Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 [EXTRA TRACKS] [LIMITED EDITION]

Alan Jackson

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2003)
• Original Release Date: August 12, 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Limited Edition
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B0000AGWEX
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,541 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
You don't have to get very far into Alan Jackson's splendid second anthology of hits before you're struck by how well the rangy Georgian has built his catalogue and how beautifully Keith Stegall continually produces his songs, filling the instrumental breaks with unexpectedly creative solos. While Jackson's choice of cover songs is usually inspired ("Pop-A-Top," "Little Bitty"), he's a deft writer, alternating his tongue-in-cheek, Sheriff Andy Taylor persona with his "just a singer of simple songs" earnestness, lacing it all with an unfettered delivery and a Haggardesque dedication to the bedrock honky-tonk sound. There are times when he edges too close to formula, running the romanticized, small-town, cornbread-and-chicken conceits ("Where I Come From") into the ground. But then he quickly redeems himself with a lip-tremblingly good "Drive" or "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)." This package consists of two discs, 16 hits and two new cuts filling the first and an unnecessary and somewhat inferior eight album tracks occupying the second. Of the two new songs, the emotional husband-and-wife ballad "Remember When" handily outdistances the too-trite "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with perennial smart-ass Jimmy Buffett. Jackson's too good an artist to settle for such an easy reach, but hey, let's cut him a little slack. He's paid his dues. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...Just go buy it...., August 12, 2003

By	Michael Reynolds (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Collection From Alan Jackson, September 30, 2003

By	James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pick A Hit, Any Hit, August 14, 2003

By	Barry "Barrybgb" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.