When Universal/MCA released the 2-CD Anthology 1956 - 1980 back in 1991, they also put out separate volumes dealing with the two parts which, I notice, are now available only as used copies.
Since the comments in my review of the 2-CD set done on August 3, 2007 apply here as well I repeat the pertinent portion, in the event anyone is interested in just the one volume:
"Born in Atlanta, Georgia on December 11, 1944, she was just eleven when discovered by the late, great Red Foley in 1955. Soon she was a regular on the Ozark Jubilee and in 1956 cut the Hank Williams' hit Jambalaya for Decca, a local hit only, and clearly "country" through-and-through. Her first national hit came in 1957 when One Step At A Time rose to # 15 Country in April AND # 43 Billboard Top 100 in March. That would also be her last Country hit for 14 years.
That August Dynamite stalled at # 72 Top 100, although it did lead to her now familiar nick-name of Little Miss Dynamite. It was also her last Pop hit for two years, likely because the teeny-boppers realized she was younger than THEY were.
But in 1960 she returned with the huge hit Sweet Nothin's which, b/w Weep No More My Lady, charged to # 4 Billboard Hot 100 and # 12 R&B in April. Three months later she was back with the double-sided hit I'm Sorry (# 1 Hot 100 for 3 weeks/# 4 R&B) b/w That's All You Gotta Do (# 6 Hot 100/# 19 R&B).
Clearly, with those R&B crossovers, she had widespread appeal and proved it again in October when I Want To Be Wanted hit # 1 Hot 100 and # 7 R&B. Unfortunately, the flipside, Just A Little, although a # 40 Hot 100 by itself, is omitted from this anthology. That Christmas a record she had cut back in 1958, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, made it to # 14 Hot 100 b/w Papa Noel. What a year!
It continued in 1961 when she started off with yet another two-sided hit, Emotions (# 7 Hot 100) b/w I'm Learning About Love (# 33 Hot 100). Again, the flipside is missing from this set. In May, You Can Depend On Me (b/w It's Never Too Late) made it to # 6 Hot 100 and # 25 R&B, followed quickly by the rocking Dum Dum which rose to # 4 Hot 100 in August b/w Eventually, which also made it to # 56 Hot 100 (but is not included). Two months later came yet another double hit, Fool # 1 (# 3 Hot 100) b/w Anybody But Me (# 33 Hot 100 and not included)."
The AAD sound quality in this volume is excellent and the insert contains six pages of background notes written by Diana Haig, numerous vintage photos of Brenda at various stages of her career, and a discography of the contents.
