Disco de Brenda Lee: “Brenda Lee Story (Her Greatest Hits)”

Brenda Lee was among the first and (to these ears) best female teen idols, and "The Brenda Lee Story" is an outstanding overview of her career.

Just a teenager when she recorded many of these songs with producer Owen Bradley , Ms. Lee could even then sing countrypolitan ballads the near-equal of labelmate Patsy Cline (1960's #1 "I'm Sorry," "Fool #1," the elegant "All Alone Am I"). She also fired up teenage pop fluff like "Sweet Nothins" with a rock n' roll growl her contemporary, Connie Francis, could not manage. (Listen to her line, "My baby gives me that special look," for proof.) The collection has a few missteps: Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" is a bit too speedy, "You Always Hurt The One You Love" pales next to Clarence Henry's version. But overall, Brenda Lee's "Story" is a fine introduction to her best work, lacking only her Christmas classic "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" to make it perfect.

With so many Brenda albums to choose from, one could be understandably overwhelmed. This CD encompasses BL's Rock years on Decca Records. According to Billboard, BL had 29 chart hits from 1960-1967. 16 of the 22 tracks herein made those charts. BL also (!) had 19 country chart hits from 1971-1985, with one actually released in 1957 when she was 13 years old. That is longevity! No pure country releases are included here but "Fool # 1" and "Too Many Rivers", which both made the rock charts, have distinct country flavors. So too do "Johnny One Time" and "Just Out of Reach", which made neither chart. Favorite tracks are highly subjective but this listener especially liked "Losing You" and "Emotions". The only track that failed to impress was a far too upbeat version of Hank Williams' "Jumbalaya" which does justice to neither country nor rock. That one errant entry aside, "The Brenda Lee Story" ably showcases that talented performer from Lithonia, Georgia. Old fans of Little Miss Dynamite have a safe choice here and these tracks may well produce some new ones.

Brenda Lee's cut of "I'm Sorry" is worth the price of this album by itself. But all of her goodies are also here, like "Break It To Me Gently" and "Too Many Rivers To Cross." Styles change and singers come and go...but it is hard to understand why talent like Brenda's does not continue to have her making top-of-the-chart recordings up to the present. Fortunately, we have these precious gems of BL to listen to - and I do!! Over and over. Classics!

I am really reminded of how much range and emotion Brenda brings to songs. Her style for her standards is well represented and some of the other works are a pure joy to listen to.

Contains her biggest U.S. pop hits, but no liner notes. A decent and affordable single-disc collection that should keep even the most casual fans happy.