Customer Reviews

Reba McEntire - Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(40)

 

 

The last decade or so has seen Reba McEntire emerge as a multi-media conglomerate, with music success leading to work in films, television dramas, and recently, an acclaimed performance on Broadway in Annie Get Your Gun. Currently at work on her own sitcom, this hits collection is a logical "breather" for the busy country queen.

Twelve of Reba's best from the '90s are included here. The uptempo tunes offer the most diversity, among them a reworking of the kitschy gothic classic "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia," and the jazzy, sassy "Take It Back." Ballads, however, remain Reba's forte. Routine weepers such as "And Still" and "Forever Love" blossom, thanks to her expressive vocals. When paired with a great ballad - like the AIDS saga "She Thinks His Name Was Name" and the soaring Brooks & Dunn duet "If You See Him/If You See Her" - the end result is glorious.

This set also offers three new recordings. Best of the crop is a remake of the Kenny Rogers hit "Sweet Music Man," featuring gently lilting production by Allison Krauss. "I'm A Survivor" - the theme to Reba's new sitcom - also works, while the sluggish, monotonous "Myself Without You" misses the mark.

Even after a third volume of hits, many of Reba's recent singles remain unanthologized, including the joyous "I'd Rather Ride Around With You," the pretty "Till You Love Me," and everything on her album of covers Starting Over. Undoubtedly, some of these will make it onto a fourth Greatest Hits and/or the inevitable box set, along with - certainly - future hits. Like the title says, Reba is a survivor.

I'M A SURVIVOR, Reba's third Greatest Hits album, contains 12 of her hits and three great new songs. With all the hits she's had in the 90's, its no wonder they all didn't make the cut. I guess they will make it next time. Nevertheless, the big ones are here such as the Brooks & Dunn duet "If You See Him/If You See Her", the sassy "Take It Back", the beautiful "Forever Love" and many more. The hits from SO GOOD TOGETHER, as well as the ones that didn't make this cut, will most likely be on her next Greatest Hits album. "Im A Survivor" is a nice uplifting, positive song, also the theme for her new sitcom REBA. "Myself Without You" is another nice, lush ballad that Reba shines on. The final new song "Sweet Music Man", produced by Alison Krauss, is my favorite of the new songs, showing a bit of Reba's bluegrass side, hopefully she will do more of that music. Sadly no songs from STARTING OVER made the cut for this one, but it seems even Reba wants to forget about that album sadly, as I believe its one of her best. Overall if you are missing some of her 90's albums, this is a good place to start to get yourself aquainted (or reaquainted) with her hits from the 90's. Absolutely essential.

Reba's third MCA greatest hits is actually her fourth total. She has one from her Mercury years, and now three with MCA. That's FOUR greatest hits albums with NO overlapping songs! Quite an accomplishment! This album picks up where GH2 left off beginning with selections from 1992's album "It's Your Call". However, there are two songs, "Fallin' Out of Love" and "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia", that are from 1990 and 1991 respectively. My guess is that there was not room on GH2 for these as most albums from the 80s and early 90s contained only 10 songs. GH3 contains 15 songs overall with three new Reba songs. "I'm a Survivor" is great and since hearing it I've learned it's slightly different than the version she sings as her theme song to her sitcom, both musically and lyrically. My three favorite songs are "I'm a Survivor", "Sweet Music Man", and "Fallin' Out of Love". Prior to this I'd never heard "Fallin' Out of Love" so it's a new song to me. It's fun to hear all these greatest hits together for the first time. However good they are, you can't help but feel a bit slighted. GH1 and GH2 each covered about 5 years musically and GH3 covers nearly 10. My wish would be to have this album as a GH3 and a GH4. Also, there is only one selection from the "What If It's You" album. No "How Was I to Know" or "What If It's You" or even "I'd Rather Ride Around With You" one of my personal favorites. However, don't let this stop you! Buy this album. It is history! Reba is still at the top of her game at 46 and it's clear she has no plans of coming down any time soon!

While all opinions are valid, I'm sorry to say that sometimes, they're just wrong. Such an opinion is any one negating the quality and integrity of music recorded by Reba McEntire.

With "Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor," Reba releases her twenty-seventh studio disc. Fifteen tracks in all, three of them new, paint a vast, rich canvas of Reba's work in the nineties. Of the three new tunes, "Myself Without You" comes to the forefront as a touching and moving but not overly maudlin I'm-getting-over-you (allusion to Reba's 1984 "Just A Little Love" disc) song. Reba's voice transforms from a throaty, powerful torch on "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter," "The Fear Of Being Alone," and "Why Haven't I Heard From You," to a tender, soft ember on "She Thinks His Name Was John" and the aforementioned "Myself Without You." Also noteworthy is Reba's "I'm A Survivor," the theme song to her new show, which airs at 9:00 PM EST on the Warner Brothers' Network. As it has been described, it is a mature version of Jessica Andrews' "Who I Am". Tracks two to thirteen are a recollection of Reba's hits spanning 1990-1999. The quality of the songs makes it impossible to single out "standouts," as Reba was even forced to leave out songs worthy of any other artist's Greatest Hits collection. She closes with "Sweet Music Man," a new telling of Kenny Rogers' late 1970's tune, produced by Alison Krauss. The result is understated, subdued, and tender. The production is undeniably Kraussian, which is in stark contrast to Reba's usual moderately-country sound; therefore, it inevitably inherits bluegrass undertones. It may shock some fans, but once the stupefication subsides, the worthiness of the song will be seen.

Reba does unspeakable wonders with songs that other artists might render average. Why? The ultimate retort: Reba's voice is simply of a higher caliber than any other artist in Nashville. Face it. While Martina McBride can make your ears ring like bells and hold a note until the saints go marching in, it all becomes rather unspectacular when you yell those words and hold those notes on every single song. Consequently, there are also artists who are drowned out by a dropping pin. Reba is the quintessence of a happy medium; enough lung force to bend steel one minute, a poignant, tastefully restrained delivery the next.

