Customer Reviews

Conway Twitty Collection

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this box-set. The booklet that accompanies it is full of pictures and information highlighting the career(s) of Conway from 1957 through 1993. We have all the Top-40 pop hits plus several that charted in the Hot 100 but peaked below #40. We have almost every Top-10/#1 hit he had as a country artist.

The only bad thing is that the box set is by MCA and therefore only the MCA hits get much of the fan-fare. His Warner Brothers era, 1982-1986, is represented by just a couple of songs from 1982 and 1984. His 50th #1 hit from 1985, "Don't Call Him a Cowboy", isn't included neither is his 1986 #1 hits "Desperado Love" and "Fallin' For You For Years".

A fellow reviewer lamented that "Lost in the Feeling" from 1983 was also left off. Well, the Warner Brothers material always gets passed over. Customers should buy this box-set and seek out the 1988 collection "#1's: The Warner Brothers Years" if anyone wants to hear Conway at the peak of his #1 popularity.

One of the things that might make you scratch your head is the 1975 Russian version of "Hello Darlin" that Conway recorded for a space mission. It's a unique recording to say the least! Along the way you'll hear unreleased songs like "I Just Had You On My Mind", "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", "I'll Always Find My Way To You", and a live version of "Why Me, Lord?". One of my favorites on here is "Clinging To a Saving Hand".

One of the reviewers said that this box-set contained all 55 of Conway's #1 hits. That's just a slight error, though. The #1 hits that they left out are: "We Really Did But Now You Don't" (1982); "Lost in the Feeling" (1983); "Ain't She Somethin' Else?" (1985); "Don't Call Him a Cowboy" (1985); "Desperado Love" (1986); and "Fallin' For You For Years" (1987). So, technically we have 49 of his 55 #1 hits in addition to all his Top-10 pop and country singles that didn't quite make #1. Conway placed a total of 96 singles onto the Top-40 portion of the charts during a time-span that lasted from 1958 through mid 1991. Conway had the bulk of his major hit singles on the Decca, later MCA, label and given that this Box Set was issued by MCA it makes sense why the recordings he did for them would take more precedence over the singles he did for Warner Brothers.

With plenty of Number 1 hits with a genre ranging from rockabilly, gospel, southern rock, honky tonk, blues to pop, something must be done right.

This Conway Twitty collection is the ultimate, a gem! It has everything you ever needed to know about the giant of a man, Conway Twitty, An informative booklet is included and attached to the cover of the CD book. It is filled with history, pictures, quotes, etc. There is an impressive discography: The albums, country single discography, rock single discography, gold/platinum listing, and a list of sings written or co-written by Conway.

Every song in the 4-CD collection with 89 songs is listed including the year and a short synopsis of the origination of the song, its awards, inspiration etc.

Harold Lloyd Jenkins grew up influenced by music. As a young boy in Friars Point, Miss. he would hear the Dixieland and minstrel music from the showboats that would occasionally stop at the small town. He learned from a bluesman who played harmonic and guitar. And he credits a strong influence from the "holiness churches."

I was pleased to have his collection of hits from the "pretty boy rock and roll era" Especially good are: "Lonely Blue Boy", "What Am I Living For", "Such a Night" and my all time favorites "Make Believe" and "Last Date."

The duet career with Loretta Lynn is covered extensively. And the classics are here:
"Hello Darlin'" (also a Russian version), "Image of Me", "Fifteen Years Ago", "Tight Fittin' Jeans" "Play Guitar Play" etc., etc. Included are many not as popular but equally impressive Conway tunes.

You will find out how "that growl thing" happened, his shocking decision to go from rock and roll to country and the history of his astonishing career into country music.

It is been said that Conway sang TO the women and sang FOR the man. He would sing the words a woman wanted to hear and sing the words a man needed to say.

When he died, a legend died. Excellent collection....MzRizz

Overall an excellent collection of legendary hits! However, like all Greatest Hits/Best of collections, this boxset is missing some very substantial material. Some of the hits that were not included: We Did But Now You Don't, Georgia Keeps Pulling On My Ring, Don't Cry Joni (w/ daughter Joni), Don't Call Him a Cowboy, Between Blue Eyes and Jeans, I Can't See Me Without You, Desperado Love, Tight Fittin' Jeans (original single version), Lost In the Feeling, Fallin' For You For Years, Ain't She Something Else and Heartache Tonight. My recommendation to fans: buy the boxset, and also the other greatest hits/best of CD's that have these other "essential" hits. Hopefully soon we will see a comprehensive collection that includes every top 10 hit by this amazing artist. But 'til then ....

This boxed set is a great tribute to the career of an artist with 55 # 1 hits (more than Elvis, or the Beatles), a man with over 87 Top Ten hits. This set contains all 55 of Conway's number one hits and a few unreleased songs, including Sweet Sweet Spirit (the song played at Conway's funeral) and his live version of the Kris Kristofferson's gospel standard "Why Me Lord". Not only does this set contain his Country his, it also contains many of his Rock 'N' Roll hits. As if that weren't enough this set also has a previously unreleased performance of "Cry Baby Heart" from a radio show in 1946 when he was only 12 years old! It also contains a previously unrelased live performance of the Chuck Berry penned rock 'n' roll standard "Maybellene" from on board a navy ship circa 1956. This is an excellent set for any music fan, not just country music fans. The only down side to this set is that it excludes many of his top ten hits that never made it to #1 and does not contain any choice album cuts. But it would be hard to fit anything more into 4 CD's. You will not find a better bargain for your money than this set!

I have been searching for records and CD's of Conway Twitty
for the past 25 years but was not really satisfied with the
range that is available here in South Africa, if you are lucky
to find anything at all. I am very pleased with this collection
and think this was an excellent purchase, a lifelong dream came
true. Thank you.

I was actually stunned when I first saw this set. Instead of a clunky box with jewel cases, it arrives in a beautiful book which is just simply stunning. No clunky jewel cases to open or anything, just open the book and pop the CD out. The CDs contain alot of chart topper songs and not much filler material, but what makes this set really exceptional is the inclusion of two previously unreleased songs: The Live version of Why Me Lord, and the song played at his funeral, Sweet Sweet Spirit. Two truely exceptional songs. To include all his best stuff would take more then 4 CDs as he has, like over 50 #1s I believe, so we still lose out on alot of stuff. Mostly his Warner Bros years I believe which are easlily found.

I was disappointed that a spectacular collection of 89 tracks couldn't find a spot for my personal favorite, "Lost in the Feeling". For that song, you need to look to another collection, "#1's: The Warner Brothers Years", with is also sold here.

Otherwise, this is a 5-star collection.

This Conway collection is a must for all fans of country music. It is amazing that Conway had a #1 hit in five different decades (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's). Conway is not only an excellent musician but one of the greatest performers of all time. This box set is a well-done tribute to a very talented musician. I highly recommend it.

I wish someone could explain to me why out of 4 CDs they could'nt find room for "Desparado Love for You". That's one of his
best songs. Other than that it seems to have every thing else.

If you are just a simple admirer of Conway Twitty, this collection is for you because it displays the unbelievable and inspiring talent of the great Conway Twitty. The collection includes songs from the very beginning of Harold Jenkins to the rise of the super star Conway Twitty. There are even songs on this collection that I have never heard and question why these great songs were not released while this legend was alive! I truly miss Conway and the collection includes a remarkable, historical account of his life with wonderful pictures! You have got to have this collection! It is worth every penny!

I Love you Conway and Miss you
L Rowell