Search - Aaron Tippin :: Ultimate Aaron Tippin

Easily the best collection of Tippin's RCA Years

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 02/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This new set surpasses previous Aaron Tippin collections, like his 13-track Greatest Hits... and Then Some and the 16-track RCA Country Legends. It includes 17 of the 19 singles Tippin charted during his 1990-1997 RCA tenure (only "She Made A Memory Out Of Me" and "Everything I Own" - neither of which cracked the top 50 - are missing). This includes "Honkytonk Superman" which isn't available on either of the aforementioned Tippin sets and ranks as one of his most fun recordings. See the paragraphs below for more information on Tippin the country artist.Aaron Tippin is hard-core country. His raw, ear-jarring twang often sounds like a howling coyote. Yet Tippin has found a successful niche in country music by consistently relating to working class values on his best singles (most of which he also wrote). "Working Man's Ph.D." and "I Got It Honest" take a proud stance on manual labor. "You've Got To Stand For Something" and "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" celebrate sticking to one's beliefs and doing the right thing no matter where you come from. Tippin also appeals to his less-than -wealthy core audience through humor on "There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio". This novelty number depicts the car from hell which an upbeat Tippin won't unload, due to its lone remaining sonic asset.Tippin even fits some romantic songs into his repertoire (usually of the unsuccessful at love type). The honky tonkin' "My Blue Angel" finds Tippin yodelling about a lost love he's still searching for, while in the straight forward ballad That's As Close As I'll Get To Loving You," he pines for a girl he can never have. When Tippin does finally get the girl in a song, it turns out he has to answer "The Call Of The Wild." You won't find a lot of emotional depth on this collection. Tippin seeks foremost to entertain his listeners and, within the confines of his working man persona, he usually succeeds. If you are in the mood for some country music that's festive and you don't mind a lotta twang, give this set a try."