Martina McBride Album: “Timeless”

For her eighth studio album, the sweet soprano of Kansas looks back and shares her favorite country classics. The well known songs will be sure to please fans of pure country music, but won't win very many new converts from the cross-over country camp.

Staying faithful to the traditional songs, the first single is a very pretty and powerful rendition of Lynn Anderson's 1970 number one hit "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden", a great choice, and one of the best songs from this album.

Eighteen songs long, the album pays tribute to the greatest country icons of all time, such as Hank Williams, Ray Price, Don Gibson, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Hank Snow, Tammy Wynette, Johhny Cash, Eddy Arnold and Kris Kristofferson. Dolly Parton guests on Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone".

A faithful tribute to traditional country music, and a great gift for a country music fan. Rated 4.5 stars.

Amanda Richards, October 18, 2005

I have never bought a Martina McBride CD. SHe's too contemporary for me. This is my first Martina McBride CD because its filled with classic timeless country standards. Unlike Reba McEntire's "Starting Over" which featured country covers done in a Kareoke style, this CD is pure magic and country all the way. Every song on here is a favorite of mine and I'm proud of the way Martina has covered every one of them. Those that give this one a bad review are probably just teeny boppers who love bubblegum country. Thank God that this one is not one of those offerings. I'm sick and tired of hearing Country Radio filled with songs that are NOT country. This is as country as it gets and Martina is superb!! Hopefully this innovative effort will bring back "traditional" type country music!! This one deserves to hit the platinum mark very quickly and we are overdue for a traditional comeback for country music!!

Despite hearing Martina McBride open for Garth Brooks back in 1992, I have never been a real fan. That's not to say I don't appreciate her talents, it's just that I have found her material lacking as far as the style and content of the genre I call "country" music. What is heard on country radio today is, sadly not country music and despite giving lip service to some of the greats, there are only a mere handful of today's so-called country singers who the greats would call truly country. By paying homage to the country music of yesteryear, Martina McBride has redeemed herself in my eyes (and ears) by gifting us with an album that any true country aficionado would be proud to add to their collection.

From the very popular to some that may be less familiar, these covers are like listening to country music history from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. And although many of these songs have been covered by others over the years (and sometimes a bit better) it's great to have them all in one concise package.

One complaint is that these are still a bit over-produced unlike the more simple productions of most of the originals. That said it is hoped by listening to some of these classics that the so-called country fans today will get a taste of what country music really is.

It is fitting that McBride should open with a Hank Williams tune with You Win Again - Williams is not only a name everyone should be familiar with but also absolutely worthy of the distinction of being included on a CD of classic country songs.

I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) was a hit for Ray Price but I recall the great Gail Davies cover in the 80s. This version, while good, does not come close to Davies'.

I Can't Stop Loving You was written by Don Gibson and was a country hit for him but is best remembered as a Ray Charles hit from several years later and one of the greatest (if not THE) greatest country song of all time.

With her version of I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, McBride does more than justice to the song for which Lynn Anderson won Grammy in 1970.

Merle's Haggard's Today I Started Loving You Again is another example of a nearly perfect country song. Full of the heartbreak that has made both fans and critics of the genre, this song can make a grown man cry.

What would a CD of country classics be without a good Loretta Lynn song? McBride has chosen You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man) that although lacking Loretta's grit, certainly belongs here on the CD

And then we come to the wonderful Once a Day. Although this may have been Connie Smith's greatest hit it is only one of her great songs -- Smith may be one of the most under-rated of the great country singers of our time and I urge anyone reading this to give her a listen.

Mc Bride follows by two more classics Pick Me Up on Your Way Down, a Charlie Walker hit penned by the incomparable Harlan Howard and I Don't Hurt Anymore which was a hit by the great Hank Snow.

A surprise addition is True Love Ways, a hit for Buddy Holly and then again the English duo Peter and Gordon, I never really thought of it as a country song even after Mickey Gilley covered it.

A welcome addition is Tammy Wynette's 'Til I Can Make it On My Own. All these years later, I can't listen to this song without getting tears in my eyes and thinking of somebody very special - Jerry Johnson in 1978 who gently and kindly soothed me through the end of our relationship. I am sure the words in this song spoke to many women out there and still do.

On Johnny Cash's I Still Miss Someone, McBride is joined by Dolly Parton. It goes without saying that no one will ever do this song better than The Man in Black. That said, it was a good choice of a Johnny Cash song to include.

One of my favorite cuts is Heartaches by the Number, the old Ray Price song. Perhaps it's because I just like duets and McBride's duet here with Dwight Yoakam is wonderful.

Satin Sheets is another song whose words I know by heart. I remember singing duets with my friend Pam in 1973 pretending the hairbrush was a microphone. Oh how I loved Jeanne Pruett"s song! And oh how glad I am that another generation is hearing it by McBride including it on this CD!

Satin sheets is followed by three other memorable classics Thanks A Lot (Ernest Tubb) Love's Gonna Live Here (Buck Owens who I used to watch as a grade schooler when he had his TV show in Tacoma, Washington) and the poignant Eddie Arnold hit Make the World Go Away

McBride ends the CD with a song from my favorite composer of all-time, Kris Kristofferson, Help Me Make it Through The Night (made popular by the late Sammi Smith in the early 1970s.

