Customer Reviews

For the Record: 41 Number One Hits

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4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

41 number one hits (and they've had a 42nd since then) is an impressive record by any standards. They've also had a lot of other hits which came close. One of my favorite Alabama songs, Pass it on down, peaked at number two, therefore didn't make this collection. Their debut single, My home's in Alabama, only peaked at number 16 and also misses out. I'm not complaining really, but it would be nice to see another compilation - perhaps it could be called Not the number one hits (it would contain a lot of quality songs, and would be better than most Greatest hits collections).

What you get here is three songs recorded especially for this album, one of which made number one when eventually released as singles, together with all those 41 hits.

Alabama were always the champions of the blue collar workers, most clearly illustrated on Forty hour week, in which they pay tribute to all those who keep America going. It's a great song, but there are several others I like even better. One of my favorites, In pictures, is a song about being so busy working that you don't see much of your family except in pictures. It was brilliantly covered by Linda Davis, a seriously under-rated singer who spent a lot of time backing Reba. Tennessee River, another of my favorites, was Alabama's first number one. Hank Williams Junior did a great cover of it for his Rowdy album, which is one of his best albums. My favorites also include Old flame, Feels so right, Mountain music, Song of the south and Hometown honeymoon - but most of the other songs are not far behind.

Alabama wrote nearly all their own material, but they did occasionally record covers. The only one to qualify for this collection is Touch me when we're dancing, previously recorded by the Carpenters. This is a wonderful collection which may not appeal to the critics, but the fans love it, and it's not difficult to see why.

When Alabama first came out, they were one of the few country acts to not only have a string of hit singles, but also have albums that you could listen and enjoy nearly every song. So many compilations have been issued featuring Alabama's best, but this is the first to encompass their entire career. I've always enjoyed Alabama, especially their early releases. What I don't enjoy is buying a $25 CD set and getting cut-up edited versions of songs. For instance, half the fiddle solo is cut out of "Dixieland Delight", the drum solo is cut out of "Mountain Music" and those are just a couple examples. I wish RCA would release a compilation featuring the versions that are on the original albums. That's how I remember the songs, that's how I want to hear them today.

Before the 1980s there was only one established country band, they were the Statler Brothers. By the 1980s country music had a new band, they were called Alabama. For over twenty years Alabama has been a major country band. They are popular throughout the world. This CD contains all of their number one classics. From the riveting "Mountain Music" and "Tennessee River" to their tender ballads "Feel so right" and "Why lady why".

One great song is "Roll on eighteen wheeler." The lyrics were not that great but the song expresses a strong love for family. "Forty-Hour week" is a tribute to the working class person who keeps this country moving. One of their top songs is "Song of the South" which is about life in the south during the depression. Alabama has shown they can sing ballads as well as riveting songs that gets your feet tapping. They effectively blend both country and rock and roll. Very few bands last as long as long as Alabama. Alabama will be a major part of country and American popular music for years to come.

Alabama is arguably the best country band in history. At the time they recorded this record they had and amazing forty one #1 hits. All 41 songs are included on this glorious two disc set, as are some previously unreleased songs, one of which was their 42nd #1 hit. My personal favorites are Fallin' Again, Southern Star, Face to Face, How Do You Fall In Love, Love In The First Degree and Close Enough To Perfect, but really almost every song here is enjoyable (They weren't #1 hits for nothing!) and this is a must for any Alabama or country fan. The only problem is that these are only the #1 hits, so some of the other hits they had that didn't reach #1 aren't included. But this is still a masterpiece of an album that should be in everybodies collection. Trust me on this one.

There's not much new to say about this collection. However, I'd like to make a couple other quick points. First of all, the sound quality is outstanding! The sound levels from track to track are very consistent. The songs have a much brighter clarity to them. The soft tape hiss that could be heard on the original release of Take Me Down is gone. The Snare drum that was a little too loud in the song Old Flame has been blended down nicely into the rest of the instruments. Originally, it was noticeably too loud. Sure there are several hits that didn't make this collection. In fact, there are still enough singles that charted to make another best of. Songs like Pass It On Down, Take A Little Trip, Cheap Seats, and the like. Now that the band has retired, this is a great way to keep the musical memories of 20 plus years alive. These are all of the original songs as you remember them. There are no re-records in this collection. And none of the tracks overlap into one another. At the end of each track, they fade out completely before the next track starts. Thanks to Randy and the boys for some awesome concerts and for recording some great songs that are fun to crank up and sing along with. And always remember, music isn't made for the cridicks, it's made for the fans! Those who can, will do it. Those who can't, will review it.

