Customer Reviews

The Essential Connie Smith

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Connie had a very powerful voice but knew how to use it to best effect. This collection does not quite live up to it's title - it omits Where is my castle?, one of her best hits - but it's still by far the strongest hits collection available of Connie's music. Where is my castle? can be found on Super hits, but anybody wanting that track may be better waiting to see if it is on Connie's next compilation, probably in the RCA country legends series.

Apart from that omission, all Connie's big hits are here, including Once a day (her first and biggest hit), Ain't had no lovin', Cincinatti Ohio, Just one time, I never once stopped loving you and so many others.

This is classic sixties country at it's best, with prominent steel guitar, but ultimately it is Connie's voice that stands out. I enjoy her music so much that I bought the Bear Family boxed set, but it only covers the first half of her career at RCA, so even it doesn't contain all the hits to be found here.

For anybody who is interested in sixties country, this is essential. Connie was not as big a star as Tammy or Loretta, but she could have been a bigger star than both of them, as her voice has much more pop appeal than theirs. She was not interested in crossover success and has no regrets, even now. She was, and is, just a simple country lady with a very special voice, letting the quality of her music stand on it's own merit.

The liner notes of the CD read: 'Dolly Parton once said "There's really only three female singers in the world: Streisand, Ronstadt and Connie Smith. The rest of us are just pretending." A nice observation by Parton, Connie Smith does possess one of the more unique and beautiful voices in country music today. ESSENTIAL SERIES does a good job of covering Connie Smith's lengthly career. This is a good place to start your Connie Smith collection. There's quite a few hits here, "Run Away Little Tears", "I Can't Remember", "Love Is The Look You're Looking For", "You and Your Sweet Love", I never Once Stopped Loving You", "If It Aint Love (Lets Leave It Alone)", "Just One Time", "Once A Day", "The Hurtin's All Over" and more. There's also a great biography of her in the liner notes. 20 hits in total. Overall you can't lose with classics like these. This is essential for your collection!

I first heard Connie Smith when I was about 14 years old, she was about 17 then. I was totally enamored by the voice that this beautiful Country girl had. The innocent cry in her voice captures the soul of any "real" country fan. Her natural beauty, her genuine personality all combined with that voice.......I don't know what else to say other thean I feel that we on this planet Earth have been blessed to experience the presence of Miss Connie Smith.

The Essential Connie Smith" is accurately titled. Connie had 39 Billboard hits from 1964-1978. After that, country music went off the deep end. This CD captures 19 of her best, or at least most commercially successful, releases. With the exception of one Gospel track, all achieved Top 20 status on the charts. They include her version of standards as Gordon Lightfoot's "Ribbon of Darkness" and "Cry, Cry, Cry". High points are "The Hurtin's All Over", "Run Away Little Tears" and especially a pleading "Just For What I Am". Every male in a relationship with a female should listen to that one! When this woman pleads, I listen! In her distinctively strong, enthusiastic yet thoroughly feminine voice, I imagined that Connie was singing to me-one on one. I would urge country fans unfamiliar with Connie to try this CD. I have tracks by Tammy, Dottie West, Brenda Lee and Skeeter Davis. While I love those ladies, Connie tops them all. Bottom line: There is just something about this woman and her music.

Connie Smith is one of my three favorite female country singers. Unlike her flashy, Vegas-like contemporaries, she sings the country music I like, the way I like to hear it sung. Simple, heartfelt, and without the overwhelming arrangements that are commonplace in today's music.

Her voice is pure, clear, strong. Her enunciation, impeccable. She captured my attention the first time that I heard "Once A Day," her first hit.

Throughout her career, she's been blessed with the best producers and first rate material from such songwriters as Bill Anderson and Dallas Frazier. I always thought that she would have had crossover success if pop music hadn't changed so radically in the late 60s.

Indeed, she was one of RCA Victor's golden girls in the 60s and early 70s, and this compilation collects her hits for the label from that period.

So, if you're unfamiliar with the artistry of Connie Smith, buy this CD, and prepare yourself to be embraced vocally by one of the loveliest voices in country music.

I had completely forgotten about Connie Smith (not surprising after a 20 year absence), but WOW! did she jog my memory in a hurry. This album quickly took me back to the "pure" country music of the 1960's and early '70's. Background vocals that were the trademark of the era, along with the steel guitar that was expected on any Connie Smith song. If it's possible to wear out a CD, "Nobody But a Fool" will be first to go on my copy. This album is easily worth twice the price, and Connie Smith just beat out Patsy Cline as my favorite artist.

One of the best singers ever, regardless of genre. This album contains 20 superb Connie Smith numbers, all original releases. Of course, there are always a few songs that could have been included, but others would argue that these suffice. In any case, this is a great selection with great sound. Included here are: "Ribbon of Darkness", "The Hurtin's All Over", and "Then and Only Then". Of course, "Once A Day" and "Cincinnatti" are also here. While Connie's voice is outstanding, it is also noteworthy to see that many of these songs are penned by none other than Bill Anderson. A classy album from a classy Lady.

Being a long time fan of Connie Smith, it is a great joy to hear her again. I'm glad that someone in Nashville noticed what a great sound she is an put together this Essential Album. Also congradulation on her new album after 20 years, it is about time we get to hear her with some new material. Hats off to a voice that is clear, strong, and pure honey to listen to and enjoy.

I grew up listening to the Album entitled : Miss Smith Goes to Nashville. By Connie Smith. I am a professional musician because of music like this. We wore out many a copy of this album by playing it over and over again, all day long, day after day, for years. I'm trying to find a copy to buy right now so I can play it till the end of my years on this earth. I love Connie Smith. She's a female Faron Young vocally, in my estimation, and I loved his music just as well. He was another block in country musics' foundation. Artists like her and him built country music. I cannot say enough about this paramount star called Connie Smith. Bill Casey

The singing voice of Connie is straight and Simple. It matches country music very much.
The country music was popular before in Japan. Some Japanese country singers played an active part, too. However, it has become only some lovers now.
I like "AIN'T HAD NO LOVIN' "in this album most.
These songs in this album let many people feel close friendship.