Disco de Tammy Wynette: “Tears of Fire: The 25th Anniversary Collection”

This is a terrific boxed set of, perhaps the greatest female country singer of all time. She certainly had the voice, the right inflection, the material, the producer (the great Billy Sherrill in his prime) and the husband (all-time legend George Jones). Current "country" singers today can't hold a candle; I would only deduct one star because if I was doing the compilation, I'd have included less 80's-period stuff and more of the 60's/70's material that's missing...like "There Goes That Steel Guitar", or some of the Christmas LP original songs, or better, some of the more obscure duets with then-husband, George Jones, like the classic "We Believe In Each Other"...but no matter, most of this is REALLY GREAT stuff from a really great traditional country singer. Looking forward to her estate finally giving permission to release all of those very solid LPs from the 1970's (so we can finally hear songs like "I L-O-V-E-Y-O-U" again). Here's to the REAL First Lady...

This is an excellent retrospective of Tammy's career. Among the more than 50 tracks are over twenty of her biggest hits, but it's not just a greatest hits collection. There are a few of her duets with George Jones, but that's not the focus of this release. Coming out in 1992, there are three previously unreleased tracks and many little known gems. The songs are nearly evenly distributed among the years, starting with her first hit "Apartment #9" in 1967 through three songs recorded in 1990-91. If you're just looking for the hits, there may be a better collection, but if you're a Tammy Wynette fan, this is indispensable. One of the highlights for me is her version of Mickey Newbury's "Poison Red Berries" from 1974, here still known by it's original name "I Don't Think About Him No More".

I love this box set. CBS needs to put out Tears Of Fire 2. There are a bunch of greatest hits songs missing from this set:

Run, Angel Run

Almost Persuaded

Run, Woman, Run

You Can't Hang On

Still Around

The Only Time I'm Really Me

Our Last Night Together

The Wonders You Perform

There Goes That Old Steel Guitar

(You Make Me Want To Be) A Mother

Love's The Answer

Reach Out Your Hand

Womanhood

This Time I Almost Made It

I'd Like To See Jesus (On The Midnight Special)

These are from her original four Greatest Hits albums.

CBS also needs to do a box set with Tammy Wynette and George Jones.

Tears of Fire the boxed set by Tammy Wynette shows the late legend of country music at her best. From the heart-wrenching emotion of the self-penned 'Til I Can Make It On My Own' to the tongue-in-cheek playfulness of 'Another Chance', the entire set is a winner. The three CD set contains songs from the early sixties to the mid eighties and includes a twenty-six page book of extensive notes and pictures that put the songs in historical perspective. There are also duets with George Jones, Emmylou Harris and others that highlight the versatility of the First Lady of Country Music. There is some filler in this boxed set and not all the included songs are classics -- but the set is a must-have for any fan and anyone who enjoys the best that classic Country Music has to offer.

Thank God I finally discovered Tammy Wynette. Even with all her success and legendary status, she still hasn't gotten what she's due. Some of her songs are pure pop and others quintessential country. "My Man (Understands)" and "Good Lovin'" are my favorites. She is the BEST BEST BEST BEST!