Search - John Conlee :: "John Conlee - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2"

The second half of John's career

Jerry McDaniel | 03/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"what seems amazing to me is that John Conlee was such a hugely successful star that after the release of 1983's "Greatest Hits", MCA issued a second volume in 1985 and 9 of the tracks were hit singles too! on "Greatest Hits, Volume Two" we're treated to the second half of John's career (1983-1985) since the first volume covered 1978-1982. however, "Before My Time", a #2 hit from 1979 was left off the first volume of hits and so it finds it's home on this 1985 collection. the album boasts two brand-new tracks, "Lifetime Guarantee", this wasn't issued as a single but the second new song, "The Old School", was and it hit in early 1986. however, Conlee's move to Columbia had already taken place in mid 1985, resulting in the #15 peak of "The Blue Highway" in the fall of 1985 {i think MCA didn't promote it too much}. afterward, MCA issued this "Greatest Hits, Volume Two" album. this contains 10 tracks, not in order: Lifetime Guarantee (1985); I'm Only In It For The Love (1983; #1); In My Eyes (1984; #1); As Long As I'm Rockin' With You (1984; #1); Way Back (1984; #4); Years After You (1985; #2); Working Man (1985; #7); Before My Time (1979; #2); Blue Highway (1985; #15); and The Old School (1986; #5). John Conlee moved to 16th Avenue records in 1989 after a two year stay with Columbia (1986-1988) but 16th Avenue had no impact on Music Row and had little influence with country radio and as a result his singles charted lower than normal, thus ending his radio career by late 1989. he tried a comeback in December 1990 with the single-only release of "The Doghouse" but 16th Avenue went out of business soon afterward. his biggest hit for them was "Hit The Ground Runnin", which hit #43 in 1989. that single and seven more of his songs from his 1989 album are on the 1991 CURB album "Best of John Conlee" that rounds out the trilogy of albums every Conlee fan needs: "Greatest Hits", "Greatest Hits, Volume Two", and "Best of John Conlee". on "Greatest Hits, Volume Two" John is wearing a leather vest and grinning but he's not sporting his rose colored glasses!"