The Essential Ronnie Milsap [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Ronnie Milsap

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000F9TCI2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,437 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Milsap set IN PRINT, August 3, 2006

By	James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This two-disc set contains the original versions of 39 country hits that Ronnie Milsap recorded for RCA between 1974 and 1989. During that 15-year period, no one else hit the top of the charts as often as Milsap - or even came close. It's a testament to the diversity of his vocal and song-selecting talents.

Those diverse classics include pure pop ("Pure Love," "Smokey Mountain Rain"), polished honkytonkers ("Daydreams About Night Things," "I'm A Stand By My Woman Man,"), stone country weepers ("Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," "Nobody Likes Sad Songs"), bluesy tributes ("What A Difference You've Made In My Life"), and adult contemporary fare ("It Was Almost Like A Song"). Toward the end of his hit-making tenure, Milsap dwelled on nostalgia with a successful remake of the `50s favorites "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby," as well as the vintage sounding "Lost In The Fifties Tonight." Milsap also proved to be an excellent collaborator, pairing up with Kenny Rogers on the Grammy winning chart-topper "Make No Mistake She's Mine."

In addition to the original hits, we get a live version of "Let My Love Be Your Pillow" (the studio version is available on 2004's Ultimate Ronnie Milsap). The vast majority of these recordings are also included on Milsap's 40 # 1 Hits from 2000. That one is a slightly stronger set that is currently out of print, but worth seeking out.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most Complete Set Available, But..., June 23, 2007

By	S. Hughes "Top of the Stax" (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ronnie Milsap had 59 hits that reached the Top 40 of the Country charts between 1973 and 1993. Six of his hits also crossed over and hit the Top 40 of the Pop charts. This 2 CD set has forty of those hits, and is the most complete collection currently available. Unfortunately, the mastering of this set is not as good as the mastering of the single CD "Ultimate Ronnie Milsap". The "Ultimate" CD has better-defined bass and brighter highs--the "Essential" set is dull by comparison. If you need all forty songs, then "Essential" is truly that, but "Ultimate" is the better choice for the casual fan. For the true fanatic, get both.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Agree With Mr Bagley, August 4, 2006

By	James Fenos "music freak" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This set of Ronnie's recordings is similar to the Virgin 40 #1's released a few years ago and I'd say the mastering of this set rivals the Virgin release. The difference here is this set is sequenced by style rather that chronology which keeps the music fresh. Ronnie's work with his post RCA association with Libery, Virgin, and Image are mentioned in the liner notes but sadly not one track from those projects is included on this set which would have made the whole thing a tad stronger and certainly more comprehensive; what is here however is a fine collection of his 70's and 80's radio staples and it's well worth the money.