Search - Tammy Wynette :: The Definitive Collection

Best single CD of Tammy's music

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 03/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tammy's fans know that one (or even two) CD's cannot contain all her country classics, but this compilation is brilliant. It contains all the absolutely essential solo hits, a reasonable selection of her other country hits and a good sample of her recordings with others.The essential solo tracks are Stand by your man, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, I don't wanna play house and Till I can make it on my own. Among the other solo tracks, my favorites include Take me to your world, Your good girl's gonna go bad, You and me, Woman to woman and Womanhood. These tracks are not always included on Tammy's compilations - indeed, Womanhood didn't even get into the Tears of Fire boxed set of Tammy's music - so it's great to see them all here.Three duets with George Jones are included. I would have chosen Two story house instead of Near you, but I have no complaints, as anybody who wants all Tammy and George's duets can find them elsewhere. Also included are superb covers of Sometimes when we touch (with Mark Gray), Every breath you take (with Sting, who originally recorded the song as lead singer of Police) and Silver threads and golden needles (with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn). Her first duet hit, My elusive dreams (with David Houston) is also here.The collection ends with Justified and ancient, her huge worldwide hit of the late eighties, which saw her singing with the KLF. Apparently this was number one in 18 countries. It was number two in the UK and also did well in America. This track is substantially different from Tammy's other music, but if you don't like it you can always hit stop when you reach it. With 26 other tracks, nobody can have any cause for complaint.Among the Tammy classics not included here are Bedtime story, I still believe in fairy tales and Another lonely song, but the tracks here fill the CD. Despite those and other omissions, this is the best single-CD collection of Tammy's music you are ever likely to find. If you only want one CD of Tammy's music, choose this."