First, let me say that all the tracks here can be found on an earlier CD
which is not only cheaper, but contains some tracks not included here. This particular compilation was released to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Tammy's passing at a relatively young age (she was in her mid-fifties at the time). Tammy was always dogged by ill-health, or so it seemed, so although I was saddened by her death, I can't say that I was surprised.
As far as the music is concerned, Tammy had four hits in the British pop charts and they occupy the first four tracks here in the order in which they charted. The remaining tracks are all of a high quality although, as I've already indicated, there's nothing new to CD here.
Tammy's most famous song (Stand by your man) has taken on a life of its own since it was originally released in the sixties. It didn't do any business in Britain until 1975 when, after being released several times as a single, it finally charted and went all the way to number one in the pop charts. Perhaps it captured the mood of a section of the nation at the time. In the nineties, Hillary Clinton clearly distanced herself from the sentiments expressed in the song when (in support of her husband's presidential campaign) she declared that she wasn't some little woman standing by her man like Tammy Wynette. (By the way, whatever happened to ...) Still, some women are happy to stand by their man, as Mrs Tarango did when her husband threw a tantrum at the Wimbledon tennis tournament later in the nineties. The BBC inevitably used Tammy's song as backing music for a replay sequence. The song has been covered many times by other singers. Perhaps surprisingly, men have occasionally covered the song. David Allan Coe was the first to do so, while Elton John also recorded a version for a memorial album
featurig a variety of different singers.
This is in many ways a fine compilation of Tammy's music, but you'll get an even finer one at a lower price if you buy
instead. Remember that every one of the tracks here also appear in
, which also includes Every breath you take (with Sting), Sometimes when we touch (with Mark Gray), Silver threads and golden needles (with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn), Womanhood, Reach out your hand and Greener than the grass we laid on. Removing these tracks did NOT improve the compilation.
I just purchased this disc. The sound is excellent. I understand track #3 was a British hit. For me, it's placement is a near fatal blow to the albums feel. It needed to be at the end of the disc. Also, there is no release date info on the songs. i should have purchased another compilation.
There are many compilations available of Tammy Wynette. Some contain more tracks...but does that make them better? Not necessarily! Here we have the very best recordings she made in the 1960s and '70s with Billy Sherrill as producer (plus her UK number 2 hit from 1991: Justified & Ancient). This is easily the best single-disc collection of Wynette's work as a solo artist and in duet with George Jones. This collection released in the UK to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her death entered the Top 30 pop charts. A fitting tribute to the First Lady.
