Customer Reviews

Starting Over

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

I enjoyed every song on this cd. It is her best collection in my opinion

MANY PEOPLE go into this listening the wonderful stone country Reba that belts out classic hits like "Whoever's In New England" and "How Blue," but, my little chickens, this is not "Starting Over"'s reason for being. This is an album of little things that we call covers; in layman's, remakes of what CAN be any kind of music. We're not talking remakes of only Hank Sr. and Mel Tillis; these are remakes from anywhere that Miss Reba chose.
Reba delivers highlights on the tracks "On My Own" (wonderfully backed by Yearwood, McBride, and amazin' Davis), "You Keep Me Hangin On," and the absolute beauty of Dolly's "Starting Over Again." Some might say I have a soft spot for family songs, but one can't deny the sheer excellence of the title track plus a word.
Nice performances were turned in also on the triste "I Won't Mention It Again," "You're No Good," and Glen Campbell's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix."
Though the good ole boys may not be able to get past the word pop in this album's description, one should rest assured that anything that comes out of the Queen of Country's mouth won't be anything but one word; country!
5 stars.

One thing about this album, it's beautiful and easy to listen to, but it's just an album of remakes. Not only that, but most of the songs are literally karaoke of the original songs. One glaring exception, however, is her very nice remake of Dolly Parton's 1980 #1 Country hit and Donna Summer penned "Starting Over Again" (one of my favorites). Dolly's was great, but it sounds very dated by today's standards. Reba took hers to #19, but it still spent 20 weeks in the Country Top 100. As one of only two singles, the other a cover of Lee Greenwood's 1982 #5 Country Hit "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands" (hers went to #9). If you really love Reba, you'll love this album. If you're curious what Reba sounds like doing one of the old songs, don't buy it for anything but the above two. If neither applies, this CD is probably worth skipping.

Critics mostly trashed this superb album. Fans did not support Reba on this album, with "Starting Over" selling only half of what she usually does, which for the last three albums has been 3 million per album. The strengths of this album are "Please Come To Boston", "On My Own", "You're No Good", and "Starting Over Again." However, "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands" and "You Keep Me Hangin On" are FANTASTIC! Reba released a dance mix version of "You Just Keep Me Hangin' On" and boy would the pop/dance world have a hard time keeping her off the charts with the savvy production that England's group did on it! Congrats Reba for a wonderful album...keep em' coming!

I'm always dubious when buying cover albums - how will the artist interpret songs that have meant something in my life. With starting Over, however, there was no need to worry. Reba's interpretation of the classic Please Come to Boston leaves me exhausted each time I play it, as does Five Hundred Miles from Home. Track three, On My Own, combines the best of new country with a familiar theme of female strong will and independence which is so prevailant among female country artists, and always will be. Add the vocal talents of Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and co., and you have yourself a very fine song. My one complaint with the album is that there aren't nearly enough tracks on it!

This album was released in October of 95 and received various bad reviews. Which is unfortunate, because it's a pretty good album. STARTING OVER is a collection of 10 songs that Reba chose to cover to celebrate her 20th year as a recording artist. There's a good variety of songs here, and Reba does justice to them all, while giving them her own flavor. Covers include Patti Labelle's "On My Own", Crystal Gayle's "Talking In Your Sleep", the Supremes "You Keep Me Hanging On", Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good", Dolly Parton's "Starting Over Again", and many others. Overall, a solid collection that still gets repeated listens in my stereo.

Reba released her album of covers in 1995 to commemorate her 20th year in the music industry! She has been a trend setter from the beginning and this year Martina McBride will once again follow Reba's perfect pattern and release an album of covers! It was a great idea then and it still is! Reba sings beautifully on this album and Martina joins Reba, Trisha, & Linda Davis on the lead single "On My Own" which is amazing to listen to!

