Putting forth an impressive effort to dispel the myth that he is "the sad guy," And the Crowd Goes Wild is a collection of enjoyable songs that let us know that maybe Wills does have something to smile about. The title track is a get-out-of-your-seat rocker that's bound to inspire; "He's a Cowboy" is a toe-tapper about fun-loving cowboys; "Married in Mexico" is a bouncy song about a proposal, to name a few. But lest we forget, there are several ballads on the album that remind us why we first fell in love with Wills' warm baritone wrapped around a sad story-song. "What Hurts the Most" is an ode to a failed relationship. "I Just Close My Eyes" is about the pain of a long-distance relationship. And deserving an honorable mention is "Prisoner of the Highway," a duet with one of Wills' heroes, Ronnie Milsap, on Milsap's 1984 hit.