Customer Reviews

Very Best of Randy Travis

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not the strongest collection of Randy's music yet released (that is the double-CD Anthology) but it is the best single CD available. As such, if you feel that a double CD is either too much or too expensive, this is the one to go for. It contains nineteen of his hits for Warner from the old millennium and one track from his 2002 album (Rise and shine), Three wooden crosses. Randy's voice has similarities with Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard and Clint Black, but the contrasting musical styles ensures that you won't normally confuse one with another.

Randy had fifteen number one hits on the country charts in the eighties and nineties and all except one are included here. The fifteen are Digging up bones, On the other hand, Forever and ever amen, I won't need you anymore, Too gone too long, I told you so (not included), Honky tonk moon, Deeper than the holler, Is it still over, It's just a matter of time (originally a pop hit for Brook Benton), Hard rock bottom of your heart, Forever together, Look heart no hands, If I didn't have you and Whisper my name. More recently, Three wooden crosses returned Randy to the top of the country charts.

Of course, if you are looking for a particular Randy Travis song and it isn't here, it may be on Anthology or one of the other available compilations. Of the tracks available on Anthology but not here, my favorites are A few ole country boys (with George Jones - this can be found on some of George's albums as well as other albums by Randy), 1982 and What'll you do about me. Still, these omissions only serve to emphasize how many great hits Randy had.

If you just want a single CD of Randy's music, this compilation will suit you ideally unless your favorite song of his is missing. The committed fan should go for Anthology instead, picking up Rise and shine for Three wooden crosses.

Along with Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle, Randy Travis ushered in the new traditionalist movement in country music with his 1985 debut STORMS OF LIFE. That album produced his first no. 1 hit with "On the Other Hand," and nearly twenty years later he topped the chart again in 2003 with "Three Wooden Crosses." Those songs bookend this collection and in between are 18 songs which hit most of the highlights of his amazing career.

While Travis is not known as a songwriter, he makes excellent choices in the material he performs. And his warm baritone voice is one of the best in all of country music. [Note: Travis did write the no. 1 hit "I Told You So," and he co-wrote "Forever Together" and "Better Class of Losers" with Alan Jackson.]

Those of you who already bought 2002's 2-CD TRAIL OF MEMORIES will not find anything new here (except the addition of "Three Wooden Crosses"), but for everyone else this is a solid single-disc career retrospective. My only complaint is that with a running time of just under 65 minutes, there was room to squeeze in a few of the eight top 10 singles left off. I would have especially liked to have seen "1982" from his debut added along with the duet with his hero George Jones on "A Few Old Country Boys" from 1990's HEROES & FRIENDS.

While I already own TRAIL OF MEMORIES, I purchased this as a Christmas present (along with the equally excellent THE VERY BEST OF DWIGHT YOAKAM) for the country music fan on my holiday list. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Features all of Randy Travis' greatest hits from the late 80's and early 90's. Also includes his latest hit, Three Wooden Crosses." Sound quality is excellent; crystal clear. I highly recommend this great CD to any country music fan.

I LOVE this CD. If you love Randy Travis, this CD is a must have. I have listened to it over and over again and like it more each time!

It's impossible to like all of country music, but Randy Travis is liked by even those who don't like country music. From 1986 and through the 90's he was always on top or near the top of the country charts. His calm, nasal drawl reminds me a bit of Lefty Frizell, but there's no mistaking his unique style. These are some of the best recordings in the history of country music including Digging Up Bones, Forever and Ever, Amen, Too Gone Too Long, Is It Still Over?, Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart etc. Randy had 16 No. 1's on the country charts. There are 20 cuts here. If you only want one CD with all his greatest hits this is your logical choice. By the way, the sound from Rhino is bright and punchy and the booklet features dates, neat pixs, and peak positions. You've got a winner for life with this one!

This is an excellent collection of many number one and top ten singles released by Randy Travis from 1987 through 2002. A few recent singles from his Dreamworks albums are absent, but the overall tone and quality of this album represents the type of country music Randy is known for best. All of these songs are gems. Randy's voice glows against simple country arrangements that ring with profound messages. If you remember him for "Forever and Ever Amen", "I Told You So", and "On The Other Hand", this is the CD for you. It also includes his most recent number one, "Three Wooden Crosses" that shocked the nation when it hit number one on three different music charts. The quality of the music is supurb and the CD design itself is worth the price. it includes some wonderful pictures of Randy through the years and a very attractive cover shot. Randy always puts togther the best albums collections of hits.

Kitka

This CD is THE album to get if you want at least one Randy Travis collection. I have had this CD for a short while and I'm already a Randy fan! Before I had gotten this album, I hadn't really thought that much about his music until I had heard Three Wooden Crosses and Angels on the radio... that was the beginning!!


In the future, I'll probably get more albums by him like Passing Through and his Worship and Faith CD.

If you love Randy Travis or are a brand new fan this cd is for you.
For those who have listened to Randy since he was digging up bones, it is a great walk down a melodious memory lane.
To the newbies who may know him from his recent blockbuster
Three Wooden Crosses, welcome to the world of traditional country.
All these great hits show why Randy has remained such a respected and oft-imitated artist.
There are no affectations and no pretense. What you hear is pure talent.
A baritone that can cause chills and tears, no one does it better.
I couldn't possibly choose favorites. Each and every song is a wonderful story and Randy sings them with heart.

Absolutely love it. If you sing along with him on the radio buy this CD!

My first Randy Travis CD. I've heard his songs on the internet radio station I listen to at work. This CD has a bunch of great country classics. I'm very happy with my purchase. Give it a try.