Customer Reviews

Definitive Collection

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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In the late eighties and early nineties, Kathy's music based on traditional country but with folk influences, was extremely popular. This album contains twenty of her finest and most successful songs. As such, it represents a vast improvement on her first hits collection, the American version of which only included ten tracks although the European version had thirteen, the extra tracks being She came from Fort Worth Texas, Come from the heart and Burning old memories. All tracks on that original hits album are included here with the solitary exception of A few good things remain.

Love at the five and dime was the song that provided Kathy with her breakthrough, becoming a top three country hit. It was followed by a series of other country hits including Walk the way the wind blows, Going gone, You're the power, Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses, Where've you been, She came from Fort Worth Texas, Come from the heart, Burning old memories and Time passes by. Kathy's success continued (though not as strongly) into the nineties with excellent songs such as Lonesome standard time, Standing in a river and Walking away a winner. The set is rounded off by 455 Rocket (the most recent recording here, albeit a few years old now) and Mary did you know (from Kathy's first Christmas album, Good news).

This is an outstanding collection of Kathy's music. The American version of the earlier hits collection is still available but this one is much superior.

You can give your old copy of Kathea Mattea's "A Collection of Hits" CD to a friend, because you need to buy this one. The sound quality is terrific. All the songs sound crisp, and Mattea's voice is allowed to shine throughout. I am a casual fan of Kathy Mattea, so this CD was a perfect choice: It contains all the hits I wanted (unlike Mattea's first hits CD, which left out lots of hits) and a few great songs I'd never heard. A great CD and a steal for the price!

Here in this 20 track C.D. are 19 of the best songs of Mattea's hits.
She was a constant hit maker from 1981 to 2000,
giving her 37 country charted singles.
"The Definitive Collection" is the perfect title for this c.d.
These 15 "top ten" hits, and 4 "top forty" hits
truely define the innate qualities of this talented singer.
The last song of this collection is "Mary did you know",
a track from her Christmas album.

Here some you may remember:
1. "Walk the way the wind blows", top ten 1986.
2. "Goin' gone", top ten 1987.
3. "Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses", top ten 1988.
4. "Untold stories", top ten 1988.
5. "Life as we know it", top ten 1988.
6. "Burnin' old memories", top ten 1989.
7. "Where've you been", top ten 1989.
8. "Walking away a winner", top ten 1994.
9. "455 Rocket", just missed the top 20, 1997.
Of the entire list of Mattea's hits only one "top ten" hit is not here.
"A few good things remain"- 1990, and nine top forty songs were overlooked.
The other eight songs range from #44 to #73, for the total of 37.

From Universal music company in 2006.
All original recordings and excellent sound!
A 16 page booklet includes 7 colored pictures of Mattea,
and quite alot of interesting information about her life and career.
Information also on the music, the years, and chart numbers.

Mattea's voice is one of the truely excellent, pure voices in country music.
Can any one ever forget that most heart warming and beautiful,
(but tear jerking) master piece, "Where've you been".
The lyrics, the Mattea delivery, THAT was genius!

I was recently introduced to this wonderful woman's work. I think she may replace Alison as my favorite female vocalist. And she's a West Virginia girl! Love this collection and just about anything she sings.

Kathy Mattea is my favorite artist. SO... (unless it came broken which it did not) it has become my favorite cd. so many of her great songs on this album.

This compilation cd covers many of her hit songs. It includes many of the chart topping and radio play favorites that fans have come to know throughout the years. A very good cd well worth the purchase.

I love this cd. It contains all my favorite songs from Kathy Mattea. I even love the way the songs were arranged on the cd. A must have for any Kathy Mattea fan!

A fan in the 90s, I purchased this CD to review her music before seeing her in concert. It was a good way to bring remind myself why I loved her so much 15 years ago. In concert she was AMAZING. Still has that georgeous voice and she can really belt out the spirited ones. She really plays her guitar and had a fantastic band. They played some songs off of her new grammy-nominated CD COAL and the were enjoyable hearing them for the first time. Mattea has a big, sweet voice that is as good as ever. If you have the chance to see her live, GO!

First of all, I love Kathy Mattea. She is a member of a dying breed of country singers who actually have distinctive, memorable, recognizable voices. (Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless and Wynonna Judd are also worthy members of that sisterhood.) The last time I listened to the country station in the Bay Area (Fall 2009), most of what I heard among the new female country singers was pretty blond interchangeable parts with breathy little overdubbed voices. Didn't take me long to switch back to KPIG.

Not only that, but among a long list of great songs, this album includes my two Kathy Mattea favorites: "Lonesome Standard Time" and "445 Rocket." "445 Rocket" (like Sherry Austin's "Hallelujah Baby," a song about a blue 1958 Apache truck), reminds me of my long-gone 1961 Chevy BelAir, my first car. It was the baddest Chevy in three Southern California counties, and I still miss it. Rock on, Kathy.

If you like the Kathy Mattea's music this is a great cd for you, especially if you are just a casual fan because all the well-known works are included.