The Kendalls: 16 Greatest Hits

The Kendalls | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00001X595
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,809 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Heaven's Just a Sin Away

2. Making Believe

3. It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me

4. Pittsburgh Stealers

5. Sweet Desire

6. I Had a Lovely Time

7. Just Like Real People

8. I Don't Do Like That No More

9. Never My Love

10. You'd Make an Angel Wanna Cheat

11. I'm Already Blue

12. Put It off Until Tomorrow

13. Heart of the Matter

14. Teach Me to Cheat

15. If You're Waiting on Me (You're Backing Up)

16. Thank God for the Radio

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Until the mother-daughter team the Judds came along in the early '80s, this late-'70s father-daughter tandem specializing in cheating songs probably raised more arched eyebrows than any duet in country history. But they sure sounded great, and they still do. Jeannie's crystalline soprano was all innocence on songs like "Heaven's Just a Sin Away," "Sweet Desire," "Teach Me to Cheat," and "Pittsburgh Stealers," and Royce's stirring harmonies were all worry, creating an incredible tension beneath the glossy surface. It just wasn't the same when, after three years out of the Top 10, they came back in 1984 with one last No. 1: the innocuous "Thank God for the Radio." They were the last commercial-country duet rooted wholly in traditional harmony styles, and that alone makes this one a long-overdue keeper. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very important release, October 8, 2003

By 

Cory L. Schwent (Bloomsdale, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kendalls: 16 Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

There are a lot of deceiving collection out there that mis represent the Kendalls. Most of them feature re-recorded versions of their biggest hits. At one time the originals were in the hands of a record company that went bankrupt, so almost every cheap record company out there had them remake their songs and then tried to make some money on a lie.

The songs here are the original recordings. And guess what, every one of their top ten hits are here. And this also includes three hits from their time on Mercury records.

The notes are very imformative. For the almost budget price, this is a steal!!!!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection of father-daughter country duo, December 16, 1999

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Kendalls: 16 Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

The Kendalls' father-daughter harmonies struck paydirt in 1977 with the breakout hit, "Heaven's Just a Sin Away." The gospel-laced country chart-topper even found moderate success as a pop-crossover. Two additional releases topped the charts, 1978's "Sweet Desire" and 1984's "Thank God for the Radio." All three featured Jeannie on lead vocals, singing in her fetching, high voice that blended magically with her father's baritone.

The generous 16 tracks of this collection, arranged in chronological order, are an excellent overview of their career. In addition to all three #1's, it includes nearly a dozen top-20's, including the cheatin' hearts of "Pittsburgh Stealers," moving ballads like "I'm Already Blue" and "Just Like Real People," and a cover of Dolly Parton's "Put it Off Until Tomorrow." The only real omission is their self-produced debut single, "Leaving on a Jet Plane," recorded a full seven years before their chart run. Still, what's here is quite sweet, with pristine remastered sound from the original Ovation and Mercury tapes.

The Kendalls continued to tour after the hits slowed down, leaving the road only when father Royce suffered a stroke and passed away in 1998. Like many, the Kendalls are reduced by the programming shorthand of oldies radio to a single hit. But their catalog goes a lot deeper, and this collection tells the story of their artistic and commercial successes, and helps fill out the 1970s history of country family harmony.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a collection worth buying, November 26, 1999

By 

Bradley Olson (Bemidji, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kendalls: 16 Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

This collection is the one collection to buy as it features 16 of their biggest hits in great sound. The tracks do have great sound and are taken from the Ovation and Mercury masters and range from "Heaven's Just a Sin Away," to "Thank God For The Radio." The collection is arranged chronologically so that you can follow the songs in the order which they were released for your enjoyment. There are collections that have more songs but aren't as comprehensive as this one. If you like family harmony, this collection is for you.