Faith Hill Album: “The Hits”

Description :

Personnel: Ira Siegel, Tim Pierce (guitar); Marti Fredericksen, Don Potter, Larry Byrom, Biff Watson, Billy Joe Walker, Tom Bukovac, Bob MInner (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore, Dann Huff, Jeff King, Jerry McPherson, Michael Landau, Pat Buchanan, B. James Lowry, Darran Smith, Denny Hemingson, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Byron Gallimore (12-string guitar); Denny Hemmingson, Sonny Garrish, Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Tom Hemby (gut-string guitar); Paul Franklin (dobro); Darrell Scott (mandolin); Pam Sixfin, Mary Katherine Vanosdale, Conni Ellisor, Catherine Umstead, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson, Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead, David Angell, Cate Myer (violin); Dean Brown, Glen Duncan, Aubrey Haynie, Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Kathryn Plummer, Kristin Wilkinson, Jim Grosjean, Gary Vanosdale (viola); Julia Tanner, John Catchings, Anthony LaMarchina, Bob Mason (cello); Tim Lauer (accordion); Chris Lindsey , John Barlow Jarvis (piano); Jeff McMahon (Fender Rhodes piano); Jamie Muhoberac (Hammond b-3 organ); Jimmy Nichols (keyboard); Steve Nathan, steven nathan (keyboards); Bill Cuomo (synthesizer); Glenn Worf, Michael Rhodes , Mike Brignardello, Paul Bushnell, Tony Shanahan, Craig Nelson, John Marcus (bass guitar); Chris McHugh, Lonnie Wilson, Rich Pagano, Paul Leim, Billy Mason, Shannon Forrest (drums); Eric Darken, Terry McMillan, Vinnie Colaiuta, David Dunkley (percussion); Chip Davis, Chris Rodriguez, Crystal Taliefero, Monet Owens, Stephen Hornbeak, Cindy Richardson-Walker, Curtis Young, Greg Barnhill, Karen Staley, Kim Parent, Lari White, Lisa Cochran, Mark Luna, Mary Ann Kennedy, Pam Rose, Stephanie Bentley, Vince Gill, Bekka Bramlett, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Perry Coleman (background vocals); David Campbell . <p>Additional personnel: Tim McGraw. <p>Six albums into her career, Faith Hill already has more than enough hit singles to fill a best-of album, so this 13 track compilation is a fine summation of her career up to 2007. Containing seven number-one country hits, many of which crossed over to the pop charts, HITS is a fine argument for Faith Hill as one of the top country singers of her time. From pop crossover smashes like "This Kiss" and "Breathe" to more traditional country songs like "Mississippi Girl" and "The Way You Love Me," HITS is a solidly entertaining listen. However, for good measure, HITS also adds three live songs--the Janis Joplin standard "Piece of My Heart," "There Will Come A Day," and "Cry"--as well as one solid new single, "Beautiful." Tastefully packaged and intelligently sequenced as well as musically unbeatable, HITS is a textbook example of how to do a mid-career best-of collection, and is far more listenable than the average uninspired cash-in.

Love Faith, but whoever was in charge of this project at the record company deserves to be fired. Many of the "the hits" are actually missing, and I agree with other reviewers asking why is "I Need You" included on this album and not the other Faith/Tim duets that were hits. The live version of "Stonger" is nice, but what about "There Will Come A Day", which is a Faith fan-standard. Faith rocks that track live and it brings the house down. "Lost" is a great song and I was so thinking Faith would have another hit on the scale of "Breathe", but it seems like it came and went with little to no bother, and now we have "Red Umbrella" as a single already and the song is horrible. The fact that the track list on the back of the CD package does not match how the tracks appear on the CD is ridiculous. My CD came with a tiny sticker saying the track listing doesn't match. But why? Seems like a huge oversight. That said, the track list on the CD packaging would have been much better than how it actually turned out. The order of the tracks on the CD is odd for a Greatest Hits, starting with "Red Umbrella" and going straight to a live track with "Stronger" and then "I Need You", bypassing the Faith standards. The fact that the track list is all messed up and won't even import into iTunes correctly is yet another indicator that whoever was in charge of this project did it half heartedly. Was hoping with all the fan outgrage at the original, dismal track listing for this CD that when the record company decided to rethink things they'd get it right. Missing hits, no special live songs or radio/single versions, screwed up track listing, no real fan favorites. They didn't get it right. Again, love my Faith, and glad if I bought this it supports her, she is a gem, but this is so so so disappointing and I blame the suits.

I'm really excited that Faith finally has a Greatest Hits CD now after so many years in the music business! While this is a good CD, I certainly expected more.

First I initially thought there would be 4 new songs but really there are only two: "Red Umbrella" and "Lost". The live version of "Stonger" is new but the song itself is not. "I Need You" is on Tim's "Let It Go" CD so it isn't new either.

Secondly so many great hits are missing! "Take Me As I Am", "I Can't Do This Any More", "Just To You Say That You Love Me", "Like We Never Loved At All", and anyone know who stole "Where Are You Christmas"?

I'm giving this CD 4 stars because I appreciate Faith's effort to put out this GH, but I thought she certainly could've done a better job.

I was a little surprised by some of the negativity in other's reviews of this album. I had intended on just purchasing the single of There You'll Be but after previewing the samples, I bought the album instead. Whether or not each and every song on a hits type album was a #1 on the charts isn't quite as important to me as knowing that I like each and every track. Besides, with the number of outstanding musical offerings by Faith Hill, or Faith Hill and Tim McGraw jointly, I'm not sure there is any way to get them all on one album :) I'm very happy that I bought this album and am not disappointed at all.