MCA Nashville's 2006 release The Definitive Collection isn't quite as definitive as the similarly titled 2001 Collectors Choice compilation The Definitive Ernest Tubb Hits Collection, which had 40 songs spread over two discs. In contrast, this Definitive Collection is a mere single disc, but it's a generous single disc, containing a whopping 25 tracks spanning from 1941's "Walking the Floor Over You" to his 1967 duet with
Loretta Lynn, "Sweet Thang." In between, nearly all of
Tubb's iconic hits are here -- "Mean Mama Blues," "Soldier's Last Letter," "It's Been So Long, Darling," "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin," "Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello," "Slipping Around," "I Love You Because," and "The Yellow Rose of Texas" among them. Given the length of
Tubb's career, there are certainly plenty of charting hits and terrific music that didn't make the cut, but this has the great majority of his biggest and best hits, making this the best single-disc
Tubb collection yet released -- and, as such, it is a better introduction for the neophyte than the Collectors Choice release, which may be more comprehensive but also may be too long for listeners merely looking to get acquainted with this
country titan. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
