Customer Reviews

Upper 48 Hits 1972-97

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Raven Records'[double disc]set becomes the ultimate and certainly most comprehensive TANYA TUCKER hit singles collection to ever compile her amazing long running 25 year[mostly winning] streak of memorable radio/chartbusters over the course of her four recording company associations in one package. Despite various highly publicized ups and downs TANYA TUCKER weathered throughout her long running career, her constant was her music. A celebrated C&W Princess with her first hit["Delta Dawn"]at thirteen years of age, Tanya rode out the ensuing three decades with various twists and turns in country based styles, proving to be one of the most consistent hit radio and recording charts artists to emerge at the tail end of the traditional country music era. Possessing one of the most cherished, distinct, smoky, husky and expressive vocal instruments in country music, Tanya remains the most popular and enduring Country Queen of all time. No other female country singer has equalled nor ever embraced the ability to maintain the longevity of popularity this girl achieved before she even hit her fortieth birthday! Though she hasn't produced a hit record in a while[blame that on the narrowminded uncool taste lackin' radio station programmers who have taken over the business this past decade & a half]she has offered up an impressive album or two of more recently newer studio recordings, TANYA remains a popular concert attraction - yup, she's still touring and packin' 'em in over three decades later. I wouldn't be surprised if Tanya makes a huge comeback at some point in the future and enjoys another long run of popular recordings storming up and down the radio/charts again - she's still young enough to pull it off. For now, Tanya Tucker's pot of gold is this treasure of rockabilly gems, compelling emotion wrenched ballads, moving country shuffles-barnyard stompers and some of the most captivating story tellin' tunes in Country Music history.

Tanya Tucker has a very distinctive voice. It is reminiscent of Tina Turner's, but their music is very different, Tanya's being (for the most part) solidly traditional country music.

Tanya recorded for four different record labels in the 20th century and all are represented here. She began with Columbia, where her most famous songs were Delta Dawn and Would you lay with me in a field of stone.

Her next label was MCA - perhaps the best remembered songs from this period are San Antonio stroll and Texas (when I die).

After a brief period in the wilderness, Tanya recorded one album for Arista, represented here by Baby I'm yours, a cover of the sixties R+B classic. This is the rarest track here, as the others have all been released on at least one Tanya CD before.

Another spell in the wilderness, followed by Tanya's most successful years - on the Capitol label. The last four tracks on CD 1 and all of CD 2 are devoted to this period, which includes too many great songs to name, but my favorites include Just another love, I won't take less than your love, Strong enough to bend (Beth Nielson Chapman's first success as a songwriter), If your heart ain't busy tonight and Two sparrows in a hurricane.

If you only ever buy one collection of Tanya's music, this is the one to go for. Many great songs are missing, but all the essentials are here and it would take about six CD's to include all Tanya's memorable songs.

One of main problems with many greatest hits albums is that they only cover one label. Tanya Tucker is a case in point. The only greatest hits albums she's ever released have been incomplete because she has jumped from Columbia to MCA to Capitol, recording solid hits for all three, and never having all the hits in one set. That, I'm happy to say, has changed with this one. This is a must-have.

I purchased this CD for one song and was pleasantly surprised at the number of past hits that ere included on the CD.
Raven Records in Australia put this collection together and along with the biography of Tanya Tucker's ups and downs it is truly the Upper 48 hits CD to buy.
The one song I purchased this for is called, "If It Don't Come Easy", but it also includes "Highway Robbery" which was another traveling song for the open road. "Strong Enough to Bend" is/was another favorite. Disc Two in this album is full of great sentimental hits to beat the break up blues for all.

I have a handful of Tanya "Hits" collections, the best one issued a few years ago with 20 songs on it. Now we get this fantastic collection with 48 songs and my favorite Tanya song, "Spring" is still missing! I can't possibly be the only one who loved this song. Why has it been forgotten? I only have it on an old "budget" cassette that came out years ago. Still, this is the most exciting collection that I've come across.

