Customer Reviews

The Best of Ed Bruce

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know who Geoffrey Himes is, but, if he thinks Ed Bruce is a mediochre singer, I'd like to hear who he considers good!!
Bruce has the rare ability to sound masculine and has excellent control of his voice. As far as range, Mr Himes has obviously never listened to "After All".

This is truly "The Best" of Ed Bruce.His rich baritone voice and smooth styling make this CD a classic collector's item.Songs like "Everything's a Waltz","My First Taste of Texas","Ever Never Lovin'You","If It Was Easy",& "After All" can put a smile on your face or a tear in your eye,and makes you wish "ED Bruce" was still writing and recording music.If you like his style,you'll love this CD.

One of many under-appreciated singers, Ed Bruce took a long time to make a breakthrough, but he wrote some excellent songs. He actually contributed to Johnny Cash's early hit, Guess things happen that way, but remains un-credited for his part. The first significant song he wrote, Last train to Clarksville (made famous by the Monkees) showed what he could do, but it was after he wrote The man that turned my mama on for Tanya Tucker that people started to really take notice. He wrote Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys and had a country hit with it, although it became a much bigger hit for Waylon and Willie after they covered it. He also wrote Texas when I die for Tanya Tucker.

This collection contains all Ed's essential recordings, most of which were originally released on MCA but also including four tracks from other labels. The set begins with his original version of Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys (recorded for United Artists) and continues with the three country hits from his first MCA album - Diane, The last cowboy song (featuring Willie Nelson near the end) and Girls women and ladies. Diane is about adultery - if you're gonna do him wrong again, you might as well do the wrong again with me, sings Ed - so may not be to everybody's liking, but I love it. The last cowboy song shows Ed's fear for the future of country music. Fortunately, cowboy songs are still alive and well in the new millennium, thanks to Michael Martin Murphey, Joni Harms and others.

The next four tracks were his country hits from his second MCA album, including his only number one hit, You're the best break this old heart ever had. The remainder of this collection contains hits from his last three MCA albums and his two RCA albums, together with the only non-hit here, the theme from Bret Maverick. Of the hits, My first taste of Texas, After all, You turn me on like a radio and Nights all reached the country top ten.

When Ed sings ballads (as he does most of the time), he reminds of Don Williams, though you wouldn't mistake one for the other. Anybody who enjoys Don's music will enjoy Ed's. This album is currently unavailable. Some of the tracks are available elsewhere, but this is the definitive collection of Ed's music and is well worth hunting for.

I love Ed Bruce..and this is one of his best I love puzzle too=Just wish he was still singing or was doing more tv and movies..love the man and his music

HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR AN ED BRUCE CD AT MUSIC STORES FOR A LONG TIME WITH NO LUCK UNTIL I FOUND IT ON AMAZON. HOW REFRESHING TO HEAR GOOD COUNTRY MUSIC WITH OUT THE ROCK INFLUENCE. I WOULD CLASSIFY IT AS COUNTRY WESTERN WITH A SWING MODE. ED BRUCE HAS A RICH BARATONE VOICE WITH DISTINCT PRONOUNCIATION. I LOVE THIS CD AND IT WILL BE ON THE TOP OF MY CD STACK. THANKS, CHARLIE BIG SKY

This is the apex of Ed Bruce's music. From the old stand-bys like "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" to "The Last Cowboy Song", Ed does justice to all the old favorites. Several new songs, "You're Not Leaving Here Tonight" and "If It Was Easy" are truly mastrpieces of the Ed Bruce style. If you like Ed Bruce's music, you'll really like this album.

Had the previous reviewer had any clue!!! Just look at the artists he mentioned cutting Ed Bruce's songs! And starting at Sun in Memphis.?? There is so much more to this story than meets the ear, and just listen to the ear. Ed Bruce could have easily been in the catergory with Johnny, Waylon, Willie, and Elvis. His soulfull, deep baritones are without par.His interpretations as well. The phrasing of a line, the words behind them. If only.

This is a great compilation, but I will never pay close to $90 for used copies. Before I saw these highway robbery prices I was dead set against record piracy. Too bad I'll never get to own it, unless it is reissued at a resonable price. And I thoroughly despise remakes of great songs, so his greatest hits album is no good either. 5 stars for the CD, zero for the price tag.

What can you say, classic country performed with heart and soul. Ed is a great singer. His smooth voice along with these original arrangements produce country like it should be.

Many songwriters can't sing (and shouldn't be allowed to), and many singers can't write. The beauty of Ed Bruce is that he does both, and with a deep smoothness that just makes you sigh. He sings his own songs as though he'd lived them, and he sings other writers' songs as though he'd written them. I wish this had been three or four CDs instead of just one. I'd love to see some of his old LPs released in CD format.