Capitol Years: Ode to Bobbie [Import]

Bobbie Gentry | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B00004U66S
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,655 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mississippi Delta

2. Fancy

3. Son Of A Preacher Man

4. Ode To Billy Joe

5. Touch 'Em With Love

6. You've Made Me So Very Happy

7. The Girl From Cincinatti

8. In The Ghetto

9. Hushabye Mountain (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)

10. I Wouldn't Be Surprised

11. Apartment 21

12. He Made A Woman Out Of Me

13. Find Em Fool Em Forget About Em

14. Skip Along Sam

15. Show Off

16. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

17. Stormy

18. Chickasaw County Child

19. Big Boss Man

20. Ace Insurance Man

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

UK compilation featuring her signature hit, 'Ode To Billy Joe' along with her interpretations of 'In The Ghetto', 'Son Of A Preacher Man', 'You Made Me So Very Happy' and the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ode to Bobbie Gentry Misses the Boat, September 3, 2000

By 

Mark D. Prouse (Cold Spring, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Capitol Years: Ode to Bobbie (Audio CD)

Most of the major hits on this collection have been available before on compact disc. The other songs are more pop oriented selections from her later albums. Unfortunately, the cream of her catalog, chiefly those brilliant original Gentry songs and Beatles covers from the underrated second and third releases, "The Delta Sweete" and "Local Gentry" are passed up in favor of fluff like "Apartment 21" and a boring cover of the Dusty Springfield hit "Son of A Preacher Man." "Ace Insurance Man" is finally available again, and is the only track that makes this new collection worth buying if you already have the other two available CD compilations. "He Made A Woman Out of Me" and "Touch 'Em With Love" do have some appeal, but what's missing here is the unique, rural, common folk feel that Ms. Gentry offered in songs like "Recollection," "Casket Vignette," "Parchman Farm," "Papa's Medicine Show," "Tobacco Road," and many others. And where are the stunningly creative and beautiful originals like "Refractions" and "Courtyard?" So many missed opportunities! It's hard to fault any of this artist's work, but we will still have to wait for a definitive collection.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brief but brilliant career, December 30, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitol Years: Ode to Bobbie (Audio CD)

Bobbie Gentry did not record many albums but several compilations have been released. Because Bobbie only had a few big hits that have to be included, the remainder of each compilation often differs significantly. For example, this UK compilation includes a number of cover versions but no duets. Other compilations may include more self-penned songs or some of her duets with Glen Campbell.

Of course, this compilation includes Ode to Billie Joe (an American number one and British top twenty hit) and I'll never fall in love again (a British number one hit). Perhaps these two songs, more than anything else, show the difference in tastes between British and American listeners. Ode to Billie Joe is a Bobbie Gentry original - a classic country song with a bluesy edge. Contrast that with I'll never fall in love again, a mainstream pop song written by Bacharach and David, first recorded by Dionne Warwick (and not to be confused with the Tom Jones hit of the same title). Following her British success, Bobbie became a TV presenter and this affected her recordings - she sometimes selected material that would appeal to her TV audience.

Apart from Ode to Billie Joe, there are some interesting self-penned originals here, these being Mississippi delta (the flip side of Ode), Fancy (a minor American hit, later revived by Reba McEntire), Touch em with love, and Reunion. This collection was meant to include Chickasaw County Child, but instead included Papa, Won't You Let Me Go To Town, a different song. So there are just six of Bobbie's own songs here but you can find more of her songs on other compilations.

There are plenty of covers. Son of a preacher man was a huge hit for Dusty Springfield. You've made me so very happy was originally written and recorded by Motown's Brenda Holloway, but it was Blood sweat and tears who had the hit. In the ghetto was a transatlantic hit for Elvis Presley. Hushabye mountain is a song from Chitty chitty bang bang. Skip along Sam is an obscure song by Donovan, a Scottish folk-rocker inspired by Bob Dylan.

This is a great collection of Bobbie's music, showing all aspects of her music except her duets. Nevertheless, if you are primarily looking for her own songs, you should look at the alternative compilations.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unappreciated Artist.... How Sad.... She's Wonderful, May 30, 2005

By 

Gene R. Cobb "Gene C." (scoobydoo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitol Years: Ode to Bobbie (Audio CD)

It is a very sad shame that Bobbie Gentry did not get more publicity/press for her WONDERFUL works of art. She was a very gifted singer/songwriter. Her voice is so distinct, like Cher or Tina Turner, that it is immediately recognizable. It was terrible that Ms Gentry has not earned the wealth of praise recv'd by her peers (i.e.: Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, etc.) We tend to forget that it is none other than Ms Gentry that opened the doors wide for artists such as: Rosanne Cash, Juice Newton, and Crystal Gayle; all of whom successfully conquered pop to country cross over. Remember, at that time only one other major female country/western singer had done that... Patsy Cline. However, Ms Gentry (although a 3 Grammy winner) would struggle valiantly to get to the top of her game, crossing all borders and lines of conformity. While, her other musical works never soared as high as her 2 claims to fame (Ode To Billy Joe and Fancy), to put it simply - THEY DARN SURE SHOULD HAVE.... Fancy, as an example should have been in the top 10 rather than top 30. Her talent as a writer was off the map, voice extremely unique & beautiful, and had excellent production skills.
While this album features her many covers, which I personally like best, it is very enjoyable for even those who like her personally penned songs.
Gene C.