Search - Alabama :: Essential

Comprehensive, but a little lacking

Jon | CA USA | 07/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation is great, except for the fact that half a dozen of some of the most popular songs are the shorter radio versions, not their extended album versions that most people are probably familiar with.



Here's a run-down of the differences that I've noticed:



1. Removed from the beginning of Mountain Music the harmonica solo and the old man talking about climbing the mountain. Drum solo also removed.

2. Removed the truck sounds from the start and finish of Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler).

3. Cut the two fiddle solos from Dixieland Delight and the fadeout is much shorter, cutting off much of the chorus at the end.

4. Cut the fiddle solo from If You Wanna Play in Texas.

5. Almost two whole minutes stripped from the end of She and I.



There may be more, but these were the most obvious for me.



While including the original radio versions may seem fine to some, others of us are most familiar with the extended-length album versions and the short versions just don't sound right. Also, I feel that a career compilation ought to include the full versions of songs. There's just something that feels less "complete" about this set, at least to this picky listener.



The reason for including the shorter, radio versions is obvious: it's so that RCA could fit three new songs in (new, at least, in '98, when this compilation was first released). Those three songs are quite good and enjoyable, but they put them on to sell the compilation, at the expense of some of the more popular classics.



Aside from the half-dozen shortened songs, this is an otherwise great CD set. As stated, this is a re-release of 98's For the Record set that was available until recently. It may've been digitally remastered; I'm not sure. The songs sound very clear and powerful, even the oldest ones.



This is a very nice CD set with simply terrific music and audio quality, but know what you're buying. Some of the songs are not the versions that you know by heart and very likely will annoy picky fans. If, however, you aren't picky, are new to Alabama, or have the extended versions of the affected songs, already, then this is a nice set that'll provide you with the essential hits of the greatest country band ever."

Deceptive entry on Amazon

Michael C. Rosenthal Esq | Staten Island, NY | 05/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a double CD with 44 cuts - not a single as listed in Amazon



This is a reissue of a previously released Alabama CD "For The Record:41 Number One Hits"



Great CD - but know what you are buying"

An outstanding compilation

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 07/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Please note that this is a straight re-issue of a previous compilation (For the record - 41 number one hits) with a different title and packaging.



41 number one hits (and they've had a 42nd since then) on the American country charts 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 cover of a song first recorded by Linda Davis. It is about being so busy working that you don't see much of your family except in pictures. 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. Apart from In pictures, 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 that may not appeal to the critics, but the fans love it, and it's not difficult to see why."