Customer Reviews

Red Sovine - 20 All Time Greatest Hits

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Red Sovine sang or narrated classic country weepies of a type that wouldn't get airplay if recorded today. Although he topped the country charts via Why baby why, a duet with Webb Pierce (not included here), Red is best remembered for Teddy bear, a song about a disabled boy whose father (a trucker) had recently died in an accident. Incredibly, this song became a top five pop hit in the UK when the CB radio craze was at its height. While that proved to be a one-off, Red had a number of hits on the American country charts, many included here.

Teddy bear, though not like anything most country singers ever recorded, was typical of Red's narrations, which also included Little Rosa, Giddy up go and Phantom 309.

The boy in Teddy bear featured in various sequels including some of Red's other songs. When offered a song about his death, Teddy bear's last ride, Red refused to record it, enabling Diana Williams to have a country hit with it. Red refused to accept that the boy was dead and retaliated by writing and recording Little Joe.

Red occasionally sang, as in I know you're married but I love you still (a song later covered by Porter and Dolly), but it is his narrations that he is best remembered for.

Red's appeal these days may be limited but when it comes to country narrations, only Porter Wagoner and Johnny Cash could match him - and their narrations weren't about truck driving. So Red Sovine was and remains unique. There will never be another like him.

RED'S songs will never fade and i'm glad i could find these cd's. My father has been a truck driver all his life. I grew up listening to these songs and even as a child i liked them. Sometimes you tend to forget how much your family really means to you and how good you have it. These songs remind you and really make you appreciate life with all its up's and downs. Also these songs appreciate truckers which today you dont see much of.

I grew up listening to my mom play "Teddy Bear", "Phantom 309" etc., and I think they were some of the most interesting and heart wrenching songs I have ever heard. Even today "Daddys Girl" reminds me of times I spent with my own father, who passed away last year. Red Sovine put into words so many years ago what many people felt and still think today.

Woodrow Wilson ("Red') Sovine, from Charleston, WV had 13 chart hits from 1955-1976. (There were 2 gaps/ dry spells in that span). The only problem is that only 6 of the 13 appear on this compilation! Given those facts, it is difficult to understand how an album of his "20 Greatest Hits" can be produced. Among the actual chart tracks that appear here, this reviewer liked "I Didn't Jump the Fence" (1967) and "It'll Come Back" (1974). 2 nice tracks that failed to hit the charts are "18 Wheels Hummin' Home Sweet Home" and "Daddy's Girl". The latter featured the same child's voice as in "It'll Come Back". Red tries his hand at "Old Rivers" and "I Know Your' Married but I Love You Still" but those were done better by Walter Brennan and Bill Anderson/Jan Howard. The bottom line is that this compilation is unsatisfactory. Why not produce a straight compilation of those 13 hits? This very album contains releases from 3 record labels. How difficult can permissions be? This is the perfect example of why shoppers need to be suspicious of "Greatest Hits" or "The Best Of" titles. This reviewer actually likes Red but one has to call reviews as he sees them, not as he wishes they could be.

Red Sovine?? Who the heck is that?? Thats all I hear from my friends who now listen to new yuppie country music...

Red Sovine is one of the many forgotten heroes of country music, and this album is the epitome of his work. Little Joe, Teddy Bear, Phantom 309... all these songs will bring teirs to your eyes. He's so humble, so sincere in his music, its like sitting by the fire at camp and listening to old ghost stories, only from a trucker. You gotta try this music out!!!

This song will always bring tears to my eyes. I grew up listing to this music with my grandfather I used to change the words in the son to puppy's girl instead of daddy's girl because that's what he would call me. I wish there were more of the singer/songwriters out like there used to be such as Red Sovine, Hank Wiliams, Charlie Pride etc. There music will never die.

Don't have too much to say. But, this is a very good collection of his best hit. And the sound quality isn't bad concidering the age of the recordings. You may feel you're listening to a record player. But, that's just fine for this music.

I bought this to introduce my kids to someone I listened to as a child. They do enjoy some of the songs, for instance "Teddy Bear" and "Daddy's Girl". It brings back some nice memories for me. My dad liked listening to Red Sovine, I feel like I am back to being a little girl at times when I listen. Very good CD.

This CD is an excellent collection of Red Sovine's hits. Well worth the price for anyone interested in the genre of music.

All the best Sovine on one disc. All I hoped for and more.