A group of old classics, songs for a new generation. Whether you've heard these songs for years or are just now hearing them for the first time, they are all so very special, award-winning by so many Country Music Hall of Famers, I am so glad that McBride has brought these to life again. Thanks for making me relive so many wonderful old memories from those times. And for those of you in your 20s and 30s who are just now listening to these songs for the first time -- remember THIS IS WHAT COUNTRY REALLY IS!!

Wow!!!! Martina McBride's new cd "Timeless" is unbelievably breathtaking! It features true country classics, written by some of the most famous singer/songwriters in country music history and Martina's tips her hat to all these great artists. What makes this album better is that Martina produces this album herself. Here is how I rate each song on the album (in a 1-5 scale):

1) You Win Again- neat song, paying tribute to Hank Williams and a good introduction to the album. (5 stars)

2) I'll Be There- a great uptempo and fun song... nice mandolin playing by Rhonda Vincent as well. (5 stars)

3) I Can't Stop Loving You- a great tribute to Ray Charles' music. I love how the background vocals differ from left to right speaker. Reminds you of "Safe in the Arms of Love" from Martina's "Wild Angels" cd. Great song! (5 stars)

4) (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden- I LOVE the first single off the cd! If only it was higher on the country charts. Martina gives a fresh and fun feel to Lynn Anderson's original. (6 stars!)

5) Today I Started Loving You Again- great slow song written by Merle Haggard and then made famous by Sammi Smith. An overall nice ballad.(5 stars)

6) You Ain't Woman Enough- I LOVE this song... great tribute to Traditional Country Music Queen, Loretta Lynn... it's such a fun and sassy song and you can't help but love Martina's version of it. This song would make a great single as well. (6 stars!)

7) Once A Day- AMAZING song honoring Connie Smith, whose version spent a record breaking 8 weeks at Number 1, by a female country artist. In my opinion, Martina's version is even better than the original. (6 stars!)

8) Pick Me Up On Your Way Down- I wasn't too familiar with this song, but thanks to Martina now I am. (4 stars)

9) I Don't Hurt Anymore- good tribute to Hank Snow and his music. (4 stars)

10) True Love Ways- another song I wasn't too familiar with, before listening to this cd, but Martina made me like this one as well. (4 stars)

11) 'Til I Can Make It On My Own- AMAZING!!!! Martina's vocal range on this song is PERFECTION!!! My #2 favorite song on the album. The only singer to ever come close and do justice to Tammy Wynette's version. Tammy would've been proud herself, this being the song she always claimed as her favorite she's ever written. It would make an excellent future single for Martina. (10 stars/5 stars!!!!)

12) I Still Miss Someone- My FAVORITE song on the album... Out of 60 artists that ever recorded this song... Martina does this the BEST!!!! Martina's voice captures the emotional lyrics of the song perfectly. Sends chills down my spine. Dolly Parton on harmony vocals gives it a magical feel as well. Their voices blending together make it an angelic symphony. A song I can listen to over and over and never grow tired of it.(10 stars/5 stars!!!)

13) Heartaches By the Number- I love this song... Dwight Yoakam on harmony vocals is a nice treat too, and the fiddle solo is totally AMAZING!!!! (5 stars)

14) Satin Sheets- I liked the original by Jeanne Pruett, but Martina's version blows me away totally. Martina stay very close to the original version when you hear the background vocals. If it is ever released as a single I hope it does just as well like the original. (6 stars!)

15) Thanks A Lot- GREAT Ernest Tubb song about a painful breakup... Martina's shows her range on this song as well. (5 stars)

16) Love's Gonna Live Here- A great tribute to Buck Owen's and his career song, spending 16 weeks at #1. Martina keeps the uptempo and fun feel of the original version. (5 stars)

17) Make the World Go Away- I love this classic song... especially with Martina's acapella beginning. It's such a nice melody. Eddy Arnold would've been proud. (5 stars)

18) Help Me Make It Through the Night- an AMAZING finale to the album. Martina's voice is so angelic on this song. Another song I can listen to over and over and never get tired of it. (6 stars!)

Overall this album is EXQUISITE!!!! It is vocally flawless and features the voice of the greatest singer in music today, Martina McBride. Buck Owens and Marty Stuart couldn't have said it better. Definitely deserves to win Album of the Year in the CMAs, ACMs, and even the Grammys next year! Had it not been for this album, I would never known some of these great "timeless" country tunes ever existed. Thank you Martina for another vocal masterpiece and for giving me an even deeper appreciation for country music!

I am a longtime fan of Martina's. I bought this CD with high expectations of the quality and entertainment value. I have to say even with these high expectations I was WOWed and blown away. I am a huge fan of the roots of country music and am usually hesitant about remakes. These Timeless classics are cradled and nurtured in Martina' hands like a newborn. She has kept the integrity of the songs and given them new wings at the same time. The time taken to make the sounds authentic and not modern sounding are noticeable and applauded! Her voice is truely from the heavens. I am glad she decided to do such an important album. These songs should be heard on the radio again. Thank you so much Martina and collaborators for Timeless!!