Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits 2 (Bonus CD)

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Are you kidding me? This disk is so outstanding that everyone needs to own it. For starters, what a value. 26 songs!?! Alan seems to wait until he has a lot of Greatest Hits before putting together an GH album (which doesn't take long for him). This CD contains 16 hits, 2 new songs, and 8 of his favorites that were never released. His last GH had 20.

Needless to say, the 16 hits are fantastic. A balance of up-beat ("Drive" and "Little Man" being my favorites) and slow ("Gone Crazy" and "I'll Go On Loving You" being my favorites of these). Country fans will recognize every song.

The strange thing is that the two new songs on this CD, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Remember When" are actually the two best songs on this disk? "Remember When" blew me away. It is a wonderful song.

There is also an additional CD that contains 8 songs that appear to be songs Alan liked and never released. They were contained on his earlier albumns and real Alan Jackson fans will recognize these and some of his best as well. I always wondered why he never released "Job Description", "Buicks to the Moon" or "You Can't Give Up on Love". GREAT lyrics on these.

All in all, you get the best from the past few years from the Best Artist in Country. When I think of the 1990's, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis and Clint Black come to mind. When I think of the 2000's, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney come to mind. While others fade, Alan Jackson is at the top of the country performers for every era he has been in. He is great. This album of 26 songs is great.

This eighteen-track retrospective - a sequel to 1995's twenty-track Greatest Hits Collection - confirms Jackson's status as the most consistent singer-songwriter in country music.

In his songs, Jackson continues to eloquently revisit his humble roots with "Little Man" and "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" as well as detail relationships in a humorous ("Right On The Money," "Who's Cheatin' Who,") or moving ("When Somebody Loves You," "Gone Crazy") manner. He's also recently proven to be a great interpreter, as shown here on Tom T. Hall's "Little Bitty" and Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Blues Man."

Risks - such as the largely spoken "I'll Go On Loving You" and the post 9/11 lament "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" - have paid off big for Jackson. Meanwhile, his attempt to be trendy - "www.memory" - missed the mark (its selection for this set over the omitted gems "Between The Devil And Me," "That'd Be Alright," and "Work in Progress" is highly questionable).

Two new recordings - the playful Jimmy Buffett-accompanied chart-topper "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and the sparse ballad "Remember When" - end this anthology strongly. There's also an eight-track bonus disc of Jackson's favorite non-single recordings/compositions. While all are okay, only the leisurely "Tropical Depression" and the toetapping "Let's Get Back To Me And You," however, approach the quality of the hits.

I always wondered why it took so long for a second volume of hits for Alan Jackson to come out. I hadn't even known that this CD was coming out until a few days ago. What a nice surprise. If there is anybody in the country music business who has racked up an impressive roster of hits, it's Alan Jackson. With his non stop hitmaking, it won't be long before there is enough for a third volume. What Alan does, and does so well, is write simple songs that are straight forward and tell it like it is. They can range from short, toe tapping ditties, to heartfelt ballads full of pain and sorrow. His singing is the same. Sings it straight and doesn't overdo it. It always sounds true and you believe every word he sings. This latest collection of hits is every bit as strong and memorable as the classic first volume. In fact, this one is so much more packed than this one. I don't quite understand why there needed to be a second disc of 8 songs that already appear on the first main disc. There was no need for that. Not to say that this CD doesn't come with some disappointments. It seems like every greatest hits CD has something that just isn't right. This one is no exception. Very big, recent hits are missing. "Work In Progress", "That'd Be Alright", and "Murder On Music Row" with George Strait, are all missing. Even "Between The Devil And Me", from the "Everything I Love" CD, would be suited for inclusion here. None of them are present. Why?. It doesn't make sense. There are a number of songs here that I don't recall as being hits, nor being released as singles. Those songs being "Job Description", "Tropical Depression", "Gone Crazy", and a number of others. Maybe I just missed them since I am not as well tuned to country radio as I once was. There are two new songs here. "It's Five 'O' Clock Somewhere" with Jimmy Buffett, is a lightweight, but pleasant song. There earlier duet on Jimmy's "Margaritaville", was better. It should of been on here. The song is nothing special, but it is #1 on the country singles chart. The other new song, "Remember When", is the real winner. Alan's touching 9/11 song, "Where Were You(When The World Stopped Turning)" is present and accounted for. One of the most touching songs he has ever written. "Little Bitty" starts everything off and it's a wonderful musical journey. I am extremely happy that his cover of Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Blues Man" is here. What a masterful cover. "Pop A Top", and "It Must Be Love", also from his cover album, "Under The Influence", are included. They may not of been original tunes, but that was Alan's best album. Most of the hits from his "When Somebody Loves You" CD are here, including the title track, "WWW.Memory", and "Where I Come From". It would of been nice if "It's Alright To Be A Redneck" was included here as well. It's a silly, throwaway song, but it's cute and engagin in a way that only Alan could do. "Drive", sadly, is the only single from that CD, as I have already mentioned that the two other huge hits off of that one were mysteriously not included. I will never understand that. Alan's work will no doubt be as highly regarded in years to come as equal to George Strait or George Jones. It has that kind of quality that will stand the test of time and be a goal for future singer/songwriters in the genre to strive for. Alan continues to be the consumate country artist, and this greatest hits collection showcases, in one shiny package, just how great an artist he is.

Here is yet another album from Alan Jackson that is sure to go Platinum. Just when you get finished with his #1 Album "Drive", he sends us another treat with GH Volume 2. This, by far, is his greatest album with all of the "Alan Jackson Necessities" enclosed. Just think, this man started as a struggling artist and, if not for his flight attendant wife running up to Glen Campbell, he might never had been heard! His greatest music (eg "Gone Crazy", "I'll go on loving you") came after he and his wife went through a separation and near divorce. A terrible ordeal for anyone but what a blessing for his fans. You truly can't go wrong with this CD. Possibly the best Country Music CD EVER!

Alas, I must confess that the song that drew me to Alan Jackson ion the first place was the spine-tingling rendition of "When The World Stopped Turning", but given that introduction, I have since become much more appreciative of one of country music's finest cross-over artists. Jackson is indeed a gifted lyricist, and his range is quite impressive, from honky-tonk songs like "Pop A Top" and "Itty Bitty", as well as more traditional and soulful tunes like "When Love Comes Around" or the splendid "Drive" in remembrance of his father. There are many more here, of course, and it would difficult to explain what it is about that voice, the consummate arrangements, or the lovely melodies he employs that allows him to use such hackneyed devices as he often does to achieve such wondrous results in the way of the finished product.

He can be formulaic, but brilliantly so, and often surprises us with just the right trembling inflection or the good-natured chuckle in the middle of the song, things that help to make each work something unique and truly his own. He also gives us an extra gift or two here in this two CD collection, with a song performed in concert with Jimmy Buffett, "It's Five O'clock Somewhere", and "Remember When" about a difficult husband and wife relationship he is struggling to come to terms with. For anyone alive and kicking when the song that led me to appreciate his gifts is still out there and listening, this terrific compilation album is ready for the taking. Enjoy!

The music is absolutely fabulous,however please be careful to click on the picture of the album, to enlarge. It will show "Alan Jackson Greatest Hits 2", and not include words [Limited Edition]which are 8 bonus tracks,as shown in title of listing. If the words [Limited Edition] do not follow CD title on cover, you will only recieve one disc. The third party seller CDplus says there is no problem with the listing. Yet I ordered from this format,checked ASIN # on my shipping order, and did not recieve Limited Edition,[2]discs as described. CDplus is ok with me returning it for refund, but Amazon policy is I must incurr the shipping fee. So I may as well keep it. Bigal9847

