Customer Reviews

Gold

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hip-O Records presents, the gentle understated baritone Don Williams from Texas, with forty tunes from the early '70s through and up to the '90s. Williams uses no gimmicks, just sings with warmth and heart, a simple basic truth to his success.

The years 1974 to 1986, marked Williams' career peak, sixteen No. #1 hits, "LOVE ME TONIGHT", "SAY IT AGAIN", IT MUST BE LOVE" "IF HOLLYWOOD DON'T NEED YOU" and "GOOD OLE BOYS LIKE ME", were all written by Bob McDill. The biggest hit came in 1980 with "I BELIEVE IN YOU", was a credo of a satisfied man , but not a smug man.

Hip-O Records, you've outdone yourself, with honest songs honestly sung, simple songs for all the folks...enjoy this "Anthology" from this country troubadour...exactly what you'd expect!

Total Time: Disc One 58:01 on 20 Tracks & Disc Two 69:00 on 20 Tracks...(2000)

This is the strongest compilation of Don's music yet released, containing all his important country hits except Stay young, though it's absence does not really matter. I recall a gypsy woman (a top 20 pop hit in the UK) is missing, but it was never released as a single in America, so never gets included on American compilations. You can find it on any number of British compilations.

So, what you get here are forty wonderful songs which show what the gentle giant (as Don is known) could really do. Some of my favorites here include You're my best friend, Till the rivers all run dry, Some broken hearts never mend, Tulsa time, Lay down beside me and If I needed you, but there are so many others I could name.

Start your Don Williams collection here. If there are other songs you particularly like, you can buy more of his music later - Don had so many great songs that they couldn't all fit on two CD's.

Great tracks! Of all the Don Williams CD's I have, this would be THE one I'd suggest for an all-in-one collection. Williams' mellow, gentlemanly tone is soothing to my country ears. The downside....once again here is a Don Williams CD without one of my favorites..."Yellow Moon". Have all the labels forgotten that fantastic tune? I'd sure like to know of any CD with that hit. I only have it on the old LP with that title track. This is why I've limited my rating.

I think that this compilation of songs is great. Will you? It depends on what you're looking for.

The songs on this CD showcase Don Williams as a ballad singer with a Southern accent. Some of them have a light touch, such as "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" with the lyrics "I'm not a righteous man but ...". Some are more wistful, even longing such as "Maggie's Dream" -- about a waitress in a truck stop in Asheville who's never seen the other side of the mountains.

You may or may not find a particular favorite, but you might. The songs have themes, as the songs above illustrate. My personal favorite is "Good Ole Boys Like Me" which made me homesick when I first heard it years ago. It's hard not to remember lyrics like "I can still hear the soft Southern winds in the live oak trees" and there's a great whimsical note to "Those Williams boys, they still mean a lot to me, Hank and Tennessee."

In addition to outstanding lyrics, Don Williams has a great voice and the outstanding duet with Emmylou Harris is a bonus.

I am happy that there is finally a anthology release for Don. I'm only 24 years old, yet, I grew up listening to Don Williams music. His voice and style is so genuine and comforting. He is what country music should still be. If you don't have the greatedst or best Don Williams collection, this would be it. Every song sounds better than what it did before. This is a must have.

If you want all his classic hits from 1972-81(26 Tracks)and some high and lowpoints from the late 80s and early 90s, this is the one to get. "Stay Young" from the Yellow Moon(1983)album is the only no.1 song missing. To the earlier reviewer: The title track were not a hitsingle.

The inclusion of lesser easy listening hits like "Maggie's Dream" and "Just As Long As I Have You" instead of the classics "I'll Never Be In Love Again" and "Another Place Another Time" is really a shame. His last Top 10 hit, "Lord Have Mercy On A Country Boy", should have been included instead of the boring "True Love".

He had over 50 hits in his career, so that means a dozen or so are missing from this retrospective. Recommended.

I've listened to Don Williams all my life, and this is the best place to pick up all of his bigget hits. It has so many wonderful songs; if you're a fan, then you already know, and if you're not, then discover one of country music's treasures. From the romantic tunes, like "'Til the Rivers All Run Dry," to the sadness of "Maggie's Dream," Don covers it all with a laid-back vocal style that is simply wonderful. My personal favorite is "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" because not only can I relate to the lyrics, Don delivers them in such a warm style. He is a great singer, and this is a great place to get acquainted with him!

I LOVE THIS COLLECTION. EVERY ONE OF THESE SONGS ARE GREAT . I HAVE NEVER HEARD A BAD SONG COME FROM DON WILLIAMS. MY FAVORITE SONG IS IN THE SHELTER OF YOUR EYES. I ALSO BOUGHT HIS NEW C D THAT CAME OUT IN 2000. HIS VOICE NEVER CHANGES. HE IS FOR ALL AGES. MY HUSBAND ,MY SELF,AND MY SONS WE ALL LOVE HIM.IF YOUR 50 ,46 , 29.OR 20 DOESNT MATTER. CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE. D JAMES

I grew up with Don Williams music all my life and this album was like traveling back to "My Younger Days." The first song on the album, "Come Early Morning" brought back memories of my youth and listening to Don Williams with my grandpa on the radio. This is a must own CD for any true Don Williams fan.

I have followed the warmth of the voice of Don Williams since he started with Pozo Seco Singers and have acquired a few albums and certainly a pile of his CDs. I am still searching for the lost tracks found on 'Portrait' and 'Yellow Moon'.

For some reasons which I can only guess, the same tracks appear again and again on new releases of CD compilations of his songs. I now have six to seven repeats (or even more) of tracks like 'I believe in you'. Tracks like 'It only rains on me', 'We've never tried it with each other' remain elusive. For now, I have these tracks transferred, and 'cleaned', from my albums.