Search - Oak Ridge Boys :: "The Oak Ridge Boys - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1"

Their traditional country period

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Oak Ridge Boys began as a gospel group but switched their focus to country music in 1977. There was no great history of groups in country music at the time, although the Statler brothers had shown that groups could be successful in the genre. The Oaks (as they were often known) proved to be very successful and thus helped to pave the way for Alabama and the other groups that followed.When released on vinyl, this collection contained the greatest hits that the Oaks had achieved up to that point. Two more volumes of greatest hits were to follow, providing proof of their popularity throughout the eighties. However, this was the one I always liked best because it is firmly rooted in traditional country. I enjoyed their later more pop-flavored music including their classic hits Elvira and Bobbie Sue, but the hits here, covering the period 1977 to 1980, were what really excited me.The majority of the tracks here are upbeat songs to get up and dance to, including You're the one, Trying to love two women, Dream on, Leaving Louisiana in the broad daylight (a song also recorded by Emmylou Harris), Come on in (recorded by Dave and Sugar as Baby take your coat off), Sail away and my favorite Oaks song, Y'all come back saloon.There is one real tearjerker (I'll be true to you) that doesn't fit the mood of the rest of the album - it is about a woman who commits suicide - and two ballads, Crying again and Heart of mine.So this collection only covers four years of the long career of the Oaks, but it is the four years I enjoy most. You can buy another compilation to listen to their later hits, but if you love traditional country, this is a must-have."