Search - Pat Boone :: Pat's Great Hits

Another Curb Weak Entry

04/22/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"There being so many more comprehensive Pat Boone compilations available the advice here is to avoid this one. As is their fashion, Curb threw this one onto the market back in 1994 when CDs were still a novelty, then belied the label "Pat's Great Hits" by throwing in 2 of a meagre 10 tracks that were in no way among his 49 Dot Pop hits and one for Tetragammaton, registered from 1955 to 1969. The first 8 were legitimate hits by any standard, but then these are readily available on any number of other volumes containing 20 tracks or more. And for not that much more money.



The last two are described in the one page of liner notes as "two of Pat's most compelling country standouts of 1973." Perhaps, in the writer's definition of "standouts." But hits they are not. In fact, Pat didn't have a Country hit until 1975 when Indiana Girl reached a modest # 72 for the Melodyland label. That same year he had a duet with his wife Shirley - I'll Do It With You - make it to # 84, also for Melodyland. In 1976 he switched to Hitsville and there had his best Country entry, Texas Woman, reach # 34, followed by Oklahoma Sunshine which topped out at # 86. In 1980 he then had his last Country entry, Colorado Sunday Morning, go to # 60 for, ironically, Warner/Curb.



Had any two of these been included rather than tracks 9 and 10 I may have given it 2 stars, and if all 5 had been included (all hard to find), it would have rated 4 stars for that alone."

More songs needed, but still good

Candace Scott | Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA | 04/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Where's "Friendly Persuasion?" Where is Pat's best rock recording, "Bernadine?" Any collection of his greatest hits needs to include these songs, so I am giving this merely four stars.It's something of a cottage industry to bash Pat Boone and remind everyone he didn't write his own songs, he patterned himself after Bing Crosby and he "desecrated" rock classics like Ain't That a Shame. But I challenge these naysayers to really listen to this collection of Pat's greatest hits. Pat had a natural talent and an easy style which makes for great listening, even after 45 years. Of course he sounds like Bing Crosby, but what's wrong with that? Bing influenced an entire generation of male singers, including Sinatra, Como and Dean Martin. But Pat branched out and became a truly good rock n' roll singer. If you don't believe me, listen to Bernadine, which is an outstanding rocker, and Don't Forbid Me, which sounds so much like a Presley recording you'll do a double take.It's a shame that Pat Boone isn't played on oldies stations and is dismissed by rock's elite as something of a joke. I will guarantee you they haven't listened to these songs because they showcase an innate ability to casually croon and mightily entertain. My personal favorite here is Speedy Gonzalez, which is not politically correct anymore, but hilarious in its stereotypes and "inappropriate" humor. If you love Pat Boone, you'll love this disc no matter what. If you're not a Boone fan, you wouldn't be here in the first place. The sound quality of these remastered recordings is excellent, they sound even better than the original Dot releases. Enjoy Pat without feeling a twinge of guilt, I know I do!"

Quite Good

arif_mumtaz@hotmail.com | Rawalpindi, Pakistan | 08/05/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Love Letters in Sand Again. If Pat Boone had never sung this song, he might not have had so many successful albums. Some more tracks would have been welcome, but this is a good collection ... and for the price, quite reasonable."