Garth Brooks Album: “Hits”

Garth Brooks recorded some great songs many of which are included in this fine collection, which was compiled from his first five albums (Garth Brooks, No fences, Roping the wind, The chase, In pieces). Garth's phenomenal success in his American homeland contrasts sharply with his international profile. He became very popular in some countries (notably Ireland) but conspicuously failed to make more than a limited impact elsewhere, notably Britain, where he had a few hit singles but his chart history is not spectacular, so this review focuses primarily on his American career.

Garth's first single (Much too young) was a great song but the other two hits (If tomorrow never comes, The dances) from his debut album (simply titled Garth Brooks) really set up his career. Irish singer Ronan Keating later had a British number one hit with a cover of If tomorrow never comes. While his debut album provided Garth was a great start to his career, he was at that stage overshadowed by another rising country star, Clint Black. While Clint was never quite able to match the brilliance of his debut album, Garth took country music to a whole new audience.

Garth's second album (No fences) yielded four major hits (Friends in low places, Unanswered prayers, The thunder rolls, Two of a kind working on a full house). Garth co-wrote The thunder rolls before he had a recording contract and Tanya Tucker was the first singer to record hit. Tanya's brilliant version was not released on an album at the time (it later appeared on a 4-CD boxed set in 1994) so Garth recorded it himself. The album eventually sold well over ten million copies in America, reaching out to a pop and rock audience that traditionally ignored country music.

Garth's third album (Roping the wind) consolidated Garth's status as a superstar. No less than six tracks from it can be found here, these being Burning bridges (a hit for Garth in Spain), Shameless (a cover of a Billy Joel song), What she's doing now (co-written by Garth but first recorded by Crystal Gayle), Rodeo, Papa loves Mama and the title track.

Garth's fourth album (The chase) is represented by just two tracks here (We shall be free, That summer). Garth is upset at the controversy generated by We shall be free. He and Stephanie Davis, who co-wrote the song, intended it to be a simple love song but the lyrics can be interpreted differently to make it sound like a political anthem. Listen and judge for yourself.

Garth's fifth album (In pieces) is represented by three tracks here (Ain't going down till the sun comes up, Calling Baton Rouge (a cover of a song first recorded by the New Grass Revival, who back Garth on his version of the song), American honky-tonk bar association). The European edition of this compilation, also long out of print, includes two further tracks from this album (Standing outside the fire, The red strokes).

This collection fairly represents Garth's classic period. Although he continued to record further albums, he never quite recaptured the magic of his first five albums. This hits collection was released as a limited edition and is long out of print, but the original albums are still in print. If you can't find a used copy, I recommend you begin with No fences, then pick up In pieces, Garth Brooks, Roping the wind and The chase in that order, stopping if you feel you've got as much of Garth as you want. Garth also recorded a Christmas album (Beyond the season) during this period, which is also worth hearing.

While I am not a very big fan of country music, I have watched Garth Brooks' career with interest, for he seems to have a talent for producing some very interesting music and with a series of collaborators certainly has a lyrical gift worth appreciating. On particular songs such as "The Dance", he shows how high he is able to soar as an artist, although I have to confess that a lot of his other songs I find less than enthralling. Still, I am of the opinion that this collection of his hits is well worth listening to, and there really is something worth listening to here for everyone, even if much of what is here is not necessarily for everyone.

I am a sucker for most sentimental songs, although I do have limits, and much of what country music presents goes far beyond what I can appreciate, over into the land of contrived hooks and emotional showboating. Yet most of us would agree that "if Tomorrow Never Comes" is one of those songs that runs recklessly on the edge of the latter but stays beautifully just inside the limits of what even an old curmudgeon like me has to love! So, too, does the thoughtful emotionalism forwarded in "The River" and "Unanswered Prayers" provide us with examples of just how good Garth can be at his best. So too his magical lyrical confections catch us up in spite of ourselves in songs like "Standing Outside The Fire". Garth does indeed have a way with words.

We all should appreciate the degree to which Brooks has been an influence on the direction of contemporary country music, and I dare to be of the opinion that he has helped to encourage a degree of seriousness and purpose among many young songwriters that the general level of excellence has been lifted. While we may always be victimized by the "You Flushed Me Down The Toilet of Your Heart" kind of country singers, we can also look forward to an occasional glimpse at songs like "The Dance" or "The River" because of Garth. Enjoy!

I first grudgingly heard this album in 1995 in the Navy. It made me a believer in the carms of Country. I am not a Country fan in the slightest, but Garth was single-handedly capable of making people like me become open minded. Since then I've been exposed to Tim McGraw and John Anderson. Some of it IS good. Forget the naysayers, listen to the album, and you'll find yourself enjoying it with little effort. Trust me on this.

Anyone who likes Garth Brooks will love this album. It contains many of his best songs, including "The Dance," "The River," "Unanswered Prayers," "Callin' Baton Rogue," "Standing Outside the Fire," and "Friends in Low Places." It is a perfect showcase for his music, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to it whenever I do. Even if you are not a fan, you will still enjoy it due to the perfection of song selection. If you can find it anywhere, get it. You will not regret it.

Garth has many albums but by far I feel that this one is his best. The collection on this CD has been played for countless hours and if it were a tape it would have been replaced many times over. You will love this one.