Search - Kenny Rogers :: Always & Forever

Kenny covers classic songs

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kenny Rogers has recorded many songs that have become classics including Ruby don't take your love to town, Lucille, The gambler, Coward of the county and many others. This double CD demonstrates Kenny's ability to interpret other classic songs and stamp his own identity on them, although She believes in me, Lady, Through the years and You decorated my life are here to represent his own hits.The songs here come from a variety of sources and eras. The Great American songbook is represented by As time goes by, Stardust, Always, I only have eyes for you and other great songs. There are a couple of Elvis classics - Love me tender and Can't help falling in love. Endless love, one of the best Motown songs from the eighties, is normally sung as a duet but Kenny's solo rendition is wonderful. I had my doubts when I saw Evergreen listed among the song, but Kenny's version of this Barbra Streisand classic is a good effort although it cannot compete with Barbra's original. Kenny is more suited to country classics like Have I told you lately that I love you, Crazy and I will always love you, or soul classics like When a man loves a woman.This could hardly be described as an essential album, but Kenny is a versatile performer with a distinctive style and he clearly enjoyed recording these songs."

KENNY ROGERS VALENTINE TO HIS FANS

Lady Gal Music | Florida | 10/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought two copies of this CD, one for myself and one for my parents on their anniversary. Many of the songs were songs they remembered and enjoyed but Kenny Rogers puts his own stamp on them. Rogers has a voice that is rough and almost gravely at times, but it is has a warmth and beauty few other singers can match. Most people identify Rogers with country songs such as "Ruby", "Reuben James", and "Lucille". These standards hold up very well with his voice, even in songs that require the use of vibrato and some high notes, which are not his strong suit, as in "I Will Always Love You". His natural voice does crack in the middle of phases, which lends almost a "cry" to such songs and "Crazy" and "You Are So Beautiful". If you want to hear a romantic CD by Kenny Rogers, you can't go wrong with this one. This double CD comes with a small contents sheet and no folder...I give it 4 stars...since some of the songs just don't work as well for Rogers voice...still it's a very interesting and compelling anthology of standards sung by one of the best country singers. So give it a listen..."