Customer Reviews

Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years (3 CD)

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a Kenny Rogers fan for a long time,and like probably most of you reading this have a lot of his cds & lps, including the previous box set "Through The Years". Time Life has done a pretty decent job in selecting the material for this box and I think that most people will be pleased with this. The original versions of the songs have never sounded better and I do like the way they've broken them down into 3 discs. The duets disc features some great tracks that were not necessarily singles but gives you a great feel for Kenny's music overall. I wasn't aware of the Tim McGraw track Or the Travis Tritt songs really before this box set. The new track with Dolly, "Tell Me That You Love Me", was the main reason for me buying this and I'm very glad I did. This is an excellent choice for someone who's just now starting to appreciate Kenny's music and will show he's got another 50 years ahead for sure, if we're all lucky! Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this project, sit back and enjoy the hits and great cd/lp tracks from a true master at the top of his game!

I love Kenny , always have and always will. bought this box set for the 3 previously unreleased songs and I am glad I did, like all his music , it rocks. Kenny is the King and always will be. Despite his plastic surgery , as his song from 2006 says "I can't unlove you " Kenny.If you are just beginning to appreciate Kenny then this is for you, plenty of variety and plenty of quality.

Kenny Rogers has maintained one of the longest and most successful careers in the music business by showing off a diverse and eclectic range of music styles from jazz, country-pop, folk, and everything in between. This box set is divided into three discs by mood, including duets with a wide range of singers from Don Henley of the Eagles to Dolly and Dottie, two of his favorite and most awarded singing partners. The three discs also contain one new recording each, including a surprisingly strong number with Dolly Parton that could be a hit single if modern country radio was not so age biased. Disc two features story songs including Rogers penchant for choosing some of the best and most original material the best songwriters in Nashville could offer. Disc three offers the love songs Rogers is so noted for like Lady, She Believes In Me and the underrated and jazzy Morning Desire, one of Rogers 21 number one singles on the country charts. The remastered sound on 50 Years is crisp and clean and his gravelly, but evocative voice has never sounded better. Another true highlight of the set is Rogers cover of Lionel Richie's Goodbye, sung with passion and grit as only Kenny can do in his unique but soothing vibrato. A nice booklet accompanys the package with an insightful essay by colin Escott.

While his latest eye-lift may not have worked out all that well, his voice is still the rich baritone flavor of his youth. I highly recommend this CD set.

Absolutely Fantastic. Love to listen to all 3 of them. Couldn't be happier! Saw him in person recently and he was so good. We would definitely recommend these (3) CD's to everyone! If he ever comes close to our town again, we will make every effort to go see him again!

this is a great overview of his career, his voice always just hit home for me. he has feeling and flavor when he sings. his voice compliments whomever he is singing with and he makes the song his. in my opinion he made it possible for modern day country to expand it's audience. he connected with people in a real strong way.this collection does him much justice and is a must have.

THIS IS THE BEST COLECTION OF AN ARTIST IN A LONG TIME. SO MANY HIT SONGS, ONE DISK OF DUETS, ONE OF LOVE SONGS, AND ONE OF ALL HIS BEST STORY TELLING SONGS!~

Time Life's 3-CD, 45-song set includes most of the hits you'd expect, but presents them in an original order. Rather than dividing Rogers' career into eras (pre-fame doo wop and jazz groups, New Christy Minstrels, First Edition, solo success), the discs each present a facet of his artistry: duets, stories and love songs. It's an interesting way to listen to Rogers' catalog, focusing first on the flexibility with which he partnered with a diverse range of country, pop and soul stars that include Dolly Parton, Sheena Easton, Gladys Knight and Kim Carnes. Disc two demonstrates Rogers' talent for telling dramatic and humorous stories, bringing characters to life in well-known country and pop hits and lesser-known album tracks like Mickey Newbury's "San Francisco Mabel Joy."

Disc 3 looks at Rogers' way with a love song, which typically found him singing ballads and moving from country to pop. Rogers was particularly successful in this vein in the late `70s and early `80s with hits that include "She Believes in Me," "You Decorated My Life" and "Lady," and also found success with mid-tempo numbers like "Love Will Turn You Around." Most of Rogers' biggest hits are here, stretching from the First Edition's "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" through his most recent #1, "Buy Me a Rose," with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean, and his most recent chart entry, "Calling Me," with Don Henley. There are only a few missing chart-toppers, "Daytime Friends," "Love or Something Like It," "Share Your Love With Me" and "Tomb of the Unknown Love."

If you're after the hits, you might prefer 42 Ultimate Hits, but if you want to get an overall sense of Rogers' artistry in a very listenable program, this is an excellent package. Fans will find three new recordings here, one on each disc, including a duet with Dolly Parton, "Tell Me That You Love Me," that's good enough to be Rogers' next hit, a cover of Lionel Richie's "Goodbye," and the love song "Loving You is a Natural Thing to Do." The discs are packaged in a 5.5 x 10-inch cardboard folder that slips inside a sleeve. The 24-page booklet includes photos, excellent notes by Colin Escott, and chart details. This is a good buy for anyone who loves Rogers' music but hasn't upgraded their vinyl to CD, and would make a nice gift. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

Excellent product. Good variety of popular songs from one of the greatest Country stars. Well worth collecting