Customer Reviews

20 Greatest Hits

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This collection is compiled from Kenny's most successful period - the years from 1976 to 1983 when he recorded for United Artists. As such, it does not include Islands in the stream or any of the other music he recorded for RCA after he left United Artists. To get that, you must buy a separate collection of his RCA music, or go for the boxed set that includes everything that matters, and which I've already reviewed, or buy a Dolly Parton compilation (plenty of those include the song).

The recordings of Ruby don't take your love to town, Reuben James and Something's burning are not the originals that Kenny recorded with the First Edition - these are re-recordings that Kenny made in 1977, originally for the compilation LP titled Ten years of gold. However, there re-re-recordings are as good as the originals but slightly more polished. To get the originals of those three songs, you need a Kenny Rogers and the First edition compilation or the boxed set already mentioned. The remaining seventeen songs are the original recordings of the hits that Kenny had on the country and pop charts in the late seventies and early eighties, several of which became international hits.

Two of these songs - Lucille (my favorite Kenny Rogers song) and Coward of the county, became UK number one pop hits - they were also top five pop hits in America. Kenny also took the original version of Ruby don't take your love to town to number two in the UK in 1969 - it was also a top ten American hit. Something's burning and Lady were also major UK hits. None of the other songs here made much impact in the UK charts, but Kenny had many more hits in the American pop charts, including The gambler, She believes in me, You decorated by life and I don't need you. Of the songs here, Lady (number one for several weeks) was his biggest American pop hit. The majority of the songs on this compilation topped the country charts.

One of the best songs here is Scarlet fever. It might have been a bigger hit than it actually was, but it was released as a single after Kenny had already moved to RCA. Even so, it was a top five country hit.

Although Dolly Parton is missing, there are some brilliant duets here, featuring Dottie West (Till I can make it on my own, a cover of a Tammy Wynette song), Sheena Easton (We've got tonight, a cover of a Bob Seger song) and Kim Carnes (Don't fall in love with a dreamer).

You can't fit all Kenny's classic songs from his years on United Artists on a single CD but all the essentials are here. If you only want one CD of Kenny's music, make it this one.

"Kenny Rogers-Twenty Greatest Hits" is sure to please both country music and adult contemporary music fans alike. For the country music purist, there are selections such as: "Lucille", "Daytime Friends", "Coward Of The County", "Love Lifted Me" and "Reuben James", to name a few. For the adult contemporary fan, these selections are guaranteed to warm your heart: "Lady", "Through The Years", "She Believes In Me" and "I Don't Need You" could make you the ultimate Kenny Rogers fan! If you like Kenny's singles hits here, then you're sure to love his duets featured in this ultimate Greatest Hits collection. Kenny teams up with top-notch country and pop music divas the late Dottie West (Til' I Can Make It On My Own), Kim Carnes (Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer) and Sheena Easton (in a remake of Bob Seger's classic hit "We've Got Tonight"). You'll also find KR's TV and motion picture hits "The Gambler" and "Love Will Turn You Around", from the movie "Six Pack". These are many of the hits featured in "Kenny Rogers-Twenty Greatest Hits". So what are you waiting for? Buy your copy today!

Kenny Rogers 20 Greatest Hits is one of my favorite CD's. Kenny Rogers is a superstar in country and pop music. This CD contains all of Kenny Rogers' top hits up to 1983. Included in this CD are the songs "Lucille", "The Gambler", "Lady", "She Believes in Me", "Coward of the County", "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", and "Love Lifted Me". It also contains duets with Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes, and Dottie West. This collection is a must for any fan of Kenny Rogers.

This is a wonderful collection of Kenny's long string of hits and not a bad apple in the bunch. Whether with The First Edition or on his own, the man had the golden touch and crossed over onto the pop and country charts when these songs were new. If you get the chance to see him perform in concert GO!

Great songs, Kenny Rogers is great. But the sound is terrible - recorded straight from a 20 year old portable cassette player onto CD is what it sounds like. Save your dough and avoid.

I am not a huge Kenny Rogers fan, but he did some quality songs such as "Coward Of The County", "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town", "Love Will Turn You Around", "We Got Tonight" (Although Bob Seger's version is better), and of course "The Gambler". You get all the Rogers you will need except "Islands In The Stream". It is a worthwhile CD to have in your collection.

This can be considered a comprehensive hits collection. All the
major Kenny Rogers hits are here. If you've never heard Kenny
Rogers sing which is quite unlikely, this is a superb introduction. However I only gave it a three star rating because the sound quality is rather unsatisfactory. I wonder whether the tracks have been remastered. If they have, then it was poorly done. If they have not then it is high time the record label reissuesa digitally remastered collection! Kenny Rogers certainly deserves it!

This is the best album of all Kenny Rogers's albums. Through The Years is the best song that is ever written. When I listen to this album, I can feel the melody and comprehend the lyrics. This album definitely becomes one of my music collections.

An excellent overview of the career of Kenny Rogers. Every song is a classic but my 2 favorites are the Gambler and Lady. More country stations should be playing his music instead of the latest cowboy hunk of the month. Kenny rules!!

Yes, the sound quality could have been a tad bit better, but it's not like the CD's unlistenable or anything. The CD clocks in around 73 minutes and the song selection is great, so that kind of makes up for the sound. Every single song is great! Some of the later classics are missing, but I'm pretty sure this hit collection was made back in 83' so that explains that.

This would be the only single disc of Kenny Rogers I'd recommend. I actually recommend getting his 42 Ultimate Hits instead, but if you don't want more than one disc, this is definitely the one to get. You oughta listen to Ultimate Ronnie Milsap and Lionel Richie's Definitive Collection too, if you like Kenny!