Terri Clark Album: “Greatest Hits”

Prime Cuts: "If I Were You," "I Just Wanna Be Mad," "A Little Gasoline"

Four time winner of Canadian country music's most prestigious "Entertainer of the Year," returns with a retrospective collection of her biggest hits since her 1995 debut eponymous album to last year's highly successful "Pain to Kill." In order to extract hard earned money from the pockets of diehard fans, it's almost protocol on the part of recording companies to throw in a few new tracks. Here there are two new songs plus a live version of Clark's "Fearless." So, let's start with the new entries: under the production aegis of Bryon Gallimore, current hit "Girls Lie Too" is a rousing in-your-face rocker containing some clever and witty comeback lines in the face of male bravado. Lines such as "size doesn't matter anyway," "we like Hooters for their hot wings," "old grey sweat pants turn us on" are sure to put a smirk on one's face. Normally, not for one who revels in those battle of the sexes type of songs, "Girls Lie Too," though a little feathery in its lyrically content, somehow works.

Continuing the feminist/strong woman theme is the stomping "One of the Guys"-an undulating and perhaps autobiographical tale of a woman who is not afraid to embrace the masculine side of her femininity. Though lyrically triumphant, melodically "One of Those Guys" sounds like one of those upbeat numbers you hear insistently on country radio. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Clark's composition "Fearless" is given a more rousing take than the studio version from Clark's album of the same name. However, "Fearless" bears so much of Carpenter's imprint that Clark almost seems anonymous in the song.

Culled from Clark's 5 previous albums, the rest of the songs here chronicled Clark's celebratory odyssey in the country music industry. What has set Clark apart from her other female peers is that she's a tough talking chick who is also not afraid of wearing her heart on her sleeve. The thumping "Better Things to Do," the funky "When Boy Meets Girl," and the wickedly mischievous "You're Easy on the Eye" showcase Clark's self-assured, unabashed and often strong stance on love and romance. However, when it comes to the plangent side of romance, she's not afraid to admit her vulnerability as in "Every Time I Cry" and on the classy loser-in-love paean "If I Were You." Even when the tempo accelerates on Linda Ronstadt's surging "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," Clark again never sounded more sincere and vibrant, giving Ronstadt a run for her money. Listen especially to the least commercial sounding but emotionally riveting "A Little Gasoline" for some of Clark's most touching performances.

Though there are a few weaker moments (such as the aforementioned "One of the Guys" and her live version of "Fearless"), this is still noteworthy and highly enjoyable from this Stetson wearer. If you do not have any of Clark's CDs, this is one you may want to indulge as it contains all her hits, including 6 number ones. But if you already have all of her CDs, you may want to take a listen to the newer tracks first, before parting with the mighty dollars.

With a timbre that recalls Patty Loveless and inflections that bring to mind her adolescent idol Wynonna Judd (particularly on words that rhyme with "you"), Terri Clark has successfully created a niche as country music's resident tomboy. Greatest Hits captures the highlights from her first ten years of recordings: eleven big hits, two strong new singles, and a live version of the audience favorite (but chart underachiever) "No Fear."

After the humorous defiance of her first single "Better Things To Do," Clark settled into the role of unlucky, subservient romantic on follow-ups like "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," "Everytime I Cry," and "Easy On The Eyes." Her fourth (and best) album Fearless - and its singles "A Little Gasoline" and "No Fear" - then established her as a strong, independent woman. This persona took Clark to new heights with the recent chart smashes "I Just Wanna Be Mad" and "I Wanna Do It All." Her latest singles "Girls Like Too" and "One Of The Guys" emphasize that she's not only strong, she's the equal of any male.

Greatest Hits is not one of the most sonically balanced country collections, as all but three of the tracks found here are distinctly up-tempo (Clark released additional ballads as singles over the years that failed to become hits). But when cruising in your car, with the top down and the cd player a blasting, this set can't be beat!

It's about time Terri Clark released a GREATEST HITS. Like any collection, there are some omissions, but it's a good collection nonetheless. The collection contains 8 #1 hits, a handful of others, and two new songs. "Girls Lie Too" is definately on it's way to becoming #1, the song is very tongue in cheek and is doing very well for her. I have a few minor complains though. For one, most of the material on this disc are honky tonk uptempo songs, which are good, but it leaves the impression that she only does those kinds of songs. Mind you, there are her ballad hits on here including "If I Were You" and "Now That I Found You", but other singles like "Empty" and "Just The Same", while not big hits, are moving ballads that show her range and would have fit easily on this collection. Other singles missing include "Three Mississippi" and "Getting There". I guess they wanted to focus on big hits only. The other new song is "One of the Guys", where she sings about being one of the guys, and not a girly girl. Other hits include "Emotional Girl", "Every Time I Cry", "A Little Gasoline", "I Wanna Do It All", "I Just Wanna Be Mad", "Better Things To Do", "When Boy Meets Girl", and many others. A great collection!

I love this cd because I actually know most of the songs. On a lot of greatest hits albums you see maybe a few tunes you know but not with this one. All of Terri's biggest hits are on this album. I love it!!!

This Is A Great CD for any fan of country music. Terri Is easily one of the best modern country singers and if you have not listened to her then this CD is a good introduction.