Customer Reviews

Tammy Wynette Remembered

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This tribute album is dominated by country ladies who owe a debt of gratitude to Tammy for helping to open the doors of country music to female singers. There are some other singers here too, but their contribution is variable. The standout track is Brian Wilson (of the Beach boys) joining Tammy for a duet version of In my room, a Beach boys classic - it was the last recording Tammy ever made. George Jones does a great version of Take me to your world, but sings it as I'll take you to my world. Given his past drinking habits, this is intriguing. I love Elton John's music, but Stand by your man really doesn't suit him. Both David Allan Coe and Lyle Lovett have covered this song superbly, so it can be done well by a man. Melissa Etheridge's version of Apartment number nine is also weak. Kate McGarrigle joins Emmylou and Linda for a fine version of Golden ring.

The rest of the album is brilliant. Lorrie Morgan, who delivers a great version of You and me, obviously loves Tammy's songs as she has since recorded Another lonely night - it appeared on her To get to you greatest hits collection. Sara Evens, an unknown singer at the time this was recorded, does an impeccable version of I don't wanna play house. K.T. Oslin chose wisely in recording the sassy You're good girl's gonna go bad. Faith Hill was in top form on Till I can make it on my own. Trisha Yearwood, Roseanne Cash and Wynonna all make wonderful contributions to this excellent album.

In any album of this kind, it is inevitable that some singers are not included. But the absence of Dolly, Loretta and Reba is unforgivable. Two of these should have been included instead of Elton and Melissa.

If only the LA Times reviewer had actually "reviewed" this CD, he/she would have noted that ALL of the participants in this project were personal friends of Wynette. This was the first release by Evelyn Shriver as President of Asylum (a "first lady" in that field) and the "Star Power" that the LA Times was looking for completely missed the point of truthfully and sincerely "remembering" an artist. Get it, LA??? "Tammy Wynette...Remembered."
It's strange to think that Tammy's first release was a song about being alone in a room (Apartment #9), and her last recording released ("In My Room") contains the lyric, "...Now it's dark and I'm alone, but I won't be afraid." The song is a befitting note of comfort to those of us who identified and grew with her through the years.
I was proud of this project and the respect these artists exhibit for their beloved friend and colleague.

The only reason this gets five stars if because of Tammy's and George's cuts. For some reason I expected more out of this album, maybe because they were Tammy's songs and no one can do them as well, except maybe Jones. Where were Loretta and Dolly. Who is Sarah Evans? Elton John crucified "Stand By Your Man." The cuts I found worth while were "Take Me To Your World (Take You To My World)", "Til I Can Make It On My Own", "Til I Get It Right", "You And Me", and finally "In My Room." I am brought to tears now as I think about "In My Room." Tammy took it and owned it. Tammy and her music helped me get through the hardest period of my life. It is difficult for me to believe she is really gone. Buy this album if for no other reason than to hear Tammy sing that song. Long live the memory of The First Lady!

Let's begin with Track #1:

"Stand By Your Man" performed by Elton John. Having heard this once was enough for me. Elton John should never have attempted to cover Tammy's signature song. The production is way over-the-top and Elton John is defeated by the song in every way.

"Til I Get it Right" performed by Trisha Yearwood. Yearwood does an o.k. cover of one of Tammy's best loved ballads. But she brings nothing new to the song. What results is a nice, but rather draggy, boring rendition.

"DIVORCE" by Roseanne Cash is average. The production fits Cash's style but her voice is not appealing to me.

"Apartment #9" by Melissa Ethridge......a nice surprise here. A unique arrangement for Tammy's first hit and Ethridge does well by it.

"Take Me to Your World" by George Jones......poignant and touching. This one is excellent in every way.

"Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad" by K.T. Oslin. Another miss. The production is horrible and Oslin's vocals are even worse. An insult to Tammy's original.

"You and Me" by Lorrie Morgan. A stellar performance by Lorrie with one of Tammy's most beautiful ballads. The production values and Lorries work on this would make Tammy proud. Probably the best cut on the CD.

"I Don't Wanna Play House" by Sara Evans. I had never heard Sara Evans but she does a marvelous justice to one of my favorite Tammy songs. A true country cover and Evans brings her own freshness to the song. Would make Tammy smile.

"Woman to Woman" by Wynonna. A perfect song for Wynonna. She packs punch into every line and makes this song one of the more memorable cuts on the CD. Great job!!

