Customer Reviews

The Definitive Collection

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great collection of Oak Ridge Boys music. It chronologically covers the Oaks biggest hits from their first country single, "Y'all Come Back Saloon," in 1977, up to "This Crazy Love" from the Where The Fast Lane Ends album in 1987. The only two songs omitted from this CD that I felt should have been included are "Dream On", which appeared on the first Greatest Hits album, and "Ozark Mountain Jubilee" which appeared on the second. The only other critisism I have is the fact that the shortened version of the Oaks biggest hit, "Elvira", is what appears on this CD. The song fades out after bass singer Richard Sterbans second "Oom pah pah mau mau" solo, resulting in the loss of two more such solos, as well as two more key changes. In all, roughly another minute is cut from the song. One would think that MCA would include the full album version of one of the only double platinum singles in country music history. Otherwise, this album is terrific. Besides the music itself, the album features many great photographs of the Boys. The linier notes also include one of the Oaks giving some backstory on each song. All in all this is the best Oak Ridge Boys compilation you can find today. It is a great addition to any Oaks fans collection, or even the casual listener. A CD covering the biggest years of the most popular quartet ever in country music.

This is a very good compilation, yet it is FAR, FAR, FAR from "definitive." For example, there have been three previous greatest hits volumes for the group, as well as the "Collection" CD from the early '90's, yet none of these have included "No Matter How High," which was a big, big hit for the Oaks. Furthermore, if this were truly a "definitive" collection, it would not omit ANY of the hits. Why didn't Universal allow the Oaks a 2-disc "GOLD" set, as they have done many other artists? Then they could have included a few of the groups early crossover recordings for Columbia, as well as a few of their later RCA tracks(eg: their wonderful version of "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration"). Such a collection would have been "definitive." THIS ONE IS NOT. It is full of great tracks and performances, but it still misses the mark.

If one could only afford one CD to represent the Oak Ridge Boys, this would be the one. This is the best compilation of their past 30 years of hits and might just be the best introduction to someone whose head has been burried in the sand for the last 30 years. I know that you'll enjoy this one, and if so, start purchasing additional Oaks CDs. Their lesser known songs are just as good as their hits.

Some of you say this isn't complete and some say that it is. Well maybe to some it isn't. But I'm saying it is a very good CD of the Oak Rigde Boys. In reserching there music I found that there is all but 1 of there GREATEST HITS vol. 1 on here and all but 1 of there GREATEST HITS vol. 2 on here and 6 of there GREATEST HITS vol. 3 on here. So to have there GH 1,2,3 pretty much on one CD is a very good thing I think.

This collection is missing a few important ORB songs. I know, it's a single disc. But many of their hits with Steve Sanders singing on them, from 1987-1995 are conspicuously absent. Mountian man William Lee Golden was given the boot to help the band's image. One of their band members, guitarist Steve Sanders took over Golden's singing parts. When the Oaks brought Golden back, Sanders sued. They settled out of court, some would say that was an admission of guilt on the part of the Oaks. Anyway...neither this collection, nor the more complete "Gold" two-disc set contains any of their hits with Sanders singing. Remember "Gonna Take A Lot Of River"? It was a HUGE #1 country hit. It's not on either collection. Also missing from both collections are the top ten country hits: "Bridges and Walls", "Beyond Those Years", "An American Family", "No Matter How High" and "Lucky Moon". Looking at the band's lineup at the time, one has to conclude that it was no happy accident that these songs were omitted from both collections. The Oaks didn't want to pay royalties to Sanders' family/estate. I guess it's possible that maybe some legal agreement kept them from using these songs.

As I said, I can forgive some songs being left off of this single disc set (with the exception of "Gonna Take A Lot Of River") but there's no excuse for some of them being left off of the "Gold" collection.

Still, I own both collections. If you only want to buy one, I'd suggest "Gold" because it's much more complete and doesn't cost that much more than this collection.

I enjoyed the Oak Ridge Boys since they were made up of the current singers and got away from being totally gospel. They still sound great on gospel music and were one of the top groups in Country Music. It's nice to have most of their hits in one collection.

I enjoyed the CD a great deal. The songs take me back to my childhood. My young daughters are enjoying the CD as well- especially "Elvira". The CD is great for background noise at the house when cleaning or doing work on the computer. The Oak Ridge Boys- always a class act. :)

The title says if all, the definitive collection of the Oaks work through the years. This captures some of their best work and a great addition to any Oaks collection.

Hey, I put the disk in my audio player, and damn if It didnt work!!

Damn good music, too!!

What a great CD! It contains all the great hits of the Oak Ridge Boys that I remember listening to on my record player 20+ years ago when I was a small child: Elvira, American Made, Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight, Ya'll Come Back Saloon, etc. Also included is the favorite of many--not just country music fans--Thank God for Kids. A wide variety of songs--up tempo hits and ballads and everything in between.

A must-have for Oak Ridge Boys' fans!