This is the first Alabama record I have ever purchased. I must say that it is a great record. My personal favorites are "Down Home", "Give Me One More Shot", "Reckless", "Forty Hour Week", and "In Pictures". These guys, despite the negative reviews from the "professional" critics who obviously don't know what real music is all about, have compiled 41 number one hits. Of the new material, "How Do You Fall In Love" became their 42nd number one hit. I also like "Keepin' Up". This was really worth the money I paid to get it. If you don't have it, get it.

I don't understand the critics who right about Alabama, they never seem to capture the true spirit of the albums. They are always very unfair to Alabama. Alabama was and still is the best band in country music. I think the critics ought to sit down and really listen closely to the albums before they write their little speeches. Just maybe they might hear some of the magic that the albums hold.

I Have Been A Fan Of Alabama Since They Debuted In 1980. These Hits Rule. 40 Hour Week Is 1 Of The Best Songs On This CD. I Like Roll On 18 Wheeler, In Pictures, Forever's Far As I'LL Go, Down Home, Sad Looking Moon, Face To Face, And Jukebox In My Mind, And Southern Star. Those Are True Alabama Number 1 Classics. Alabama Is The Best Group In Country Music And Nobody Beats Them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having hit number one for the first time in 1980 with "Tennessee River", Alabama (lead singer and rhythm guitarist Randy Owen, bass player Teddy Gentry, multi-instrumentalist Jeff Cook, and drummer Mark Herndon) ranks as the longest lasting hit maker in current country music. They are also the most successful group/band in country music history with forty-one recordings that made it to number one on the Billboard and/or Radio & Records country charts. For The Record captures all of those number one hits, along with three new tracks for a double-disc that is packed with memorable music moments.

Alabama is an appropriate name for this band. Aside from being the birthplace and present home of Owen, Gentry, and Cook, its deep south locale serves as the inspiration for many of their biggest hits. The southern-rock influenced, fiddle-featured sounds of "Tennessee River" are revisited with "Mountain Music," "If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle In The Band)" and "Dixieland Delight." Less boisterous, but just as full of southern pride are the rural-based hits "Song of the South," "High Cotton," "Down Home," and "Born Country." Another theme important to the band is the commitment to lasting love and fidelity with hits like "Feels So Right," " There's No Way," "When We Make Love," and "Forever's As Far As I'll Go" (they steer clear of songs that detail cheating and sinning). They salute (SA-LUTE!) the values of the working man as well, most notably with "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)" and "Forty Hour Week (For a Livin')". But don't try to pigeon- hole Alabama into a few musical themes or styles; these guys have proven to be just as adept at honkytonkers ("Jukebox In My Mind"), thoughtful meditations ("Close Enough To Perfect"), sophisticated pop-rockers ("Here We Are"), and amusing domestic depictions ("She and I"). In short, Alabama can do it all - and better than most.

The three new tracks on this set hold their own quite impressively next to the previous number one hits. "Five O'Clock 500" provides a rowdy and humorous tribute to the exhilaration of rushing home from work. "Keepin' Up" offers another uptempo work-related tale, albeit a far more serious anthem for those who work their butt off just to maintain the status quo (and can't even think about getting ahead). It highlights Herndon's crisp drumming and the group's smooth harmonies. Best of all is the first single "How Do You Fall In Love," a string-filled romantic ballad which showcases Randy Owen's wearily expressive voice.

With an enormous line-up of past hits and great new songs, this collection has only one problem: it limits the previously released material to those singles which made number one. Such criteria keeps some stellar '90s recordings that only inched up to the top five from meriting inclusion ("Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard," "Take A Little Trip," "The Maker Said Take Her"). Look for them on other collections, but in the meantime, pick up this great set TODAY!

For The Record is Alabama's compilation of their 41 number one hits up to now. It has all the familiar favorites all the way from "Tennessee River" to "Sad Lookin' Moon." All their number one hits up to now are on this album. It also has some previously unreleased songs, the best of which, in my opinion is "Keepin' Up." It also has the song that became a major hit that was previously unreleased when this album first came out, "How Do You Fall In Love."

If you're an Alabama fan, there's not any way you could go wrong with For The Record. The only downfall that I could find with the album is that it ONLY has their number one hits. Therefore, you might notice some of your favorite Alabama songs missing from For The Record, one of them is "My Home's In Alabama." But if you're a major Alabama fan, I definitely recommend getting For The Record.