For this reason, it seemed fitting to review a CD I came across at the Nashville Entertainment Association's Extravaganza. It is a compilation disc entitled Twelve. The seventeen-song collection is 12th in a series of disks written, produced, arranged, recorded and mixed by students of MTSU.

Granted, the university is equipped with absolute top-of-the-line gear, including a fully automated Solid State Logic mixing board. Still, three measures into the first track, you realize that these supposed "amateurs" and "students" could run with the big dogs if given the opportunity. The recording quality is excellent, as is the musicianship.

As one might expect, this is a diverse collection of tunes. Highlights include the high-octane blues-rock of Dean Hall and the Loose Eels on "If You Really Loved Me." The stereo guitars sound absolutely huge on this cut.

"Escape From Egypt" by Adam DePasquale was programmed and recorded entirely by DePasquale in MTSU's MIDI lab. The rhythmic and ambient nature of this instrumental would make it a welcome addition to that syndicated "Musical Starstreams" radio show.

"What If I Could" by Chris James and Stacey Rippey is absolutely soulful, complete with horn arrangements reminiscent of the band Chicago.

The fretless basswork of Anthony Sallee shines on The Parade's "Life, Time, and Love," the lush and synthesized opening track. By contrast, "Kalifornia," by Neal Coty and Randy Van Warmer is a cool acoustic-based blues.

There's an R&B track by Al Gaines, Marianne Tutalo and Damien bell that would make Babyface green. The last track, "Rain Dance" provides a final helping of ear candy that starts with a rhythmic tribal thing and gets all spiritual at the end.

My only complaint about this compilation is that the songwriting could have been a little stronger in spots, but all in all, Twelve demonstrates that age or experience is no excuse for a bad mix. With a good set of ears and the right training, you apparently don't need a big time producer and hot shot engineer to put out killer stuff.

For more info on MTSU's Department of Recording Industry, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~record