Customer Reviews

Fancy Free

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1981, the entire country was singing "oom papa mow mow" to a catchy tune entitled "Elvira." While this song has become the Oaks' signature hit, it is NOT the only reason to purchase "Fancy Free," the album "Elvira" ORIGINALLY appeared on.

This album was unique from the beginning in my opinion. "Elvira" was recorded at the end of 1980, the first cut for the album (in fact, the album had not even completed production when the single was released, thus no album credits were given on the original 45). The album was released just as the song began crossing over from the country to the pop charts, which gave it nearly instant platinum status. You would think that the title of the album would be "Elvira." WRONG. The Boys, knowing that people would already know the album for "Elvira," cleverly titled it by their SECOND single release, "I'm Settin' Fancy Free." This gave the follow-up more attention upon release.

As far as songs go, this album has it all. From the landmark crossover smash to the genuinely-country "Dream of Me," to the tear-jerking ballad "When Love Calls You," there's something here for everyone. There's even a high-energy gospel song included at the end (reinterating the fact that now matter how big they may become, the Oaks will always be rooted in Gospel music).

Today, you can almost literally pick up any country compilation CD and find "Elvira" on it. This album is reason enough to go beyond the "oom papa mow mow"s and see what the Oaks are really about.

Buy this album and listen to the song When I'm With You, sung by Richard Sterban. That is the best lead on any Oak Ridge Boys song ever!

I saw the boys in concert when Elvira was at the top of the charts.
I was around 8 years old and have been a fan ever since.
We bought this tape cassette and I wore it out.
I remember impressing a young girl on the school bus with my oom pah pah mow mow.
The version of Elvira on this album is better than the radio cut. It is extended a little bit and has more Richard Sterban at the end.

All of the songs on this album are great. The instrumentation is quintessential 80s. It will take you back. There are more songs that could have been hits from Fancy Free, like "Another Dream Just Came True" and "Shes Gone to LA Again."

Very interesting to hear the original studio recordings of the boys in their early years singing big hits that have 'matured' over the years as the boys voices have matured.

this was the very first tape (back in the 1980's when origanially purchased) of the oak ridge boys i very first owned. now i have up dated the tape to a cd. if you are a fan of or enjoy songs by the oak ridge boys then you need to own this cd. it is fun to not only hear but to see how the music and the members of the group have changed over the years. i enjoy listening to this cd every once and a while. it's fun to listen how the songs have changed over the years.

I love the "Oaks" and this cd has some good old stuff that's easy and comfortable to listen to. You find yourself singing along (in my case off-key!) and enjoying the tunes. It seems to take me back to my country roots.....and that's quite something for a California girl.

I listened to The Oak Ridge Boys when I was little. I even still have the album! I was so excited to find the CD. I remembered all the words and it brought back so many memories.

The brain is truly amazing. I was born in 1978. An Aunt gave me this tape for Christmas within a year or two of it being released. I made my parents play it in the car and in our old one-speaker portable tape player frequently. As a 5-year-old I knew all the lyrics to all the songs (or at least what I thought the words were) and all the intricacies of the music. I believe that hearing those arrangements and especially those gospel harmonies at a young age definitely contributed (along with the other music I took in) to me developing my musical IQ. At some point in my childhood the tape disappeared and I never heard those songs again. Until tonight, when, as a procrastinating, 31-year-old medical student, I found them here and listened to all the samples. I haven't heard these songs in over 20 years and within a few seconds of listening to each sample my brain recognized it as familiar and I found myself singing along or humming the accompaniment. I will be buying this and adding it to my collection. Not only is it special to me for nostalgic reasons, but as quality country music with authentic country gospel influences it earns a place in my collection.

This album is truly "THE BEST" as far as I'm concerned. Once you get past Elvira.....there's a whole new world of songs!!!!!! GREAT ALBUM!!!!!!