Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band - 17 Greatest Hits

Larry Gatlin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000265E
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,445 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Seventeen trips to the country charts with the Gatlins and their gospel-based harmonies, including All the Gold in California; Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You) , and I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love . --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful country harmonies!, May 11, 2000

By 

John A. Kuczma "RogueUlfric" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band - 17 Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

One of the premier country acts of the 70s and 80s, the Gatlin Brothers produced hit after major hit. With Larry's dynamic leads and the kind of harmonies that only siblings can create, the trio proved both versatile and long-lived.

This collection has all of the early hits and most of the later ones, including the biggest of them all, All the Gold in California. A major bonus is the often overlooked Midnight Choir, a delightfully tongue-in-cheek poke at the missionary work and gospel background that the Gatlin's love.

A truly wonderful collection, highly recommended for any fan of country music or beautiful vocal harmonies.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Under rated brothers of country, May 18, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band - 17 Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Success did not come easy to Larry, but things started to happen when Dottie West became impressed by his songwriting and started to record some of his songs, something she continued to do occasionally even after he became successful as a singer. Eventually, Kris Kristofferson managed to persuade his own label, Monument, to give Larry a recording contract.

Although Larry was the lead singer, his brothers always sang harmony so it was no surprise when Larry gave them credit by including them in the title of his act. They never became really big names, but they were successful for a few years in the mid to late seventies and early eighties, the period covered by this compilation, and have continued to record sporadically ever since.

After some minor hits (included here), their big break came via Broken lady, the song chosen to start this compilation. It was a masterpiece, and it was no surprise that Dottie West recorded it with gender-adapted lyrics. Their biggest hit was All the gold in California, which tells you that it all belongs to somebody else now so don't waste time looking for it. It's a very clever song and catchy too - no surprise that it was such a huge success.

Other songs here worthy of mention include I just wish you were someone I love (their first country number one hit), I don't wanna cry, She used to sing on Sunday, Houston, Take me to your loving place and Midnight choir. Actually, every song here is wonderful and there are some others that I would like to have seen included too, but there is one in particular worth mentioning - Bitter they are harder they fall. It was not their biggest hit but several singers have covered it. Dottie West was first (of course) - she actually recorded the song twice, several years apart - but Elvis Presley and Anne Murray are among others who have followed. I am amused to see Larry's version on an Elvis tribute compilation. How can his version be a tribute?

The absence of Bitter they are harder they fall (which can be found on other Gatlin albums as well as Elvis tributes) does not prevent this from being an excellent compilation of music by a distinctive trio of brothers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simply the best, October 20, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band - 17 Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

I enjoy listening to Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers all the time. The song writing and vocal ability is one of the best. No matter what kind of music you like, you should love this music. I saw the Gatlin Brothers in Branson MO. and it was very much worth the trip.