Customer Reviews

Essential

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I have found, when purchasing other "Essential" compilations that, for the most part, they give you ALL original recordings. They may not always be charted single hits, but if culled from LPs at least they are from the original LP.

In this instance the CD put together for BMG is full of misleading information. For example, while you can't tell from the cover shown above, on the reverse it alerts you to the fact that I Really Don't Want To Know is a 1959 remake and not the 1954 original that went to # 1 Country and stayed on those charts for an incredible 37 weeks.

So, if you were looking at the list of contents and saw that proviso you would be excused for believing that ALL the other songs were the original versions. But that is not the case, and only when you buy it and remove the wrapping do you discover the following from the liner notes:

Molly Darling - was re-recorded in 1961 and is not the version that went # 10 Country in 1948;

Just Call Me Lonesome - was re-recorded in 1962 and is not the 1955 # 2 Country (31 weeks on charts);

Cattle Call - was re-recorded in 1965 and is not the 1955 # 1 (26 weeks);

Anytime - was re-recorded in 1959 and is not the # 1 (for 9 weeks) Country hit that stayed lon the charts for 39 weeks!)

Take Me In Your Arms And Hold Me - was re-recorded in 1961 and is not the 1950 # 1 Country.

That's five out of the 20 selections - or 25% - on which you are being misinformed from the visible content list before purchase. I brought this to the attention of the producers in an e-mail and actually received an apology. So my advice is to avoid it and search out other compilations if, like me, you want only original versions.

Eddy Arnold was one of country music's first stars. His numerous chart hits during the 40s and 50s are legendary. In the 60s he became part of the Nashville Sound. Many hits also went pop. Not many artists have made the charts in as many decades. Who else remembers his Log Cabin Syrup commercials? It would be impossible for one CD to completely cover such a long and vast career. This album has many of his signature hits. Anytime got referenced in the movie Ray. Make The World Go Away was his 1965 comeback hit. A year later, he got inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This feat got mentioned on all of his albums. One criticism of Eddy Arnold collections is the use of remakes. He revisited several of his early hits. There was the album Eddy Arnold Sings Them Again. Shortly afterwards, he did One More Time. This collection features some of those remakes. However, you also get some of the original versions here. The CD clocks at almost a hour. Some more songs could have been included. The sleeve notes mention You Don't Know Me. It definitely deserved inclusion. I've often cited it as a personal philosophy. The notes also note Arnold's use of an orchestra in his 1955 version of Cattle Call. This was his third recording of the song. Here you get a 1961 version. One biographer called it the definitive version. He would recut it at least twice more. Some songs were also hits for other artists. The Tips of My Fingers was first done by its composer, Bill Anderson. Roy Clark had a bit hit before Arnold recorded it. Steve Wariner later did the song. Arnold's version of Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye is very good. This album isn't a bad introduction to Arnold's career. But other ones only use original versions. He had many more hits. There's one hit I'd definitely omitted from this collection. Eddy's Song is a sampler piece. Each line references one of his hits. Many appear here. But you're also reminded of those who are missing.

Anybody who loves the smooth sincere way Eddy Arnold approaches a song, will likely love "The Essential Eddy Arnold." This CD samples some of Eddy's earlier music as well as his later recordings. For me, he gets better with age, and his later recordings are very beautiful and sung with meaning. "You Don't Miss A Thing" especially speaks to the heart of anyone who has lost their first love. Nobody sings a song with the tenderness of Eddy Arnold. This CD should please any Eddy Arnold fan.

i strongly recommend tuning into "One Kiss Too Many". Simply one of the prettiest songs i have ever heard. excellent cd for the folks who enjoy the classic country sound