This is a great compilation from the Alan Jackson catalog. I respect Alan for his songwriting and feel like his best songs are the ones he pens himself. He also has a knack for choosing good songs written by others. This CD has a good mix of both. Also it has a good balance of up tempo tunes and ballads. I am an occasional country fan, I enjoy the older Traditional country sound most of all (Alan, Mearle, and Willie). It took a few listens for this CD to really grab me, but now I have been listening to it continuously for the past few weeks. I was very pleased to see that he has once again strayed from the nashville formula of 10 songs per album. This CD comes in at a whopping 60 or so minutes on the first CD alone, which is a good value for the money. This has always been my biggest complaint about George Strait and most other country stars. You buy one of his albums for a hit or two and pay 13.99 for 30 to 35 minutes of music. However, it seems Nashville has become a little better about the length of CD's. Back to Alan, This CD is money well spent for the occasional country fan who enjoys good music, or the Alan Janckson fanatic. Keep up the good work of putting out highy quality material Alan.

What one calls the best type of tunes is not some sleezy,sad love song you here on the radio,but rather ,good music is what we smart people call country.[Alan jackson's greatest hits volume two and some other stuff] is just simply the best cd. there ever was.Songs like the funky[WHO'S CHEATIN WHO, AND THE HAPPY [LITTLE BITTY] ARE THE SONGS THAT MADE ME APRICIATE COUNTRY MUSIC.I,m telling ya'll everyone should by this cd.Someone who never liked country music before, is but a single album away from incessant raving over it.Take it from a kid.I promise to everyone who buys this album that you will be delighted with every song that enters your brain.So roll down your windows,grab a pair of sunglasses and take off on the highway with the jolly stuff. I'm An obsessive cumpulsive youngster who has this little thing called [ the off limits program] where you don't play the songs you really like exept for once in a while, so you dont get tired of them.I know it's dumb'but it's worth it and it really sucks when three out of the twentysix songs are off limits.[There goes] is another golden melody.The humor of jackson being hooked by his girlfriend as a fish is a cute thought.And the way the song ends is a hip-twistin sound as Jackson uses less and less of the end of the chorus.[right on the money is a precious song that can warm any heart.[little bitty] and [who's cheatin who]went off limits the very first night I was introduced to them they were so good.My mother just said that it was the best cd.in the world if you asked her.And she is correct.I endorse this album to all the people there are.The album was purchased for my brother becouse of [where were you when the world stoped turning].It was given to him on christmas day 2004.Of course, I stated playing it on my cd player and could'nt concieve how a cd could be made so well.The reason I love this cd is the simple stories that touch your heart,the way background singers accent Jackson's vocals,and the laid back peacful feeling it produces.This album undoubtedly cannot be beat.Not by anybody.That is what good music is and should remain.May this cd never be forgotten and may a vaster multitude of people be attracted to it, and it's many qualitys.So leave that sad love song behind and surrender to [Alan Jackson's greatest hits volume two and some other stuff].

The editorial review is so off-base!
"It's Five o'Clock Somewhere" is a workingman's anthem. It's musical roots are certainly in Margaritaville. I'm not a parrothead, but Jimmy Buffet deserves better than that review. Alan Jackson is almost always wonderful to hear. Pair him with Buffet and you just can't help but crank up the volume, sing out loud and grin ear to ear. Do a whole album together guys!

I bought this CD for one track: REMEMBER WHEN. I do that sometimes and end up putting the disc in, listening to the track a couple of times and then it's on to something else. Still not a bad strategy for a truly exceptional song.

But with ALAN JACKSON: GREATEST HITS VOLUME II AND SOME OTHER STUFF I found 26 tracks (two discs) that are absolutely irresistible. It's all here. LITTLE BITTY, DRIVE, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE (duet with Jimmy Buffet), WHERE WERE YOU (WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING), IT MUST BE LOVE and more! If you're looking for the best Alan Jackson CD offering yet this is the one to buy.

Douglas McAllister