Lynn Anderson Album: “Rose Garden [Kingfisher]”

Lynn Anderson could sing out the telephone book and I'd be standing there, applauding and hoping for more! Her sense of timing, her phrasing and her excellent diction all combine to showcase her tremendous command of just about anything and everything she ever sang. This fine CD has all the songs from two of Lynn's albums, her incredibly successful "Rose Garden" (the largest selling album by any female country recording artist from 1971 to 1997) and "You're My Man" which also hit high on the charts! There really isn't a bad track on the CD; this music is all THAT good. The quality of the sound is every bit as good as another reviewer says it is; and the artwork incorporates the original artwork from the record albums when they were released.

"Rose Garden," a song that made it to the top of the country and pop charts shortly after it was released, gives the track set an auspicious start; Lynn sings this to perfection and I'm very impressed. The strings and guitar are used to great advantage; and I really like Lynn's rendition of "For the Good Times;" it's like listening to silk. "Another Lonely Night" has a great country flavor to it; and listen for other tracks including "I Don't Want to Play House" which Lynn delivers with all her heart and soul; "Snowbird" that has Lynn squarely front and center--which is right where Lynn belongs! "Your Sweet Love Lifted Me;" "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and "I Still Belong to You" are very well done, too.

Lynn's talent also shines through on other tracks; there's "I Wish I Was a Little Boy Again;" the very poignant "It's Only Make Believe" and "Nothing Between Us;" "You're My Man" with Lynn singing faultlessly; "I Can Spot a Cheater" with some backup as Lynn sings; "I'm Gonna Write a Song" with its upbeat musical arrangement to accompany Lynn as she sings; "Cry, Cry Again" with some fine guitar and more although wisely the musicians never even try to steal the spotlight--Lynn sweeps up the stage as she always did! Lynn's rendition of "Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando and Dawn is well done; and I also enjoy the spirited "Flying Machine." Lynn performs "Proud Mary" with a great deal of genuine feeling while "Help Me Make It through the Night" is good; and "Put Your Hand in the Hand" is moving, to say the least. "Joy to the World," which was first performed by Three Dog Night, gets a fine treatment from Lynn; and the CD ends strong with Lynn Anderson performing "I Might as Well Be Here Alone."

This CD is terrific for any Lynn Anderson fan. Moreover, Lynn's talent is so abundantly clear on this CD that this also makes a fine introductory album for anyone just discovering Lynn Anderson's gift that she has shared with us all.

This CD combines Lynn Anderson's albums Rose Garden and You're My Man. Besides her own hits like Rose Garden, You're My Man and Nothing Between Us, it's mainly a collection of country covers of pop hits from the late 1960s and early 1970s and Anderson's interpretations are enjoyable. Backed by a lush, string-driven country pop sound, she delivers memorable and engaging renditions of classics like For The Good Times, I Don't Want To Play House, Proud Mary, Snowbird and It's Only Make Believe. I also love her versions of Dawn's huge 1971 hit Knock Three Times and Flying Machine, Cliff Richard's minor hit from the same year. She even makes Three Dog Night's Joy To The World her own, although I don't think she succeeds so well on Kris Kristofferson's Sunday Morning Coming Down. Somehow I just can't imagine Lynn Anderson stumbling down the stairs with a hangover on a Sunday morning, although to be fair, everybody covered this song at one time or another. Other very listenable numbers include I Can Spot A Cheater, Cry Cry Again, the gospel song Put Your Hand In The Hand and Help Me Make It Through The Night. She has a strong and warm country voice and the backing is beautiful in that early 1970s way. I love this album as it really evokes the spirit of that golden age of song.

My all time favorite country artist. This cd has all my favorites on it. Can't get enough of Lynn Anderson.