Music Review: LeAnn Rimes: Greatest Hits

LeAnn Rimes: Greatest Hits, Curb Records, 2003.

LeAnn Rimes can sure sing.  This C.D. is mostly of music written by others.  Only two songs where Rimes was listed as a writer, "This Love" and "Life Goes On."  She is really good at covers.  She sings "O Holy Night" and "Unchained Melody" which would fit in this category.  She sings "Written in the Stars" with Elton John.  She sings another duet, "Last Thing on my Mind" with Ronan Keating.  There are no show stopper songs, except for "Unchained Melody."  She does a very good job her.  She also does well with "O Holy Night" which was a promo for her upcoming Christmas album.  

Music Review: Cher and Sunny and Cher: Greatest Hits

Cher and Sonny and Cher appears to have been released in 1998 as a compendium of their music after the death of Sonny Bono.  It includes many of there hit songs, and misses a few.  "I got You Babe" is their anthem and a concert version concluded the C.D.  I would have preferred a studio version because the concert antics got in the way of the song.  The two big hits of Cher were included, "Half-Breed" in which Cher talks about her Cherokee ancestry and "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" which has a very catching beat.  "Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters has a very nice message, one upon which I have reflected in my life.  It is the torrent that clears the muddy waters and sometimes in life it is the fire that heals.  "United We Stand" is also very nice with a relatable theme.  

A couple things missing.  I use to love seeing Cher sing VAMP on the Sonny and Cher show.  Also the son "The Beat Goes On" is missing.  

Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits

 In this CD we have 20 Carly Simon songs, 19 of her greatest hits and a 20th song recorded with her daughter, Sally Taylor, as a bonus.  The song for me that makes this CD worth listening to is "You're So Vain."  This song is surrounded by mystery as no one knows to whom she is referring.  It seems to be actually a compendium of men, including Warren Beatty.  "I haven't got Time for the Pain" is a song whose lrics go through my head.  This and the song "Anticipation."  I also like "That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be" from her first album and "The Right Thing to Do" from her third album.  She sings "Mockingbird" with James Taylor.  She was married to James Taylor for ten years.  Simon has a distinctive and enjoyable voice.  She also plays piano.  She represents music from the 70s when I grew up.

Music Review: History: America's Greatest Hits

 History: America's Greatest Hits, Produced by George Martin, Warner Brothers Records, 1975.

When this album was released America had previously released five albums with a couple number one singles.  This album took advantage of that early success and reached number three on the album billboard chart.  It was number 41 of the top albums from Top Pop Catalog Albums published in 2007.  It included all eleven of America's charting singles up to that time and the song "Sand Man" which to that point had not been released as a single.  The songs that had reached number one were "Horse with no Name" and "Sister Golden Hair."  They are very nice.  "Horse with no Name" was part of their first album.  It was originally called "Desert Song." My personal favorite of America is "Lonely People."  It gave me hope when I was so shy I had a terrivle time meating girl.  This song told me not to give up.  They also recorded "Muskrat Love" before the Captain and Tennille.  I really like "Tinman" as well.  "I Need You" is also very memorable.  

At this time America was the original trio who were American children of service members serving in England and the band formed in England.  They are, Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley.