Note - this compilation is a re-issue and re-packaging of an earlier compilation (All-time greatest hits) with three additional tracks - Blue Kentucky girl, You're looking at country and The pill. This compilation has a higher price so if you're choosing between the two, your decision will be based on the value you place on those three tracks.
At the start of the sixties, female singers had a really hard tine getting noticed, except Patsy Cline. Loretta (along with Dolly and Tammy) helped to change this forever, by recording songs that appealed to women as well as men. While men (including myself) can sometimes be satisfied with women singing love songs, Loretta recorded some hard-hitting songs about life and its struggles.
Examples of her diverse themes include her heritage (Coal miners' daughter), fending off other women (You ain't woman enough, Woman of the world, Fist city), everyday life (One's on the way) and the evil of drinking too much (Don't come home a-drinking). All these songs can be found on this collection. Of course, she sings love songs too and plenty of those are included on this set, although these are not what Loretta is best remembered for. Among the love songs here is a cover of She's got you, a Patsy Cline song that Loretta also had a huge country hit with.
Her duets with Conway Twitty were an important feature of her career. Five are included here - After the fire is gone, Lead me on, As soon as I hang up the phone, Louisiana woman Mississippi man and Feelins'.
Notwithstanding Van Lear Rose, her incredible comeback album in 2004, Loretta's reputation ultimately rests on the music that she recorded in the sixties and seventies. 25 tracks are nowhere near comprehensive (notable omissions include Your squaw is on the warpath, Hey Loretta and They don't make 'em like my daddy anymore) but this single CD will be enough for most people, particularly those of you whose introduction to Loretta's music was via that comeback album.
If you only want a single CD of Loretta's sixties and seventies music, make it this one or All-time greatest hits. Committed fans may prefer the boxed set (Honky tonk girl).
I have just finished listening to this collection, and it's a very enjoyable compilation, particularly if you put some of the songs in the context of when they were recorded. I have never been a die-hard Loretta Lynn fan, and only became aware of her when the film "Coal Miner's Daughter" was released back in 1980. But this offering is gorgeously packaged, with nice liner notes and chart positions for every track. My personal favorites are "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)," "One's On The Way," "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)," and the Conway Twitty duets "As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone" and "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man." 25 tracks in all. Now if MCA would just re-release her 80's album, "Just A Woman" on CD!
I've never really liked country music and I hate most of it. But I love Loretta Lynn's voice, lyrics and most of all, the fact that she is so true to herself. She doesn't try to use correct grammar in her songs and she doesn't use vocal tricks to add drama. Her voice is so natural and so pure. I almost cry every time I hear "As Soon as I Hang up the Phone" and wanna kill that guy for treating her bad!
Not sure what to put here... works as it should and have not had any issues with it so far.
I am a Loretta Lynn fan and was very pleased at the great selection of her songs on this CD. You know how you choose a CD that has some of your favorite songs but have to suffer through some which you personally are not crazy about? Well, this one really has many of her most enjoyable classics. They have a lot of her best humorous ones on here as well. Also, if you haven't listened to Loretta Lynn before and really want to hear what all the fuss is about I would strongly recommend this CD.
