"Skip Ewing has always been something of an enigma. A fabulous writer and musician, he's been consistently overshadowed by "flash-in-the-pan" country artists that are here and gone in a twinkling. "Greatest Hits" is collection of Skip's hits from his first 3 albums. He is first and foremost a ballad singer, and that's never more evident than when he sings "The Gospel According to Luke" and "The Coast of Colorado", which I consider to be one of the finest country songs ever recorded. Ewing's ability to use plays on words is unrivaled, evidenced in his using Matthew 4:4 from the Bible as his basis for "If a Man Could Live on Love Alone". And of course, "It Wasn't His Child" keeps you guessing about it's significance until the very end, a technique Skip has done on other songs not on this collection and has mastered.You should absolutely buy this album. It's a great intro to Skip Ewing and his remarkable ability behind both the pen and the microphone. But it's more than that, too. It's the chance to experience a rarity in country music - songs that are thought-provoking, musical, and real. After Skip Ewing, everyone else will seem like just noise and words."
More successful as a songwriter
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Skip Ewing (born Donald Ralph Ewing) has been an extremely successful country music songwriter - you will find his songs on many albums by major country artists - but only achieved limited success as a singer despite having a wonderful voice. This compilation features the best of Skip's music from his three MCA albums (A healing fire, The will to live, The coast of Colorado) recorded between 1988 and 1991, including all of his A-side singles. Most of the songs here are slow ballads although Skip's biggest hit was a mid-tempo song.
Skip scored a top three country hit with Burning a hole in my heart (the song that inspired me to buy this album), a top five country hit with It's you again and also made the country top ten with I don't have far to fall and The gospel according to Luke. Skip also scored minor country hits with Your memory wins again and The coast of Colorado. Also included is the Christmas song, It wasn't his child, which has also been recorded by Sawyer Brown (though it didn't appear on their Christmas album) and Trisha Yearwood (you can find it on her Sweetest gift album).
Skip's third album for MCA was less successful than the first two so he focused on his songwriting while MCA focused on other artists. I get the impression that Skip is happy to stick to songwriting but this collection shows what a great singer he is."
An Introduction to Skip Ewing
Peter Durward Harris | 12/09/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While I don't think a 10-song collection comes close to capturing the essence of Skip Ewing's tenure at MCA Records, the hits album is a nice introduction to his talent and career. This album is a turning point for Skip; he never recorded another album for MCA Records. Two relatively unsuccessful albums follow this, each maintaining the quality and charm of the work represented here. A third album released this year did not prove itself commercially, but the talent is still there."
5 Stars is NOT enough for this CD
Peter Durward Harris | 10/13/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard Skip Ewing while shopping at a Shepler's in KC and just had to ask the cashier who was singing. Skip is an extremely talented songwriter and has the voice to bring his incredible songs to life. He has more talent in his pinky than Garth could ever HOPE to have. The music fan in Kennesaw, GA, is absolutely right. Skip definitely should have been (should be?) a major star in country music. The next time you hear a song that really moves you, check and see if Skip isn't the songwriter."
Luke was the one
Peter Durward Harris | 11/27/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I never was much of a country music listener. Then one day i heard "The Gospel According to Luke". I loved it so much that I never forgot it. Now it has been close to 10 years since I heard it. I remembered the title, so I began to search for the artist. What an impact this songwriter has made for me. I know this song will never be forgotten."