Lynn Anderson Album: “Rose Garden/You're My Man”

Back in the early '70s, I had the Rose Garden LP and nearly wore it out. I really enjoyed the soaring vocals and strings that were seamlessly melded together. Her style was indeed unique during this period. I had a Panasonic 4-channel system(the one with the joystick balance control for the four speakers), and while browsing in the record section found a 4-channel release of the Rose Garden LP. It, along with the rest of my record collection, was unfortunately stolen during a military transfer and I haven't been able to find another copy. My favorites on this album are 'Rocky Top', 'Nothing Between Us' and 'Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down'. The latter one, written by Kris Kristofferson, was made popular by Johnny Cash, but Lynn puts so much more of herself into this one. It was orchestrated with a choir that, in surround sound, comes up all around the room and raises goosebumps on the first-time listener. This would be an excellent candidate to be remastered in DTS. For classic country/pop crossover, this album is a must.

Lynn Anderson was for Columbia Records what Tammy Wynette was for EPIC Records. They shared producers, musicians and song writers. But not style. While Wynette gained fame for her 'teardrop in the voice' heartbreakers, LYNN ANDERSON became "the" Nashville Sound girl. Country Cosmopolitan at its best. 'Rose Garden' is the epitome Lynn Anderson sound. Two early albums of Andersons are included here (along with a handful of other hit songs) that will give the listener an opportunity to hear a sound that is almost forgotten today. Crisp, clear and subtle. That was Lynn Anderson all the way.

Songbird Lynn Anderson likely gained her widest recognition with her 1970 crossover mega-smash "Rose Garden." From there and in only a relatively few years, Ms. Anderson carved her own niche in music annals with an array of signature songs, "Rose Garden" notwithstanding. But who can't help but feel the rushing tide of emotion in her powerful and soulful version of "Cry" and an equally powerful "How Can I Unlove You?" You don't have to be an Anderson fan to savor this 26-track CD that boasts the best (so far) of vintage Lynn, some surprising hidden gems like Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and a few standards. For the dedicated Anderson fan, this compilation is perhaps her best (again, so far) and no Anderson musical library is complete without it. Even if you're not an Anderson fan, you'll probably get so wrapped up in the lady's vocal charms that you won't notice the hours of enjoyment going by. To all who haven't heard from the lady lately, it'd be inaccurate to dub this CD "the best of." Incredibly, she's still giving her best!

Lynn Anderson possessed one of the single most distinctive and expressive voices in 70s country music. She turned everyone else's songs into her own so effortlessly, she made hit making seem like child's play. Even with dozens of albums under her belt since the late sixties, there was little to recall of her in the digital age..until now. ROSE GARDEN and YOU'RE MY MAN are country singing at its best, with Lynn covering songs of Ray Price, The Carpeneters, Tammy Wynette and Sammi Smith. Lynn never goes over the top. Her vocal restraint is one of her most endearing qualities. In a decade when country music was in crisis, Lynn Anderson kept true to her fashion. Such highlights as "Snowbird", "I Still Belong to You" and "I Can Spot a Cheater" exhibit the Anderson artistry beyond her familiar vocals on "Rose Garden". This re-issue also contains bonus title tracks from Lynn's successive albums. This collection is a real treat for her old fans, as well as the newly curious. Fantastic!

If you like Lynn Anderson, then THIS IS the album to have as far as I am concerned!! It has SOOOooo many songs it will keep ya singin along for hours!! Heck, it even has some on there that my country singin hubby didn't even know she sang!! A real gem!! LOVED it!! Enjoy!! I have NO doubt you will!!