For the Record: 41 Number One Hits

Alabama

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 25, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000009S3R
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,050 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Alabama epitomizes the term people's band. Never a critics' favorite, the quartet from Fort Payne, Alabama, presents slick, sentimental songs that unerringly catch the ear of fans yet mystify those who don't hear the appeal. This two-CD career retrospective, which presents all 41 of the group's No. 1 hits, underlines just how successful they've been. The strengths are there: Randy Owen's clear, deep, intimate vocals; the focus on accessible melodies and musical hooks; and the straightforward song sense that plainly celebrates love, family, and home with all the simplicity of homilies stitched into a framed kitchen doily. Some might argue about Alabama's artistic value, but the band's 18-year track record offers a convincing retort. --Michael McCall

USA Today

Only a blindly devoted fan would believe there couldn't be a better Alabama compilation, though few could argue for a more comprehensive one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 20 years of rocking country music, July 30, 2002

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

41 number one hits (and they've had a 42nd since then) is an impressive record by any standards. They've also had a lot of other hits which came close. One of my favorite Alabama songs, Pass it on down, peaked at number two, therefore didn't make this collection. Their debut single, My home's in Alabama, only peaked at number 16 and also misses out. I'm not complaining really, but it would be nice to see another compilation - perhaps it could be called Not the number one hits (it would contain a lot of quality songs, and would be better than most Greatest hits collections).

What you get here is three songs recorded especially for this album, one of which made number one when eventually released as singles, together with all those 41 hits.

Alabama were always the champions of the blue collar workers, most clearly illustrated on Forty hour week, in which they pay tribute to all those who keep America going. It's a great song, but there are several others I like even better. One of my favorites, In pictures, is a song about being so busy working that you don't see much of your family except in pictures. It was brilliantly covered by Linda Davis, a seriously under-rated singer who spent a lot of time backing Reba. Tennessee River, another of my favorites, was Alabama's first number one. Hank Williams Junior did a great cover of it for his Rowdy album, which is one of his best albums. My favorites also include Old flame, Feels so right, Mountain music, Song of the south and Hometown honeymoon - but most of the other songs are not far behind.

Alabama wrote nearly all their own material, but they did occasionally record covers. The only one to qualify for this collection is Touch me when we're dancing, previously recorded by the Carpenters. This is a wonderful collection which may not appeal to the critics, but the fans love it, and it's not difficult to see why.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Alabama is great. Edited versions of songs aren't great., October 9, 2004

By	Robert (Illinois) - See all my reviews

When Alabama first came out, they were one of the few country acts to not only have a string of hit singles, but also have albums that you could listen and enjoy nearly every song. So many compilations have been issued featuring Alabama's best, but this is the first to encompass their entire career. I've always enjoyed Alabama, especially their early releases. What I don't enjoy is buying a $25 CD set and getting cut-up edited versions of songs. For instance, half the fiddle solo is cut out of "Dixieland Delight", the drum solo is cut out of "Mountain Music" and those are just a couple examples. I wish RCA would release a compilation featuring the versions that are on the original albums. That's how I remember the songs, that's how I want to hear them today.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of country musics top bands, October 28, 2002

By	Theodore Illenberg (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Before the 1980s there was only one established country band, they were the Statler Brothers. By the 1980s country music had a new band, they were called Alabama. For over twenty years Alabama has been a major country band. They are popular throughout the world. This CD contains all of their number one classics. From the riveting "Mountain Music" and "Tennessee River" to their tender ballads "Feel so right" and "Why lady why".

One great song is "Roll on eighteen wheeler." The lyrics were not that great but the song expresses a strong love for family. "Forty-Hour week" is a tribute to the working class person who keeps this country moving. One of their top songs is "Song of the South" which is about life in the south during the depression. Alabama has shown they can sing ballads as well as riveting songs that gets your feet tapping. They effectively blend both country and rock and roll. Very few bands last as long as long as Alabama. Alabama will be a major part of country and American popular music for years to come.