I can't give this more than two stars. It is better than a lot of her 90s CDs which I only give one stars to. The CD is ruined by the inclusion of songs like "You Keep Me Hangin On", "You're No Good" and "On My Own" (one of the worst songs in the history of mankind made worse by Reba singing it with Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride and Linda Davis). She could easily have left out "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Please Come to Boston". She sounds like she's bored to death singing those. "Talking in Your Sleep" is o.k. but can hardly match the Crystal Gayle classic. "Ring on Her Finger and Time on Her Hands" is also all right. "I Won't Mention It Again" is excellent. Reba doesn't over do and the production is beautiful. The best cut on the CD is "Starting Over" which eclipses Dolly's version. Reba is excellent on this cover. For that I'll give this CD two stars!

I've long been a fan of Reba. I've always like Please Come To Boston, On My Own, and You're No Good. So when I as in a music store on State Street in Madison Wi. I had to pick this up.

I took it home and have played it many times. There are lot's of people who criticize her because of her voice. She may not have the soaring voice of some of the original artists but you're selling Reba short. The point isn't to sound like the original artist. The point of this album is to pay homage to a few of her favorite songs that she's always wanted to sing.

Reba's voice is very strong, consistent, with a real quality. She doesn't hit the high notes of some artists. So what. That doesn't detract from this album. I'll just compare the songs that I've heard the originals.

Please Come To Boston. She did a great job on a song that was originally released by a male artist. She took on the opposing role. Instead of being the guy who's trying to get a woman to follow him, she's being the woman who wants the wondering guy to come home.

You're No Good - Reba just blows Linda Ronstadt away with this wonderful cover. Her voice is superior to Linda's and it really shows on this track.

Starting over again - Same as above. Of course I've never liked Dolly Parton so I'm probably biased, cause I adore Reba.

You Keep Me Hanging On - Another great cover song. Her voice is a bit more simliar to Diana Ross when compared to the other artists she covers here.

In the end when you look at, and review, cover albums don't think about the older songs and find fault just because the artist that's doing the cover doesn't have the same style of voice. As in Please Come To Boston, being that the original was a man. Listen to this album for what it is. It's a valiant attempt by a very popular country artist to sing other mainstream songs, most of which are cross overs.

I hand it to Reba. It took a lot of courage for her to do this album. There are numerous aritsts who would never do an album like this because they are afraid of criticism, and afraid of losing their base. Reba came out and told everyone that she was going to do what she wanted to do, so deal with it.

Starting Over is a career acheivement for Reba. Its a shame it did not get more recognition. Critics hated it, fans & Reba abandoned it, but why? This is probably some of her best work. It is a song of cover songs, and Reba does them in her own style so they are different than the originals. This was not a collection of new songs, this was to celebrate her 20th anniversary since she started out. You cannot disagree with the fact that Reba has never sounded this great on these songs. Talking In Your Sleep is a tale about the unfaithful lover who is talking to his lover in his sleep. Please Come To Boston is a restless lover's plea to run away and start over somewhere new. On My Own features Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride and Linda Davis (just listen to those vocal acrobatics they perform on this one!) I Wont Mention it Again is one of the saddest songs Reba has ever recorded, sung with all of the emotion she can deliver. You're No Good is a cover of the Linda Ronstadt hit, sassy and self assured. Ring On Her Finger (Time On Her Hands) is a song about a wife who is unfaithful to her vows as a result of her spare time. Five Hundred Miles Away From Home is a sad song about moving out on your own, away from your home and family. Starting Over Again was recorded originally by Dolly Parton, Reba does it just as well, in a song about family ties being broken. You Keep Me Hanging On is the obvious pop choice here, which was a big hit for her on club play and dance charts. The closer, By The Time I Get To Pheonix, is about a woman leaving a bad relationship. This album is great, the songs she chose were wonderful, and she sings them all with such passion and emotion, the kind only Reba can deliver. So for all of you who never gave this one a chance, or if you did, give it another, its a great album and I think you will agree it is among her better albums!