Customer Reviews

Reba #1's

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

With three “Greatest Hits” albums already in circulation, you’d think you’ve heard it all, but shoot – this double album’s got 35 songs, including Reba’s hits from 1982 to 2003, then adds two new tracks to sweeten the deal.

Each disc starts with a new song - “You’re Gonna Be” on disc one, and “Love Needs a Holiday” on disc two. The first song talks of a parent/child relationship, and the second the need to get away from the grind every now and again.

This album includes the best tracks from “Unlimited” (1982), “My Kind of Country” (1984), “Whoever’s in New England” (1986), “What Am I Gonna Do About You” (1986), “The Last One To Know” (1987), “Reba” (1988), ‘Sweet Sixteen” (1989), “Rumor Has It” (1990), “For My Broken Heart” (1991), “It’s Your Call” (1992), “Greatest Hits Vol 2” (1993), “Read My Mind” (1994), “Starting Over” (1995), “What If It’s You” (1996), “If You See Him” (1998), “So Good Together” (1999), “Greatest Hits Vol 3 -I’m a Survivor” (2001) and “Room to Breathe” (2003).

As you can see, this dependable gal not only sings great lovin’ and leavin’ country music, but is pretty prolific too. This would be a perfect choice for any country music fan on your list, and it comes just in time for Christmas too. At this low price for a double album, there’s no way you can go wrong.


Amanda Richards, November 27, 2005

Reba hit #1 last year with "Somebody", exactly 22 years after her first #1 "Can't Even Get The Blues". This collection celebrates her #1 hits, and other big hits. Only 22 of the 33 hits here hit #1, which is still an impressive feat. The other songs were near misses to the #1 slot. There are two new songs, including the moving ballad "You're Gonna Be" about a mother's love for her child, and the uptempo "Love Needs a Holiday". Reba has built a career around singing songs about survival, heartbreak, loss, and other themes that touch on emotions. These songs show that range. Overall the best collection for Reba yet...and a must have for any music collection.

This amazing album represents the best of an amazing career which spans more than 30 years. It is an exceptional value because you receive almost 3 hours of music for the price of one disc.

It will take you on a trek through three decades of one country music. Not only do you see how Reba has progressed and changed, you also get a glimpse of the progression of country music. Reba may not be the mainstay of country music that she once was, but she will go down as one of the most influential artist in the genres history.

This disc is full of memorable songs, that you may not have heard in quite some time, but will transform you to another place in time. It is worth the price, by far, and would be a welcomed gift to any country music fan, even if they have not purchased any of her recent efforts, or even if they have never purchased one of her albums.

Now I must agree to some extent that we really don't need a reminder that Reba is still a viable performer. It's pretty obvious considering her illustrious career. However, I can see why Reba took this route. In a span of 30 years, Reba has gone from being strictly a name familiar to country music fans and has become a household name. Gone are the days of big hair, ridiculous clothing and corny dance sequences, which I honestly found entertaining. What remains is her untarnished vocal ability.....My point is that there are lots of people who do not have a clue about her material and by doing a summary album i.e. #1's, it has allowed her to establish to everyone that she is capable of successfully crossing-over. Furthermore, it gives newbies a chance to get a grasp of what this lady is about. As most people know, nobody can make fluff resonate quite like her. I mean the lady could take a paper cut, sing a song about it and make it a hit. Personally, I think it was wise to let everyone know that she's more than just a simple country girl singer. I imagine it is very hard to span 30 years and still be capable of reaching the platinum mark, so she did what I would do in the same situation. It's not always about being fresh, it's about sales and reaching new fans too. I am excited about the new duets album coming out and her cover of Barbara Mandrell's "Country When Country Wasn't Cool" with Kenny Chesney. I think that Reba #1's successfully kept Reba from falling out of the music industry. I truly believe it will help her to continue her reign as the Queen of Melodramatic Heartbreak, which is what I believe Reba does best......

Despite its title, not all of the recordings on this two-disc, 35 track set made it to number one. After including her first two chart-toppers on the Mercury label, the main selection criteria seemed to be to incorporate at least one single from all of her subsequent MCA albums, regardless of their chart peak (for instance, "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands," from the Starting Over album of cover tunes is found here, even though it barely knicked the top 10).

Given the leniency in assembling tracks, they should have included Reba's remake of Bobbie Gentry's "Fancy." Although it only hit #8 on the Billboard charts, it frequently tops fan polls asking for their favorite Reba single or video. The omitted AIDS saga "She Thinks His Name Was John" has also remained one of Reba's most memorable recordings (in spite of peaking outside the country chart top 10).

There are also two new tracks on this set for the Reba fan who already owns all of her prior hits. "You're Gonna Be" is a touching tale of a mother offering encouragement to her child while "Love Needs A Holiday" is a catchy romp depicting a married couple's need for some time to themselves. Both are first-rate.

Over the past twenty years, Reba has reigned as the most successful female country artist at radio and retail. Her evolution from jilted sob sister on early hits such as "Somebody Should Leave" and "The Last One To Know" to independent woman on more recent recordings like "Is There Life Out There" and "I'm A Survivor" has been impressive, and a hefty box set covering all of Reba's Mercury and MCA singles will surely prove to be one of country music's most essential retrospectives someday. For now, #1s serves as a strong Reba sampler.

This was a nice collection of #1 songs which span Reba McEntire's 20 plus years in the country recording industry. Quite a few of them gathered on here are some of her best and more traditional country ballads. While the rest remain to be some of her more recent (like in the last 10 or 12 years or so) counrty pop hits. I personally prefer her more tradionally country ballads which were big hits in the 1980's and early 90's. Though that's not to say that I dislike the more pop-oriented songs on here or anything. They're definitely uplifting and catchy, and Reba's vocals on them are excellent as they almost always are : ) Overall, I highly suggest this thorough double-disc collection for Reba's many die-hard fans out there as it may very well be her single best "Best of" release to date.

This two CD set of Reba's #1 hits includes all of her Billboard #1 singles as well as a few that topped the charts on either Cashbox or Radio & Records. The best part of this set is the sound. The songs have been remastered and sound better than ever, in particular the Mercury recordings. Disc one is my personal favorite. "Somebody Should Leave" is probably my favorite Reba song ever. "The Last One To Know" is another great one. There are a few songs missing here, "Fancy" and "She Thinks His Name Was John" for example, but those didn't top the charts, save those for the inevitable "Essential Reba" which we'll see I'm sure at some point.
This is a great set and one of those albums that you know the words to every song.

Who can rip out a song with all the high notes like Reba? No one compares. She is truly an American success story and America's Country Sweetheart!
I feel that all CD's are over-priced though and for that reason I give only three stars! Each individual can judge price for themselves.

I enjoy all types of music, but seldom care to buy a CD just for one or 2 songs. There is no denying Reba's talent or long time staying power in her music career. I preferred buying "A best" album because it has the variety of themes and rhythms and is more enjoyable listening. Sometimes a CD only has a favorite or two on it, and the similarity of an artist's voice range and enunciation then becomes tiresome. Not so with one of her "best Collections."

I have enjoyed Reba's talent for many years however, had never purchased one of her albums. This was a good choice to place in my collection as it gives the listener a full spectrum of Reba being who she is. Yes, she ahs a different was of presenting her performance that is what makes her who she is and not a Loretta, Dolly, Martina, Gretchen or any other Country female vocalist. Add this to you collection if you only want to have one Reba work in your collection.