Search - Tommy Overstreet :: Very Best of

Eric K. (SoulfulStuff)
Reviewed on 1/26/2018...

Tommy Overstreet was a mainstay of country radio playlists throughout
the 1970s, beginning with "Gwen (Congratulations)" in 1971 and
continuing with a string of hits including "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')"
and "Heaven Is My Woman's Love." He re-recorded many of his hits
in the years after his popularity faded, and too many of the available
"hits" compilations are of these later recordings. Fortunately, in 1998
Varese Vintage mined the ABC/Dot Records vaults for this lineup of sixteen
of Overstreet's best. These are the original hit recordings, and every one
of them WAS a top twenty country hit. A combination of strong material,
confident but warm vocal performances, and sympathetic production
made these tunes among the best on country airwaves in their era.
Highly recommended.

A suprising release

Cory L. Schwent | Bloomsdale, MO United States | 09/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those cd's I never thought I would see in my lifetime.All the songs here are original recordings. Be advised, this is the only availble cd of Tommy Overstreet that features the original recordings of his hits. You do need this for your collection, so get ahold of it while you can, I doubt there will ever be a collection on this forgotten artist released ever again."

Tommy Who?

Richard Bell | Lafayette, Louisiana | 04/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ask any current country DJ how they like TO's music and they will likely respond, "what's TO's." Ask any current country DJ how they like Tommy Overstreet's music and they will likely respond, "who is Tommy Overstreet?" Here's the answer.... Tommy Overstreet along with Johnny Rodriguez, The Kendalls, Crystall Gayle and Donna Fargo, were among the new artist that hit the charts in the early 70s. TO was inspired by Gene Austin (his second cousin ) who sold millions of records on such singles as "My Blue Heaven." The `70s saw a more important musical development, when the so-called "Outlaws" arrived on the scene, led by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. While acts such as Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap leaned toward a more pop sound and submitted to stringent Nashville control, Jennings and Nelson defied the establishment and refused to take part in their regime or the pop-crossover wave. They instead invoked the spirit and mystique of the Austin, Texas music scene. Thus, Waylon and Willie became known throughout the country music circles as the Outlaws. Tommy Overstreet blended in between these two styles with a pure driven spirit that clung to the traditional sound. Accordingly, he gained a huge following and became one of the dominate figures in country music during the early - mid-70s. Driven by his warm - soothing voice, he turned out such great hits as: "Gwen (Congratulations)," "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')," "Heaven is My Woman's Love," "(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady" and "Don't Go City Girl On Me." Unfortunately, Tommy's impact on country music is generally forgotten today, the result of ever changing musical trends. Like most other singers of his era, his music has been shelved in lieu of today's "hot country music." This CD released by Sarabande is all original material. As of this writing, I can safely say don't settle for anything less then this CD. It is worth the time and energy locating it."