ANDERSON AT COUNTRY CLUB: “If It Ain’t...

ANDERSON AT COUNTRY CLUB: “If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It” is the title of John Anderson’s new single, as well as the de facto motto of the country singer’s current live show, basically a by-the-book greatest-hits affair. Thursday’s set at the Country Club wasn’t in need of repair so much as basic updating.

If Anderson seems less of a trend-bucker and big deal now than he did when he first started recording and touring a decade ago--and he does, judging by the fact that the Country Club wasn’t sold out as you’d expect it to be for someone of his stature--it’s not that he’s slipped any rungs as a singer or writer, but that his traditionalist star has been somewhat eclipsed by more confrontational country talents like Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam.

If he’s further from the cutting edge than he once was, though, his uniqueness persists. Listen to his new album, “10,” and you’ll discover someone smart and not overly sentimental whose obligatory honky-tonk proclivities never get too raucously in the way of his winningly warm, gentle instincts.

Live, Anderson concentrated almost wholly on the last decade’s chart successes, terrific tunes largely written by outside sources with more standard country themes (“She Just Started Liking Cheatin’ Songs,” “Black Sheep”) than the sweeter and more original compositions he has a hand in writing that fill out his albums (especially the new one). As for that fine new LP, Anderson didn’t touch it, save for the single. (Who does he think he is--Bob Dylan?)