Search - Tanya Tucker :: Upper 48 Hits 1972-97

Totally Tanya

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 01/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In spite of a social life that often interfered with her career, Tanya Tucker is one of the most successful, enduring female country artists of all time. For a strong sampling of her musical highlights, the Aussie label Raven's double-disc The Upper 48 Hits is the set to get. It's the first collection to capture all of her top 20 hits - covering all labels - from the first twenty-five years.



Tucker was just thirteen year-old when she first hit the charts with the saga of Delta Dawn in 1972. Guided at Columbia by legendary producer Bill Sherrill, her specialty in those early years was gothic tales with a decidedly southern (and adult) slant: Delta Dawn, What's Your Mama's Name, Blood Red And Going Down. Her sweet but misunderstood vow of devotion Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) and the paternal tribute The Man That Turned My Mama On also made a memorable impression.



When Tucker turned 17 in 1975, she moved on to MCA Records. The hits came less consistently and she was passed among a number of producers. Nonetheless, there were some stellar moments. Early on, Tucker continued to show an affinity for story songs like San Antonio Stroll and Lizzie And The Rainman, while now proving to be just as adept at relationship tunes (Here's Some Love,Don't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You). By the late '70s, however, even her hits were starting to lose their sizzle (except for the Lonestar anthems Texas (When I Die) and Pecos Promenade) and another label change was inevitable.



Tucker recorded one album for Arista in 1981 - Changes - making her their first country artist (nine years before the next one, Alan Jackson, came along). Its two enclosed tracks (the rockabilly Feel Right and a remake of the sumptuous Barbara Lewis hit Baby I'm Yours) are making their CD debut. Unfortunately, Tucker's voice sounds shrill throughout, both recordings seemingly cut in the wrong key.



Tucker resurfaced on Capitol Records in 1986. By then, it had been five years since her last big hit at MCA and her peak recording years appeared to be behind her. Nevertheless, hooked up with Jerry Crutchfield (one of her many producers at MCA), Tucker immediately hit the top of the charts with a pair of Paul Davis-written tunes dealing with rocky relationships: One Love At A Time and Just Another Love. Her voice - stronger, huskier, and sexier than ever - accompanied by the consistently first-rate material Crutchfield assembled, allowed her to demonstrate her full versatility, be it rowdy toetappers )If It Don't Come Easy, Down To My Last Teardrop), moving ballads (Two Sparrows In A Hurricane, Soon), bluesy scorchers (You Just Watch Me, Some Kind Of Trouble) or defiant rockabilly (Walking Shoes, It's A Little Too Late).



With 1997's bouncy hit Little Things (which ends Upper 48), the recording career of Tanya Tucker seemed to be over. Shortly after its release she left Capitol, slapping them with a lawsuit siting inadequate promotion of product. Five years later, however, Tucker returned with the self-titled Tanya, on her own label Tuckertime (distributed by Capitol as part of her settlement agreement). It's a great follow-up to this collection by the way. Check it out!"

TANYA's POT OF GOLD

HUGO | HOUSTON, TEXAS United States | 07/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Raven Records'[double disc]set becomes the ultimate and certainly most comprehensive TANYA TUCKER hit singles collection to ever compile her amazing long running 25 year[mostly winning] streak of memorable radio/chartbusters over the course of her four recording company associations in one package. Despite various highly publicized ups and downs TANYA TUCKER weathered throughout her long running career, her constant was her music. A celebrated C&W Princess with her first hit["Delta Dawn"]at thirteen years of age, Tanya rode out the ensuing three decades with various twists and turns in country based styles, proving to be one of the most consistent hit radio and recording charts artists to emerge at the tail end of the traditional country music era. Possessing one of the most cherished, distinct, smoky, husky and expressive vocal instruments in country music, Tanya remains the most popular and enduring Country Queen of all time. No other female country singer has equalled nor ever embraced the ability to maintain the longevity of popularity this girl achieved before she even hit her fortieth birthday! Though she hasn't produced a hit record in a while[blame that on the narrowminded uncool taste lackin' radio station programmers who have taken over the business this past decade & a half]she has offered up an impressive album or two of more recently newer studio recordings, TANYA remains a popular concert attraction - yup, she's still touring and packin' 'em in over three decades later. I wouldn't be surprised if Tanya makes a huge comeback at some point in the future and enjoys another long run of popular recordings storming up and down the radio/charts again - she's still young enough to pull it off. For now, Tanya Tucker's pot of gold is this treasure of rockabilly gems, compelling emotion wrenched ballads, moving country shuffles-barnyard stompers and some of the most captivating story tellin' tunes in Country Music history."

The definitive career-spanning Tanya collection

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 11/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tanya Tucker has a very distinctive voice. It is reminiscent of Tina Turner's, but their music is very different, Tanya's being (for the most part) solidly traditional country music.Tanya recorded for four different record labels in the 20th century and all are represented here. She began with Columbia, where her most famous songs were Delta Dawn and Would you lay with me in a field of stone.Her next label was MCA - perhaps the best remembered songs from this period are San Antonio stroll and Texas (when I die).After a brief period in the wilderness, Tanya recorded one album for Arista, represented here by Baby I'm yours, a cover of the sixties R+B classic. This is the rarest track here, as the others have all been released on at least one Tanya CD before.Another spell in the wilderness, followed by Tanya's most successful years - on the Capitol label. The last four tracks on CD 1 and all of CD 2 are devoted to this period, which includes too many great songs to name, but my favorites include Just another love, I won't take less than your love, Strong enough to bend (Beth Nielson Chapman's first success as a songwriter), If your heart ain't busy tonight and Two sparrows in a hurricane.If you only ever buy one collection of Tanya's music, this is the one to go for. Many great songs are missing, but all the essentials are here and it would take about six CD's to include all Tanya's memorable songs."