Customer Reviews

Anthology

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If any Country artist deserves a 2CD career compilation its John Anderson. His Warner Brothers material is crying out for a decent overview. So, this looked like a winner on paper. The hits plus album tracks from his 20+ career on Warner and BNA. But, this CD released on Anderson's own label is nothing but remakes. You won't know this if you looked at the sticker on the CD cover. It's not listed there, but if you look real close, at the bottom of the CD- in small letters - it states that these are new recordings. Too bad. A missed opportunity that only the most die-hard of Anderson's fans will want for their collection. The rest should stick with the Warner and BNA Greatest Hits CD's.

In the early Eighties, John Anderson was one of the few country artists I listened to. Singles like "I'm Just and Old Chunk of Coal," "Would you Catch a Fallin' Star" and "Swingin'" were honest country songs. When I came across this collection, it seemed to good to be true...turns out it was. These are solid performances of these songs with Anderson and his road band which has been together with no personnel changes in the past nine years. But the bottom line is that these are not the original hit versions of these songs. In fact, nowhere in the liner notes--or anywhere else in the CD booklet--does it explicity say these are re-recordings (perhaps that's why allmusic.com was quick to give this a 5-star rating), but one listen makes it obvious. So if you're looking for a collection of original hit recordings, this isn't it. If you're looking for faithful remakes, you won't be disappointed. Just don't be fooled like I was.

Despite the fact that these songs are misleadingly placed in chronological order, they are all new recordings. This is not a multi-label retrospective as it leads the buyer to believe. You'll have to go elsewhere for the original recordings.

I wish I had read some other buyer reviews before buying this! I thought it would be original recordings. It just doesn't do it for me - I'm going to resell it and buy the original recordings!

I really don't mind the fact that these songs are REMAKES. They sound all right to me.

THE TOTALLY DISGUSTING PART is that the cover tells you this fact ON THE BACK in LETTERS THE SAME SIZE AS THE FINE PRINT that comes at the bottom of every CD jacket. The letters are even COLORED so they blend in with the art work so that you will surely not notice the fact until after you have bought the damn CD!

If you're going to update your songs, why do you need to disguise the fact?

This is DECEPTION, people!

JOHN, YOU AND YOUR RECORD COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!

This should have been a classic set, instead its all remakes.
It's amazing that John has not had a worthy anthology.
Let's get with it !

Ok
I see all the crazy reviews on here giving John the boot cause of re recordings of his own songs from older albums from other record labels.
Whats the Big deal with this people,I mean come on. First off, It's His songs, he's singing them, their all there in 1 convient 2 disk set, which in itself has multiple pluses. Newly updated musical conpositions for some of his works and made for a new generation of fans to enjoy. Harping about this set not being original recordings is kinda like going to 1 of his concerts and saying it's a rip off or something too. It's Him for pete sakes and it sounds better in many cases than the originals.
So Shame on all you reviewers saying that crap about this cd set.
One More thing If ya read this page John. Lake Winnie Rocked buddy. Stay safe and God bless to you and Yours Always.

I am a huge John Anderson fan and am excited to have this 2-cd set! I have most of his previous CD's/cassettes, so I don't mind that these are new recordings. In fact, I saw him last night in concert and he is as great as ever!! Also, check out his newest CD "Bigger Hands" -- it's awesome!

I like the way he re-did the songs. Seems like he added some bass too(just check out the first part of Lying Blue Eyes to see what I'm talking about. But all jokes aside, John is a great country artist, and an even greater country man. I hope he is doing better after his recent health trouble so I can see another one of his concerts. All the songs are great, but a couple of my favorites are WilD and Blue and 1959. Keep up the great work!

John digs deep into his vault of hits to put together this must have album. True grit and soul are exhibited as his vocals soar above and beyond what country music represents today (in my opinion). These are new recordings and I think pay tribute to the way in which John has evolved over the years. John Anderson refused to sell out to corporate America, took the heat, and kept on ticking. The proof is in this album.