Search - Skeeter Davis :: Essential

Best Skeeter Davis cd available

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 04/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music on The Essential Skeeter Davis covers almost 20 years of Davis hits. It leads off with the Davis Sisters' megahit "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know." Tragically, Skeeter's singing partner Betty Jack died in a car accident shortly after the release of this hit. As a solo artist, it would take six years for Skeeter Davis to make the charts again (the key to her success the second time around was double-tracking the vocals to get that full Davis Sisters' sound).All of Skeeter's subsequent solo top 10 hits are found on this collection, such as her signature song "End Of The World" and the answer song "(I Can't Help It) I'm Falling Too." Four Davis recordings which weren't singles are also included. Among them, the frequently recorded "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" should have been replaced by one of her hit duets with Bobby Bare. But since Davis' RCA catalog has long been missing in action - and the recent Bobby Bareless-RCA Country Legends only has 15 tracks - that's a minor objection. This is the best Skeeter Davis cd available."

A beautiful voice: sad, plaintive, matter-of-fact, pithy

jon sieruga | Redlands, CA USA | 06/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some of Skeeter Davis's mellow c&w/pop singles are among the best in country music, particularly a cover of Teresa Brewer's "Gonna Get Along Without You Now"(tough to get that one out of your head!)and the jaunty Carole King-penned "I Can't Stay Mad at You". Davis seemed to gravitate to songs about heartbreak, but she's not a shrieker, not a belter. She's more in tune with Dolly Parton's style of vocalizing, with a sad smile underneath her words. She makes these songs her own, and they're worth hearing again and again."

Solid Easy Listening Country

Mcgivern Owen L | NY, NY USA | 05/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mary Frances Penick ("Skeeter Davis") of Dry Ridge, Kentucky (pop. 1601) had 27 chart hits (according to Billboard) from 1958 to 1973. Her "Essentials" album captures the best of those RCA years. It includes an earlier #1song from 1953 when she sang with the late Betty Jack Davis as the Davis Sisters. High points are "Optimistic", "I'm Saving My Love", and "Fuel to the Flame". There are also two "answer" songs- "My Last Date With You" (to Floyd Cramer's "Our Last Date") and "I Can't Help You-I'm Falling Too"(to Hank Locklin's "Please Help Me I'm Fallin"). The Davis Sisters selection is "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know". 15 of the 20 tracks were Billboard hits, but the other 5 do not detract one iota from the overall quality. She is easy to listen to, so unobtrusive. One can listen to her and read a book at the same time. The music glides in softly and smoothly. If you prefer your country mellow, with perhaps a touch of pop, Skeeter is a fine choice, a low risk purchase. One question: Is it true that Skeeter insisted on performing barefoot? That makes such a good story."