Customer Reviews

Best Of Donna Fargo, The

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THIS IS INDEED THE BEST CD I HAVE EVER HEARD! DONNA FARGO. Her version of "Heartbreak Hotel" is awesome.This cd contains some of the biggest songs in country music. I have never met anyone who has not heard Happiest Girl or Funny Face. And both re on this cd. The production on this cd is excellent. Donna shines throughout every song. My favorites are "Don't Be Angry","Whatever I Say","You can't be a beacon' and of course the ones mentioned above. SHANIA WAS NOT FIRST. DONNA FARGO STARTED IT ALL IN THE SEVENTIES. Dolly, Loretta and Tammy were good but DONNA FARGO WAS AND STILL IS THE BEST!!

Donna Fargo was HOT! She sold millions of copies of her records. Her song writing rivaled that of Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Her songs did one of two things: they either made you just down-and-out enjoy life or they musically transported you into a deep realm. The 18 songs contained here, in what could easily be called The Donna Fargo Story will delight you and leave you wanting more. She can be the ulitmate optimist (The Happiest Girl) or the epitome of soul deep devestation (Manhattan, Kansas). She can tease her man (Superman) and haunt her mother (You Were Always There). She's a lonely woman in love (Just Call Me) as well as a woman still developing emotionally (Little Girl Gone). She is inspirational (You Can't Be A Beacon) as well as patriotic (U.S. of A.) Donna Fargo is many things here - and not a single one of them is one that you should miss!

After a few false starts on small labels, Donna Fargo arrived on the country charts in 1972 and went straight to the top. She combined the relentless exhuberance of Dolly Parton, the quiver of Tammy Wynette, and especially, the vocal sound of Loretta Lynn. Unlike those country queens, she was also able to cross over to the pop top 10 as well with her first two hits "Happiest Girl In The Whole USA" and "Funny Face." The major pop success was short-lived, but Fargo would become a major fixture on the country charts throughout the '70s. This eighteen-track set nicely covers Fargo's best work on the ABC/Dot label (1972-1976).

All of her ABC/Dot singles are found here, in chronological order, along with a few album tracks. After her initial pair of perky mega-hit singles, Fargo wisely added a little sarcasm with her follow-up "Superman." She also effectively merged country and gospel with "You Can't Be A Beacon (If Your Light Don't Shine)". "U.S. of A." provided a patriotic slant, but her predominant theme was domestic bliss.

Fargo impressively wrote most of the songs on this collection. One that she didn't write (that kept the set from receiving five stars from me) is her shrieking version of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel." How bad is this recording? Threaten to play it when your kids don't want to study and you should see their grades dramatically improve. The rest of the tracks found here are quite fine, though. Hopefully, Warner Brothers (or Rhino) will someday put out a companion piece covering Fargo's late '70s hits. Regardless, this set has Fargo's very best work.

Note that this review (like all the others) is listed under Best of (Curb) as well as Best of (MCA) They are very different compliations so I will discuss both.

Donna took some time to make a breakthrough as a singer or songwriter, during which time she worked as a schoolteacher. After she wrote and recorded Happiest girl in the whole USA, things happened very quickly. That song became a top ten American pop hit as well as a country number one. The follow-up, Funny face, did likewise. That was the end of Donna's pop hits, but she had many more country hits during the seventies.

Superman, You were always there and You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine all became country number one hits, while Little girl gone, I'll try a little bit harder, U S of A, It do feel good and Don't be angry provided Donna with further top ten country hits.

Donna's songs were mostly happy and upbeat, but she could do the weepies too - listen to her rendition of Manhattan Kansas (one of the few songs on these compilations that she didn't write). Perhaps the most famous song here is Heartbreak hotel. Donna's cover of this Elvis classic does not match the original, but I enjoy it, although I am aware that some people can't stand this version. You must make up your own mind.

She switched record labels (to Warner) in 1976 and her later recordings are on the Curb compilation (which also includes Funny face and Happiest girl in the whole USA from earlier), with the exception of a gospel album recorded for MCA in 1981, represented on the MCA compilation by Say I do.

Her Warner music is also excellent. I particulary like Somebody special, but Shame on me and Ragamuffin man are among the other highlights.

Donna has never been well represented on CD, but she had a more distinctive style and voice than most. The lady with the chuckle in her voice deserves better.

The Happiest Girl must be one of the most uplifting love songs ever, a joyful celebration of domestic bliss. It reached number 11 on the pop charts, whilst Funny Face is an equally catchy love song that reached number 5.

None of the other tracks quite match up to these two gems, although they are mostly memorable and tuneful. Superman is an uptempo number and was a country number one like the two aforementioned hits; it reached number 41 on the pop charts. You Were Always There is a sad and gentle ballad, an ode from a child to a loving parent.

Little Girl Gone is about growing up with its excitement and disillusion, a fast paced story song with a catchy tune. I'll Try A Little Bit Harder is a typical slow country song about working to save a love that is in danger of dying, while there is a gospel undertone in the inspiring and uplifting You Can't Be A Beacon (If Your Light Don't Shine), which was also a country number one.

Overall, this is a most enjoyable collection of authentic country songs from the 1970s: melodic and moving music that has stood the test of time very well. Most of these songs made the country top 10 and several reached respectable positions on the pop charts too.

This CD is THE BEST. What a talented lady! Nobody can write a song like Donna fargo. She reaches to the very soul and somehow is able to communicate just what the listener is feeling. The only thing better than this CD would be a COMPLETE BOX SET on Donna Fargo music in a CD package!

Donna Fargo rates as one of the best writers in country music among the women in the business. Just look at her material. Most of it is penned by herself. This makes the music more personal. Other artists record mostly material written by other people. While i do not put this down to me it is refreshing to listen to a song sung by and written by the artist. Donna's career has lasted quite a while so i guess that a lot of people would agree with me.

I like this cd and all of her music because they're all happy songs, love songs, songs that your children could sing. Her music is mostly upbeat and happy and most people could relate to almost all of them. DONNA FARGO'S THE GREATEST.....

This is a great CD. I bought it for some of the songs that were on her "All About A Feeling" album that I had 19 years ago. It was good to here her well known song Happiest Girl in the whole USA again to. I found 2 songs that I hadn't heard before that are really good, Whatever I Say" about a woman thinking of being more then just friends with a man but realises its wrong so she wont, and a Gospel song "Say I Do". As a Christian I really enjoyed that one. If you like Donna Fargo then this is the CD for you!

I have been a listener of Miss Fargo since 1972. I Love every song she sings. My favorites are Funny Face,Don't Be Angry, The Happiest Girl,Whatever I Say And especilly U.S.ofA. She has always been on the top of the world as far as I am concerned. I believe strongly in my heart we will be hearing alot more of this Beautiful Lady Miss Donna Fargo Keep up the good work.