Kenny Rogers Album: “Greatest Hits [Prime Cuts]”

...bubble gum psychedelica. From who--? Kenny Rogers and the First Edition? You bet. It also have my favorite country pop tune "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" and the chart topper "Something's Burning". It's good music, ya'll.

An early collection of Kenny Rogers songs while he was the lad singer of Country-Pop group, First Edition.

1. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town

This song, more than 35 years later, remains one of Rogers best know songs and that's saying something as he has recorded many more great songs such as "Reuben James", "The Gambler", "The Greatest", "Crazy In Love", "Coward Of The County" and many more since.

2. Something's Burning

A nice fusion of Country, Pop, Rock and Disco.

3. Me and Bobby McGee

A Country Classic, recorded by many singers both pop and country. My favourite version. A sad song with an upbeat arrangement.

4. Elvira

This is the original version of the song with a very disco-country feel. Later covered by the Oak Ridge Boys.

5. Goodtime Liberator

A classic album cut by The First Edition, originally on the 1969 album "Ruby".

6. Reuben James

Also from 1969's "Ruby". One of my favourite songs. About the loss of a loved friend who will always be alive in your heart. A major hit single in 1969.

7. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

Kenny Rogers and The First Editions first top 40 hit. Psyedelic Country at it's finest

8. Shine on Ruby Mountain

A very popular song, also one of their best. Powerful vocal performance.

9. Sunshine

Another popular tune. Rogers later re-recorded this solo in the 1990s.

10. Ticket to Nowhere

A classic album cut, from their 1967 debut.

This album costs less than $6, therefore it is great value. Most singers charge $20 for albums much worse than this. Enjoy.

I was never a big fan of Kenny Rogers, but I sure remember when the First Edition aired on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." In fact, although it is long gone, I remember an issue of the Smothers Brothers publicity newspaper that talked about how Tommy Smothers had "discovered" the group. Certainly the Brothers Smothers got the First Edition their first national exposure (they did the same for Simon & Garfunkle; whatever happened to them?). Of course the very best of these songs have been preserved on several Kenny Rogers albums, which makes sense because there was a point where the group was transformed into Kenny Rogers & the First Edition. So, there are lots of discs with "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," "Reuben James," and "Just Dropped in (To See What Condition My Condition Is In)." However, where this particular collection falls a bit short is in terms of the next level of hits from this group. It has "Something's Burning," but not "Heed the Call" and "But You Know I Love You." It does have "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Elvira," but at that point we are getting away from Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and just doing covers. With only four of the six best songs, this is a below average hits collection. Keep looking because you can find several better ones.