"Til I Can Make it On My Own" by Faith Hill. Hill gives a banal rendition of one of the most popular Tammy songs. Her interpretation is like baloney compared to Filet Mignon (Tammy). Hill has no conception of the lyrics or the melody. The result here is a big miss all the way.

"Golden Ring" by Emmylou Harris. A classic performance in every way. Makes one of my 'not so favorite Tammy songs" special.

"In My Room" by Tammy...her last recording......an eerie feel to this. Truly, one can tell, her voice had seen better days but she does the best she can. She is ably abetted by her singing partner, Brian Wilson. The song is memorable because one can tell here that Tammy didn't have much time left. God Bless Her.

This compilation is a must have for fans of Tammy Wynette. The songs are recorded by popular stars, such as Wynonna, Elton John, K.T. Oslin, George Jones and others in the style of Tammy. Contains one track by Tammy Wynette herself!

There are only two songs to buy this cd for Elton Johns version of Stand by your Man and Wynonna's Woman to Woman..... The others can do NO justice to Tammy's recordings.

This collection is good considering the fact that Tammy's songs are best sung by her{or with George}.This cd has one special cut,In My Room,sung with Brian Wilson.Not only is it a touching song written by Brian,and it is from the discarded sessions of The Beach Boys "Stars And Stripes Vol.2},which never were completed,but it is one of Tammy's last studio recordings before she died.That said,the opening cut of Elton John singing "Stand By Your Man' was a mistake from the start.If this was done as a joke about his sexual preference,it is not funny.If this was to be taken as a serious inclusion,it is just plain creepy.What were they thinking about when they made this tribute?Tammy Wynette...Remembered

What an awesome tribute to Tammy! Tammy was an incredible talent that left too soon. This collection of recordings is a perfect homage to her artistry. It shows you how much Tammy shaped other artists. There is not one bad recording here. Wynonna's recording is soulful and rich. Lorrie Morgan brings Tammy's spirit into her voice. Elton John's performance is super and reminds us how good music is universal. Faith Hill...wow!! Rosanne Cash is incredible as always. George Jones recording is touching and poignant. Emmylou Harris gives a heartfelt performance. Melissa Etheridge...awesome. Sara Evans and Trisha Yearwood...beautiful. I hope I haven't forgot anyone. It's a great collection!!

As I listened to this CD for the first time,I noticed how many of the women singers sound a lot like Tammy, notably Lorrie Morgan, Sara Evans, Faith Hill and Trisha Yearwood, an indication that she has had a wide influence on younger country singers. She of course was far more than a singer of country songs and should be included in a small group of elite women singers who touched the world with the sorrow in their own lives that became inseparable with their music: Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, and Billie Holliday. As I remember, I believe that Hillary Clinton offered Ms. Wynette a public apology about a comment she made about Tammy standing by her man during the Monica mess in Bill Clinton's second term as president. Like Hillary, she is recognized by just her first name, something that can only be said of a handful of singers.

George Jones' tribute "Take Me To Your World" is both moving and sad for all the reasons that anyone who knows these two singers is familiar with, Tammy's young idolization of the already established Jones, their difficult marriage, divorce and ultimate peace with each other. Elton John's rendition of "Stand By Your Man," probably Tammy's most popular song ever, suffers from the ineffective accompaniment. I particularly like Faith's Hill's "Till I Can Make It On My Own," but my favorite is Emmylou Harris' (with Linda Ronstadt, Anna and Kate McGarrigle) "Golden Ring" with a fantastic backup including beautiful banjo played by Kate McGarrigle. Of course Harris sounds like no one else on earth; her singing style is her very own.

It is altogether appropriate that this CD closes with a duet by Wynette and Brian Wilson, "In My Room." It is almost as if she is saying, "While what you have sung is quite wonderful, this is the way my songs really should sound."

This CD has a very informative booklet included that has a lot of color photos of the singers with Ms. Wynette as well as photographs of her alone. There is also commentary by the singers and information about everyone who is playing on the 12 cuts on this CD.

When I heard this CD, I was reminded once again that Ms. Wynette left us all too soon, how fortunate those of us were who saw her sing live and how much I miss hearing her sing new material.

I can handle Elton John's cover only because Tammy and Elton must have been very, very close friends. Tammy would have appreciated it. I almost did not buy the album because of Elton John singing her signature song, but I'm betting that this will end up generating the most "buzz." And Tammy's final recording...awesome! (Incidentally, my wife said she never enjoyed Elton John -- she really never listened to him -- but this album, because of Elton John, has become one of her all-time "road-trip" favorites.)