Long live the Queen.

Reba McEntire, without a doubt, is one of the most influential country artists ever. There was never a doubt that she would release a third greatest hits eventually. And what a greatest hits collection it is!

The album's first song, and first single is "I'm A Survivor." It's a semi-uptempo song, with a good message. "Forever Love," the next song, is Reba's 2nd signature song, with "Fancy" being the first. "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter" is one of the songs on this CD that I would've cut and possibly put another song on. It's a good song, but Reba's had better in the past decade. "And Still" is a wonderful song that captures Reba's voice like no other song on this cd. "If You See Him, If You See Her," I believe was a number one, but I'm not sure. THe next two songs should have probably been left off or replaced. "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" and "Fallin' Out Of Love" are good songs, but again probably should have been left off or replaced. If you look back at Reba's other two greatest hits, she never goes back to songs that were on an album with songs that were on a previous greatest hits. "The Heart Won't Lie," if feel, is the weakest song on the whole cd. I never cared for this song. "Take It Back" is one of the rare up-beat Reba songs that actually got air play. "She Thinks His Name Was John" is a Reba classic for only one reason: she had the guts to do it. No other country performer had done a song such as this one before. Though it as it's weak points, you still got to give credit to Reba and the song. "The Fear Of Being Alone" is the only song from her 1996 album, which is one of her best ever. "Why Haven't I Heard From You," is the third Reba signature song. Everyone knows this song. "One Honest Heart' is one of my favorite Reba songs, but I'm not sure if it's worthy of being on a greatest hits. The last two songs are the other new songs. "Myself Without You," is stereotypical Reba. It is a GREAT song, but will probably get over looked because Reba has so many other songs like it. Whereas "Sweet Music Man" is going to get/getting all the attention. It is different for Reba, with it's almost bluegrass sound.

While most of Reba's greatest hits are on here, there are also plenty missing."It's Your Call" is a great song, that should have been on here more then a few of the songs that are. "Till You Love Me" is another good song, but I can see why it was left off. There are absolutely no songs on here from her 1995 album, but I can see why that is also. Here is where I think they messed up.There are 3 songs from her 1996 album that should replace some songs on here. "What If It's You" should replace track 6, "I'd rather Ride Around With You" should replace track 7 and "How Was I To Know" should replace track 13. This would make it a better album in my opinion. Last but not least, they left off waht has become a Reba concert favorite "Wrong Night." But again, there is definetly a good reason to that.

Even though this cd is missing some classic songs, and has included some unexpected ones, it is still worth the money.

This is Reba's best Greatest Hits package to date. Not only does it include her best tracks since her last Greatest Hits album, but it fills in the gaps with some songs that SHOULD have been included on her "Greatest Hits Volume II" release - especially "Fallin' Out Of Love" and "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" - who's presence on a Greatest Hits disc is long overdue. This album also includes the memorable "Take It Back," "The Fear Of Being Alone" and the tear-jerking "She Thinks His Name Was John." The three new tracks are classic Reba. The beautful Alison Krauss produced "Sweet Music Man" which closes the album is a treat.

My only complaint: There are a few omissions. I was surprised that "It's Your Call," "Till You Love Me," "How Was I To Know," (which I believe went to #1), "I'd Rather Ride Around With You," "Wrong Night," "I'll Be," "What Do You Say," and "We're So Good Together" were omitted. Also, her "Starting Over" album wasn't even represented on this disc. (Her version of "On My Own" featuring Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, and Linda Davis BELONGS on this disc). Oh well, I guess they'll just have to be saved for "Greatest Hits Volume IV." And that just shows how strong Reba is. She's had TOO MANY hits over the past 20 years that she's had to omit some from her Greatest Hits packages. And I'm sure she'll keep going strong for another 20 years and beyond!

Reba McEntire is a good singer. The material she picks though or is picked for her and whatever the company decides to release as singles are another story. This is an album that falls substandard to her two previous greatest hits packages. Perhaps that as time has progressed she has allowed herself to stick to a formula, aimed at a "younger audience" and I'm not THAT old (37 to be exact)...the younger audience being the teeny bopper audience which most of these songs are geared to. After all, they are the ones buying the records out there. Its too bad because the material doesn't do her voice justice!!

Have you noticed that the Reba bashers are in clusters and they post within a day from one another. Look at their review history and you'll see that they (or should I use the singular form) only reviews and trashes Reba's albums. It's just one psychotic voice acting as 10 in vain hope to drag down her ratings. How pitiful.
Back to the album, the songs are here good, but the selection isn't. It's missing many crucial hits since Greatest hits II.
If anyone wants to buy this package, skip it and buy "#1's" that was recently released.

While I generally prefer Reba's eighties music, I also enjoy her nineties music and this collection of some of her best nineties music is highly entertaining.

My favorite here is the chilling She thinks his name was John, about an AIDS victim - it is by far the saddest song on the album. There are many other great songs here too, including The heart is a lonely hunter, And still, and Why haven't I heard from you.

I was also pleased to hear Reba's version of Sweet music man. This song was written and recorded by Kenny Rogers in the seventies and was covered by Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Billie Jo Spears and Dottie West at the time. It's a long time since then but Reba's version is as good as any of them (although Tammy's version is still my favorite), and it's much the best of the new recordings.

I wasn't really sure if I wanted this, having most of the tracks already, but when I heard Sweet music man, I knew I'd made the right decision.

They may have been hits but not by my standards. If you want a real greatest hits package try "Reba's Greatest Hits Volume I or II". I'd leave this one alone.