Customer Reviews

Are You Happy Baby: Collection

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Why oh why has Country Music ignored this wonderful lady? There's some darn good songs in this compilation. There's heartache songs, fun songs, happy songs, cheatin' songs, and everything else. Ms. West does a find job interpreting the rise and fall of her lifetime through her songs and her singing. From the #1 smash in 1980: "Are you Happy Baby?", to the sassy "Lesson In Leavin" these songs have been gone from radio for a long time. WHY? Dottie West was one of the top country vocalists of her time. A living legend whose career spanned nearly thirty decades. Her untimely death at the age of 58 from the car accident has left a void in Country Music that will not be easily filled. Give the CD a listen, you'll be singing along and reminiscing about those days before you know it!

One of my favorite country singers, Dottie spent 14 years with RCA and 7 with United artists. I liked all her music but I liked her RCA work best - however, this is clearly a minority view as the United artists years, represented on this collection, proved to be Dottie's best years in terms of commercial success. This particular collection is apparently out of print but another collection, Absolutely the best, containing 14 of the 20 tracks here, has since been released on the Varese label.

One of the notable features Dottie's career during this period were her duets with Kenny Rogers. They recorded two albums together and another single, although Kenny also recorded duets with Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton and Dolly Parton during this period. On this collection, Kenny duets with Dottie on Every time two fools collide, Anyone who isn't me tonight, All I ever need is you, What are we doing in love and Together again (a cover of a Buck Owens song). The first five of these were all top three country hits, with three of them going all the way to number one.

Dottie had two number one country hits of her own during this period, something she had never achieved during her years at RCA although she came close. A lesson in leaving also made the American pop charts and was more recently revived by Jo Dee Messina. Are you happy baby provide Dottie with her second and last solo number one.

Curiously, none of the other tracks here made the country top ten although many of them made the top twenty. Still, you can't measure records purely by their chart success and there are some great songs here. I particularly like Come see me and come lonely (a lovely ballad) and I'm gonna put you back on the rack (a sassy up-tempo song).

Traditional country fans should explore Dottie's RCA recordings first, represented by the out of print Essential and the more recent Country lends. The recordings on this collection are more pop sounding but still essentially country. If you enjoy contemporary country, you will surely enjoy this. If you can't buy this, go for the Varese collection. At 14 tracks, it's a little short but it contains all the important tracks. Of those I've mentioned here, only Together again is missing from that set.

Before the days of Shania Twain, Pam Tillis, and other country beauty queens, there was Dottie West. This woman was the first true groundbreaker of Country Music with saucy, suggestive lyrics, and a sassy, husky style. There's some good tunes on this CD, and it's hardly surprising that many of today's leading ladies of Country cite Dottie as one of their influences. JoDee Messina revived Dottie's "Lesson in Leavin", stalling just short of #1. Personally, I think there should be a tribute album done in memory of this lovely lady. The songs on this CD range from happy to sad, melancholic to jazzy and everything in between. What's probably most notable is the fact that these songs really haven't aged that much. The lyrics to "Lesson in Leavin'" and "Are You Happy Baby" (both #1) are timeless. Perhaps Dottie's music was a little ahead of its time. I don't understand how someone who had such an impact on country music has not had ANY of her studio albums re-issued on CD. I've been saying for years that her two biggest LP's "Wild West" and "Special Delivery" need to be remastered and re-issued in all their glory. By far, these were Dottie's best years. Although this set is currently out of print, it might still be kicking around in some places. A darn shame too, since a whole new generation is disovering Dottie's music. Give it a listen and see why Dottie West was Country Music's first Shania Twain!

Dottie West is often forgotten in country music, her untimely death was a surprise and a misfortune for us all. Dottie gave country music a new flavor, with her splashy wardrobes and album covers, and her music reflected this new style. The CD is the greatest collection, and one of the few, that is available for Dottie. It contains lots of upbeat songs, and is very representative of the trend of country music in the late 70's and early 80's. "It's High Time" and "Every Word I Write" are among the best, and the Dottie classic "A Leason in Leaving" is also included. This CD is a must have for any true, traditional, country music fan. If you want an escape from the new age of country music, try this Dottie West collection!

Dottie West has an incredible voice, and it shines on songs like "Broken Lady" "Lesson In Leavin" "What Are We Doing In Love" and "Til I Can Make It On My Own"

I purchased this CD out of curiosity after viewing the "Dottie West Story". Needless to say, I was very impressed. It's a pity that so little of Dottie's recordings are out there. I now consider myself an avid fan, and I'll be looking out for more material. She was indeed a great lady that's been too often overlooked for the impact she's had in the history books of Country Music. There's a nice booklet inside too, with lots of information for new fans like myself. Give it a listen, you'll be pleased!

I hope some of you fellow fans of Dottie's will consider going to google and type in DOTTIE WEST PETITION and sign it once you get to it. They need 2000 signatures and as of today there were 1509. I signed it about 3 years ago and am number 300+ so you see it's a slow process. Have your friends sign it also. Way more than 1509 people had to have been Dottie West fans. Let's get her elected. She's way overdue. And it's a crying shame.

I just purchased this CD awhile ago while browsing a downtown record store. I remember seeing the "Dottie West Story" on TV years ago and always regretted that I never had any albums by this forgotten star. I am very pleased with this set. I totally agree with the reviews below, and I'd like to see more stuff come out on CD. Give it a listen, and let this CD take you back to yesteryear. I am sure that once you've heard these tunes, the memories will come floating back! They did for me, and now I am asking myself why I never owned more Dottie West albums than I did. Give it a listen, I think you'll be happy. Check out the RCA compiliation too.

Dottie West does not get the recognition that she deserves. But finally a great CD has come along to show what a super talented lady she was. I have been a fan of hers a long time.Especially finding a great song on this CD called.(You're NotEasy To Forget).I had never heard this song before.If you are a Dottie West fan you enjoy this CD as much as I do.

It's too bad Dottie West left country music so suddenly. This compilation of some of her best work demonstrates the void her absence has left in country music. Her duets with Rogers are sullen and spirited, especially her take on Sonny and Cher's chart topper All I Ever Need is You.