Search - Jeannie C Riley :: The Very Best of Jeannie C Riley

Deep catalog behind the well-known hit

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the lexicon of the pop Top-40, Riley was a one-hit wonder. Unusually, her #1 hit, "Harper Valley P.T.A." marked both the beginning and end of her crossover success from the country charts. Though she'd only notch a few more hits on the lower rungs of the pop charts, hence her one-hit wonderhood in the eyes of Oldies radio, her country music success was more pronounced and long-lasting.Varese's new collection replaces their 1996 "Best Of" with an expanded track list, and a dedicated focus on Riley's hit years of 1968-71. Producer Shelby Singleton, Jr. turned up a fascinating collection of surprisingly edgy songs, including the proto-feminism of "The Rib" and cultural hypocrisy of "The Generation Gap." Riley's catalog balances the gritty lives of "The Back Side of Town" and "The Girl Most Likely" with the flowery sentiment of "Things Go Better With Love," all delivered with equal conviction.Singleton's bouncy productions and Riley's sassy vocals are a perfect match for the material, hedging the outrage towards small-town minds with devilish hints of sauciness. Riley also acquits herself nicely as a straight-ahead country singer on "There Never Was a Time," "Country Girl" and "Am I That Easy to Forget," as well as the gospel-influenced "Duty Not Desire" and "Oh, Singer." Her covers of then-contemporary hits "Games People Play," "Okie From Muskogee," "If You Could Read My Mind," and "Help Me Make It Through the Night," are good, but won't make you forget the originals.Those who grew up listening to Riley's country hits will find many terrific memories here. Those who only know her from the massive success of "Harper Valley P.T.A." will find some truly welcome surprises. The digital transfers are crisp (Singleton's production is stereo-tastic), and the newly penned liner notes give a concise view of her rise to the top. The only thing really lacking is detail on the fabulous musicians who played on these sessions."