Customer Reviews

Capitol Years: Ode to Bobbie

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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.

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.

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.

I came to love Bobbie Gentry's music when her big hit "Ode to Billie Joe" came out. I loved her first album, and each album thereafter: Delta Suite, Local Gentry, Touch 'Em With Love, Fancy, and Patchwork (probably one of my favorite albums of all time). With this release, I once again understand why I love her so much. It's that smoky, deep voice that is so musical, it makes you want to just melt in a heap. I was more than pleasantly surprised by "The Girl from Cincinnati" and "Stormy" which I'd never had the pleasure of hearing before. I'm not sure I ever heard her do "Son of a Preacher Man" before. She does a creditable version, even compared to the illustrious and incomparable Dusty Springfield. One small mistake on this collection: "Chickasaw County Child" is actually "Papa, Won't You Let Me Go To Town". Both songs are from her first album, but this cut is definitely not "Chickasaw County Child". No big deal. Now, how about releasing all her albums on CD, as a voice of this stature so richly deserves? Until then, we'll have to be grateful for the small amount that is out there on CD and keep praying for more.

I love this CD. I purchased it for a particular song and was pleasantly surprised to find that all of the songs are equally enjoyable. Bobbie Gentry was a marvelous singer who was greatly underrated. Her wonderful singing, song writing, and terrific arrangements make this CD a "must have" in anyone's CD collection.

Virginia Arbuckle
Newmarket, Ontario

This odd but wonderful collection from the UK daringly flies in the face of standard Gentry wisdom. It generally bypasses her rep as the Faulkner of pop, and focuses instead on her considerable talent as a husky-voiced soul singer. It's light on Gentry's own compositions and heavy on covers as it sets out to prove an intriguing hypotheses: over the span of her too-brief career, Ms. Gentry provided the only credible rival to the seminal white-lady-sings-soul album, Dusty in Memphis. The case would have been stronger had this set included Somebody Like Me from Patchwork, Slow Cookin' from the Capitol greatest hits, Sweete Peony from Local Gentry and Niki Hoeky from Ode to Billie Joe, but what's here is all first-rate and should be a revelation to anyone who only knows Gentry from Billie Joe and Fancy. The collection is definitely worth the hefty import price for the unreleased stuff: the smoldering Girl From Cincinnati (wait `til you hear what she rhymes with limousine!), a genuinely touching Hushabye Mountain and a gorgeous, hushed samba reading of Stormy that should be the envy of both Jobim and Veloso.

It goes without saying that serious fans of Bobbie Gentry should get her entire catalogue of original albums available in the market. For casual fans and those who want the hits as well as some of the best pop sides ever recorded during her relatively short career in the late 60s/early 70s, there's no better compilation than this.

Except for the absence of "Okolona River Bottom Band" and her duets with Glen Campbell, there are no serious omissions here, from "Ode To Billie Joe" - the No. 1 international hit that started it all and is now synonymous with Bobbie Gentry - to the UK No. 1 pop smash "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" to the terrific "Fancy", you get them all including some of the funkiest things she's ever recorded like "He Made A Woman Out Of Me", "Touch 'Em With Love", "Find Em Fool Em Forget About Em" and a more than respectable cover of Dusty Springfield's "Son Of A Preacher Man".

But more than that, you also get some great rare stuff like "The Girl From Cincinatti" which should have been a massive pop hit for Bobbie had her label released it when her career was red hot - a "girl in search of the bright lights" storyline and an infectious pop melody. Criminally ignored and unknown except to her closest fans.

The selection is also close to perfect, showcasing her broad range of styles ranging from the delightful "I Wouldn't Be Surprised" to bluesier songs like "Big Boss Man" and "Ace Insurance Man". For my money, this is the best compilation to get for those interested in her best commercial sides. Those interested in her more rootsy material should look elsewhere, like Raven's Australian compilation "The American Quilt".