to hear," Sterban says. "There aren't too many acts out there that can sing four-part harmony like we can. It shows off, even after all these years, what we can still do."

The Oaks have played Las Vegas since 1975, when they were on the edge of fame. They hope to be seeing a lot more of the Golden Nugget - and other casinos owned by Tilman Fertitta - after the billionaire cruised up in his yacht to catch the group at a Galveston, Texas, gig.

"We've kind of hit it off with him. We're hoping this will lead to a long-term relationship," Sterban says. "We're excited about the prospects of that, anyway."

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.