2 CDs, packed with all the biggest hits by the new-traditional country superstar. 44 hit singles and popular album cuts from 13 albums released by Warner Bros. & the DreamWorks from 1986-1999. Features 22 Top 5 hits... more », including all 15 of Randy's #1s, like 'Diggin' Up Bones', 'Forever And Ever, Amen', 'I Told You So', 'Honky Tonk Moon', 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart', 'Look Heart, No Hands' and more. Accompanying booklet stuffed with session details, lots of rare photos, and liner notes by noted country music expert Robert K. Oermann. Slipcase. Rhino Records.« less
2 CDs, packed with all the biggest hits by the new-traditional country superstar. 44 hit singles and popular album cuts from 13 albums released by Warner Bros. & the DreamWorks from 1986-1999. Features 22 Top 5 hits, including all 15 of Randy's #1s, like 'Diggin' Up Bones', 'Forever And Ever, Amen', 'I Told You So', 'Honky Tonk Moon', 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart', 'Look Heart, No Hands' and more. Accompanying booklet stuffed with session details, lots of rare photos, and liner notes by noted country music expert Robert K. Oermann. Slipcase. Rhino Records.
CD Reviews
The best songs...of the best singer...
DanD | 05/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I cannot honestly sit here and tell you that I never thought Randy Travis "too country." I did. I cannot sit here and tell you that I never thought him too emotional, too sentimental. I did. I have not been a Randy Travis fan his entire career; he's been singing longer than I've been alive. Nor have I listened to his songs with an open ear all the time.But I can sit here and tell you, without a single lie creeping into these words, that this is a grand collection of one of country music's most worthy alums--a master of country music, Randy Travis. At his best? That's for you to decide. Is this collection good?It's unbelievably good.This two CD set covers an amazing career, and almost beautifully-crafted songs. Whether Travis wrote them or not, he owns them. "Reasons I Cheat", "Diggin Up Bones", "This Is Me," "He Walked On Water," and "The Hole" tell it like it is. "No Reason to Change," "Highway Junkie," "Heroes and Friends," and "Waiting on the Light to Change" all could describe Travis himself."Send My Body," "Anything," "Forever and Ever, Amen," "What'll You Do About Me," "Card Carryin' Fool," "Allergic to the Blues," "Before You Kill Us All," "Would I," and "Stanger in My Mirror" all use humor and light-heartedness to cover serious topics. The duets stand out as well, but Randy Travis himself is, of course, the reason you buy this collection. There is not a moment here when he doesn't shine, no matter what position the songs did (or didn't) reach.You are probably a Randy Travis fan already; if you are not, you are probably wanting to join. Go ahead--Randy Travis promises to welcome one and all here. Just remember: you must like your country honest, true, and straight to the bone. I once made the mistake of overlooking Travis's traditionalism; now, with this collection, I have the chance to see what I missed.Trust me, country music fans: this collection is one you must have. No country CD collection can be complete without "Trail of Memories.""
Almost Definitive
T. C Lane | Marina, CA USA | 07/20/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This should've been a 5 star Anthology, but a few of Travis' later hits are missing. First the good news. All of his Country albums from 1986-99 are covered. All his #1 hits are here. The compilers have also included some album cuts like "Allergic To The Blues" and "Card Carryin' Fool" that could've been hits. The liner notes are good, the sound good and the packaging is good. Now the bad news. Two of Travis' last Top 10 hits from 1998 are mysteriously absent: "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom Of A Man" and "Out Of My Bones". Instead, there's 4 duets from a 1990 duets album. Only one, the duet with George Jones (which was a hit), should be here. The other 3 are substandard. Also, the title track from 1999's A Man Ain't Made of Stone (a Top 30 song) is absent. It's these slight faults that keep this from being 100% definitive. It's a good collection, and perfectly timed, since Travis' hits have dried up as of this date. If you're new to Randy Travis this is a better deal than the other Hits compilations on the market. Greatest #1 Hits is just too skimpy. Travis die-hards will dig the album cuts and packaging. Until all his hits are stuffed on to 1 CD, this is the next best thing to decent Randy Travis collection."
If you only buy one album this year this should be it!
Debbie Singleton | Owensville, IN United States | 07/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you have never bought a Randy Travis CD before this would be a great place to start! This is the best collection of his songs out together since his greatist hits one and two. You get my all time favorite Diggin Up Bones and plus great selections off of his Duet album Heroes and Friends. If you have never heard Im going to have a little talk then you are definatly missing out. His voice in that song is just something i could hear every second of the day. He walked on water is a song that most everyone can relate to. Looking up to a grandfather and thinking he could do anything including walk on water is something most of us can play back on memories and remember. Do your self a big favor and grab this album. So many songs to listen to and not a single one on there i don't like. Point of Light is a great Patriotic song. When you get this (when not if!) Put in disc 2 and go straight to Im going to have a little talk! You won't regret it!!
This is written by a Randy fan who has been a Randy fan since his first single! Randy deserves so much more airplay than he has been getting! Along with many other country greats! Don't forget the country past!!!"
A great collection of one of the best neo-trad honkytonkers!
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A great, probably definitive, 2-CD career retrospective, spanning Travis' work on the Warner label, from 1986-1999. When Randy Travis burst onto the scene in the mid-1980s, his growly, grandpa-voiced George Jones-y sound was kinda unique, or at least a charming throwback to the days when "Country" was still country. The first songs on this collection, from his 1986 debut, "Storms Of Life," are a plain, simple joy -- formulaic, but pure hard country, with standard honkytonk arrangements and solid country vocals. It was a winning formula: pretty much every single Travis released went to the top of the charts. Of course, this meant Travis (or his producers) would eventually have to mess things up. Sure enough, by his third album, "Old 8x10," Travis began to flirt with increasingly croony pop arrangements; he still had hits, but the neo-traditional crowd started to grumble. And so it went. Travis would go back and forth between hard country and glossy popipolitan, settling into the little-bit-of-this, little-bit-of-that formula that now is standard operating procedure in Nashville. Still, he's way more country than most, and ya gotta love that voice. This is a killer collection that reminds us just how great Travis was when he first showed up, and gives a very good impression of the flow of his career. Wish there were a few more like him still lefy in Nashville!"
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1