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Essential Reba

J. M. Zuurbier | Canada | 10/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'M A SURVIVOR, Reba's third Greatest Hits album, contains 12 of her hits and three great new songs. With all the hits she's had in the 90's, its no wonder they all didn't make the cut. I guess they will make it next time. Nevertheless, the big ones are here such as the Brooks & Dunn duet "If You See Him/If You See Her", the sassy "Take It Back", the beautiful "Forever Love" and many more. The hits from SO GOOD TOGETHER, as well as the ones that didn't make this cut, will most likely be on her next Greatest Hits album. "Im A Survivor" is a nice uplifting, positive song, also the theme for her new sitcom REBA. "Myself Without You" is another nice, lush ballad that Reba shines on. The final new song "Sweet Music Man", produced by Alison Krauss, is my favorite of the new songs, showing a bit of Reba's bluegrass side, hopefully she will do more of that music. Sadly no songs from STARTING OVER made the cut for this one, but it seems even Reba wants to forget about that album sadly, as I believe its one of her best. Overall if you are missing some of her 90's albums, this is a good place to start to get yourself aquainted (or reaquainted) with her hits from the 90's. Absolutely essential."

Reba does it again!

Michael Grasso | Kent, Ohio USA | 10/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reba's third MCA greatest hits is actually her fourth total. She has one from her Mercury years, and now three with MCA. That's FOUR greatest hits albums with NO overlapping songs! Quite an accomplishment! This album picks up where GH2 left off beginning with selections from 1992's album "It's Your Call". However, there are two songs, "Fallin' Out of Love" and "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia", that are from 1990 and 1991 respectively. My guess is that there was not room on GH2 for these as most albums from the 80s and early 90s contained only 10 songs. GH3 contains 15 songs overall with three new Reba songs. "I'm a Survivor" is great and since hearing it I've learned it's slightly different than the version she sings as her theme song to her sitcom, both musically and lyrically. My three favorite songs are "I'm a Survivor", "Sweet Music Man", and "Fallin' Out of Love". Prior to this I'd never heard "Fallin' Out of Love" so it's a new song to me. It's fun to hear all these greatest hits together for the first time. However good they are, you can't help but feel a bit slighted. GH1 and GH2 each covered about 5 years musically and GH3 covers nearly 10. My wish would be to have this album as a GH3 and a GH4. Also, there is only one selection from the "What If It's You" album. No "How Was I to Know" or "What If It's You" or even "I'd Rather Ride Around With You" one of my personal favorites. However, don't let this stop you! Buy this album. It is history! Reba is still at the top of her game at 46 and it's clear she has no plans of coming down any time soon!"

Cream always rises to the top; believe me, Reba is cream.

Jordan | 10/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While all opinions are valid, I'm sorry to say that sometimes, they're just wrong. Such an opinion is any one negating the quality and integrity of music recorded by Reba McEntire.With "Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor," Reba releases her twenty-seventh studio disc. Fifteen tracks in all, three of them new, paint a vast, rich canvas of Reba's work in the nineties. Of the three new tunes, "Myself Without You" comes to the forefront as a touching and moving but not overly maudlin I'm-getting-over-you (allusion to Reba's 1984 "Just A Little Love" disc) song. Reba's voice transforms from a throaty, powerful torch on "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter," "The Fear Of Being Alone," and "Why Haven't I Heard From You," to a tender, soft ember on "She Thinks His Name Was John" and the aforementioned "Myself Without You." Also noteworthy is Reba's "I'm A Survivor," the theme song to her new show, which airs at 9:00 PM EST on the Warner Brothers' Network. As it has been described, it is a mature version of Jessica Andrews' "Who I Am". Tracks two to thirteen are a recollection of Reba's hits spanning 1990-1999. The quality of the songs makes it impossible to single out "standouts," as Reba was even forced to leave out songs worthy of any other artist's Greatest Hits collection. She closes with "Sweet Music Man," a new telling of Kenny Rogers' late 1970's tune, produced by Alison Krauss. The result is understated, subdued, and tender. The production is undeniably Kraussian, which is in stark contrast to Reba's usual moderately-country sound; therefore, it inevitably inherits bluegrass undertones. It may shock some fans, but once the stupefication subsides, the worthiness of the song will be seen.Reba does unspeakable wonders with songs that other artists might render average. Why? The ultimate retort: Reba's voice is simply of a higher caliber than any other artist in Nashville. Face it. While Martina McBride can make your ears ring like bells and hold a note until the saints go marching in, it all becomes rather unspectacular when you yell those words and hold those notes on every single song. Consequently, there are also artists who are drowned out by a dropping pin. Reba is the quintessence of a happy medium; enough lung force to bend steel one minute, a poignant, tastefully restrained delivery the next.Long live the Queen."