Reba's last official Mercury album, Behind the scene, was more traditional than its predecessors but her first MCA album, the brilliant but often overlooked Just a little love, had more of a pop-country sound to it. So, this album came as something of a surprise, with its ultra-traditional sound reinforced by the cover picture showing Reba set against a mountainous background - something that pop-country fans would instinctively steer clear of unless they also like traditional country.
The album includes a mix of oldies and originals. The oldies include songs that were originally recorded by Connie Smith, Faron Yong and Ray Price but none of them are all that well known. Before I met you is the one most likely to be recognized by traditional country fans, having been recorded by several country stars including Charley Pride. Porter and Dolly did an excellent duet version of the song.
As with Just a little love, only two singles were released from the album, these being How blue and Somebody should leave. To the delight of all traditional country fans, they both reached number one on the country charts, thus allowing Reba to continue recording this kind of music. Have I got a deal for you, Merry Christmas to you and The last one to know followed in a similar style.
The instruments used include steel guitar, dobro, bass, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards and fiddle - no surprises there, but two drummers are credited. On this album, you have to listen hard to hear either of them.
If you enjoy hearing Reba sing traditional country with plenty of fiddles and steel, this is for you.
This is one of her older albums, however it is one of her best. This is when she was singing pure country that goes to the depth of your soul. This kind of music brings a man and woman together with love that was and love that still remains.
No one can touch Reba when she is produced intelligently and when she sings traditional country!! She rivals the greatest country female singer of all time....Patsy Cline. This tremendous offering will show you why. Every cut could have been a number one!! She is totally in her element. Producer, Harold Shedd, kept her trademark 'tripling of syllables' to a minimum and the result is simply the best package of songs ever assembled for a Country Recording. Reba shines on every number and its impossible to pick a favorite out of this collection. These are the memories of a long time fan who bought everything Reba put out when she was truly country. This CD, together with her follow up "Have I Got a Deal for You" CD rank among the true classic recordings in country music. Reba ....come back to 'traditional country'. You're much too good to sound like everybody else doing the stuff you've been doing all these years since "My Kind of Country" was released.
