LeAnn Rimes Album: “Greatest Hits”

Whenever an artist puts out their FIRST Greatest Hits album, it's supposed to be a closing of a chapter in the first phase of their career. Out of the 19 songs on this CD, 17 are actual hits while two were not. "Crazy" was a hit overseas. "O Holy Night" and the duet with Ronan Keating on "Last Thing On My Mind" were NOT hits. What we're treated to are 17 country and pop hits that LeAnn placed on the charts from 1996 through the present, "This Love" is at #39 on the country chart after the pop success of "We Can" late last year. LeAnn broke out of the Patsy Cline mold after the success of "How Do I Live", which sold 3,000,000 copies and was #1 on the AC charts for 12 weeks and remained in the pop Top-10, Top-40, and overall Hot 100 for record setting weeks. Her 1999 duet with Elton John, "Written in the Stars", is also on here as is her trademark "Blue" and "One Way Ticket". "Can't Fight The Moonlight" was her HUGE international million seller from 2001. However, several hits are missing: "Feels Like Home" hit #8 AC in 1998, "These Arms of Mine" hit #34 country in 1999, "Looking Through Your Eyes" hit #5 AC in 1998, "But I Do Love You" hit #19 country in 2001, "Soon" hit #8 AC in 2002, and "Suddenly" hit #4 AC in 2003...one would think that those songs should've been on here instead of the two NON-HITS. A DVD also comes with the CD and it features "Blue", "How Do I Live?", "Can't Fight The Moonlight", and "We Can".

Leann Rimes has had a very successful music career so far. This greatest hits album shows her growth. Somehow the songs produced by her dad Wilbur Rimes are conservative by country's standards, such as Blue, One Way Ticket and How Do I Live. But Leann branches out from that mode with later songs produced by Trevor Horn (I went the same guy that did Seal, Tina Turner and Cher's albums did Leann's songs), and even Desmond Child (known for Bon Jovi's hits). And her going to Graham Stack to remix Can't Fight the Moonlight just steps the momentum a bit. They allowed her to experiment more. Love the Written In the Stars duet with Elton John. I liked the very funky Life Goes On. Would have wanted Review My Kisses from Twisted Angel on here. But her country numbers are still her strongest suit. Leann sounds so irresistable vocally on all the songs and I hope that she continues to make more exciting music in the future.

Greatest Hits?.. The idea almost seems ludicrous.. You imagine people like Tina Turner.. Cher and Madonna having Greatest Hits CD's - They've been around forever.. And well.. LeAnn is only 21..

Having stated the obvious - It also has to be recognised that LeAnn doesn't fall into the 'norm' when it comes to the music industry.. Not many people enter the music scene and make an impact like LeAnn did seven years ago.. Even less continue the graceful legacy of talent that she has.. So a Greatest Hits CD for LeAnn??.. Why not??

What are you buying on this CD??.. Some of the Greatest songs ever to hit radio airwaves.. Songs that have graced many ears and CD players alike.. Songs of love.. Heartache.. Life and of hope.. Covering the country soft-spot in all of us.. The upbeat dance songs we love to 'bop' to.. And a few extras that manage to please those who are willing to take the time to listen.. Feel and love the music..

A walk in song history with Blue.. Movie history with Can't Fight The Moonlight.. Record breaking history with How Do I Live.. And talent that oozes out of every heart felt lyric..

Looking at buying a LeAnn CD??.. This is the one.. The one that brings the 'music' together..

Before I review this strong album I would like to ask you a question to tell if you're a casual real Leann Rimes fan,

Do You,

A. Own every cd Leann's ever made,

B. Have seen Leann in concert many times,

C. Find yourself singing along with Leann on the radio,

D. All of the above,

If you answered D to these questions Leann Rimes Greatest Hits is your final answer if you are a diehard Leann Rimes fan who may own one or two Leann Rimes cds and may want more. And now for your listening ears a track by track review in my opinion,

1. Blue,

I was in the 4th grade when this song came out and the teachers had my classmates and me study a Leann Rimes article in an issue of Scholastic News and then later Mom had bought the single of Blue and I was amazed at Leann's voice and to this day it is my fave songs,

2. How Do I Live,

This song was first seen in the action flick Con Air and was performed by Trisha Yearwood and while many people think Trisha's version is superb Leann's is even better in my book,

3. Unchained Melody,

While Leann does a neat version of this oldies favorite I myself perfer Justin Guarini's version that he sang on American Idol,

4. I Need You,

This song was first seen in the CBS two part mini-series JESUS and marked Leann's departure from country and thus because her first hit in the Christian charts and is written by Dennis Wolfsky and Tyler {Ty} Lacy who also cowrote Dang from her Twisted Angel album,

5. Can't Fight the moonlight,

This version is NOT the original version but rather the Graham Stack radio remix but still pretty awesome with Spanish guitars added thoughout the song,

While these tracks and the rest of the album are good there would be a few more tracks that are worth putting on for Greatest Hits II for example it would've been nice to have Cattle Call also from Blue and even the Disneyish Feels Like Home from Sittin' on Top Of The World and finally Holiday In Your Heart from Leann's CBS TV movie of the same name. If you are a diehard Leann fan this cd is for you and also be sure to take a listen to these other albums from these artists, George Strait-Greatest Hits Vols I and II, Garth Brooks-The Hits, Clint Black-Nothing But The Tailights, Dwight Yoakam- Guitars Cadillacs Etc Etc Etc, Dwight Yoakam-Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room,

Play It by ear and Enjoy

LeAnn Rimes has had an impressive career thus far. She had a hit on her hand in 1996 with "Blue", when she was only 13 years old. The album of the same name was released, and spun off hits like "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)" and "The Light In Your Eyes". In 1997, there was two LeAnn Rimes albums. UNCHAINED MELODY: THE EARLY YEARS had a hit in her version of the classic "Unchained Melody". There was also an inspirational album released titled YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE, which turned out hits like the title track, "On The Side of Angels", and it also featured her version of "How Do I Live" which is her biggest hit to date. In the spring of 1998, her official follow up to BLUE was released, which was SITTIN ON TOP OF THE WORLD. This album had the hits "Commitment" and "Nothing New Under The Moon". She returned again in 1999 with her self titled album, a album of cover songs that represented classic country. "Crazy" and "Big Deal" make it on the GREATEST HITS from that album. In 2000 she found a lot of success with the COYOTE UGLY soundtrack, and her contribution to the JESUS miniseries. "Can't Fight The Moonlight" was a big hit from COYOTE UGLY, and "I Need You" was a hit from the miniseries. My one complaint is that it's the Gaham Stack Radio Edit of "Can't Fight The Moonlight", instead of the original. In 2002 she released TWISTED ANGEL which was not widely accepted, however "Life Goes On" was a mild hit and makes an appearance here. She contributed "We Can" to the LEGALLY BLONDE 2 soundtrack, which is also on here. There is also her duet with Elton John on here, "Written in the Stars". As a bonus, there are three extra tracks. Her new single is the ballad "This Love", and there's the duet with Ronan Keating ittled "Last Thing On My Mind". Since her Christmas album was supposed to be out this year, they decided to put "O Holy Night" on here as well, the Christmas album will be out next year as well as a new studio album. It's a pretty complete compilation, and fans new and old should be satisfied. It also comes with a bonus DVD with videos for "Blue", "Can't Fight The Moonlight", "How Do I Live" and "We Can". It would have been nicer to have more videos, but maybe a future release will see her complete videos.