DELTA DAWN HIT IN 1972 WHEN TANYA WAS THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 13...AND THESE SONGS AND ALL THEIR MEMORIES GET ROLLING IN YOUR BRAIN FROM THERE...LOVES THE ANSWER AND WHATS YOUR MAMA'S NAME I CAN HERE SPINNING AROUND IN MY HEAD FROM THE DISTANT 70'S DAYS OF HEARING THESE SONGS PLAYED AMONG OTHER COUNTRY STANDARDS BY MY DAD OUT ON HIS STEREO WHEN I WAS A WEE LITTLE KID INTO SHARKS AND STAR WARS....HER LIKE NO OTHER VOICE AND HER ENCHANTING LOOKS EASILY TOOK HER TO THE COMPETITIVE TOP OF THIS COUNTRY GAME...SHE IS BASICLY THE FEMALE VERSION OF DAVID BOWIE AND FEW PEOPLE REALISE THIS...DON'T BELIEVE ME?? LISTEN TO THE PATSY CLINE LIKE 'WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME'...AND MANY OTHERS...SOME OF THE SYRUPPY BACKING VOCALS I CAN DO WITHOUT BUT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT ABOUT COUNTRY ...STILL, THIS BEAUTY OF A COUNTRY GAL PACKS ALOT OF SEX AND SASS (CLEAN SEX THOUGH !)...FOR AS BITTER AND NASTY AS TANYA GETS, SHE KEEPS IT CONSERVATIVE AS HELL...BUY THIS NOW !...BLOOD RED AND GOIN' DOWN ALONE MAKES IT WORTH IT ...--CLARK HAGINS

I would highly recommend this boxed set (I really love Tanya's music). I actually think her earlier boxed set is a little bit better because it has her version of "The Thunder Rolls" (Which is VERY different then Garth Brooks's)., and you cannot get it anywhere else. It does not have "Pride Of Franklin County" either. On the plus side, it has "Lizzie and the Rainman" which the earlier box does not. What makes Tanya unique is her story telling ability: "San Antonio Stroll". Lizzy And The Rainman", Delta Dawn", Bidding America Goodbye", "What's Your Mama's Child" and "Pride of Franklin County" just to name a few. If you do not have the earlier box, RUN and get this boxed set ASAP. Then try and fill in the gaps, it is missing like "Black Water Bajou". Simply put an excellent boxed set.

Most of my cd collection was stolen recently including three Tanya Tucker cd's. I was looking to get some Tanya cd's to replace what I lost and I found this ideal collection was available. I ordered it and it has arrived and I've listened to it and I'm thrilled with it. All the phases and facets of Tanya Tucker are on these 2 cd's. I highly recommend this collection by one of the most emotionally expressive singers ever to any country music fan.

I couldn't make up my mind between DEFINITIVE HITS and this CD, but because this one had both of Tanya Tucker's original hits, DELTA DAWN and THE JAMESTOWN FERRY, I chose this one. Besides it has her hits all the way back to 1972 when I first met her.

I was fortunate enough to interview Tanya for The Gilroy News Herald which I edited in the early 70s. The interview was at a friend's ranch in nearby San Martin and was a memorable day. Since Tanya was only fourteen (or was it fifteen?) at the time, my children were invited too. Being still young and natural, Tanya was an easy interview, so I got a nice scoop. And the kids enjoyed getting to know her a little.

The meeting/interview was held at the time that Tanya's debut hit, DELTA DAWN, was climbing the charts and THE JAMESTOWN FERRY was just taking off. As was traditional in those days, Tanya gave me and the kids autographed studio photos as mementos. I framed mine for the newspaper office, naturally, and later hung it on my "Brag Wall" in my home office.

Sorry to digress, but I enjoy "living in the past" from time to time. LOL.

As a country-western fan I enjoy all the songs on this album, but the two mentioned above are my all-time faves by Tanya ... for sentimental reasons.

No matter how much Tanya Tucker changed in later years, she remained a major talent. I recommend all her music very highly ... and her "reality show" is fun to watch, also. It's a treat for me to see her in later years and get to know a little about her children. Keep rockin', Tanya!

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley

Super...but I am a Tanya Tucker fan ...She can do no wrong Top Country Artist