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 - You MUST buy this CD Set!!This is a wonderful, wonderful CD set. Kenny Rogers is an immortal American Icon. That's because Kenny can do almost anything! In fact, here are ten reasons why all Americans should support Kenny Rogers for President of the United States in 2008: 1. Kenny can sing anything, from manly, gut-wrenching songs like "Ruby don't take your love to town." to tear jerkers like "Islands in the Stream" with Dolly Parton, who, even though she probably now has a back problem, is no slouch herself. 2. Kenny's breakthrough act, "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition", was all the rage in "flower power" circles of the late sixties. Back then, it was "Tune in, turn on, drop out," and listen to the psychedelic sounds of mind-blowing lyrics like "I found my mind in a brown paper bag." 3. Not being satisfied with being a millionaire, Kenny became a multimillionaire after he launched a highly successful franchise of fried chicken restaurants. Hundreds of people who ate at "Kenny Roger's Fried Chicken" swore that this culinary delight was "the food of the gods". As a result, one NYC franchise became the subject of a "Seinfeld" episode. 4. Kenny used to host the tonight show in the absence of Johnny Carson, David Brenner and Freddy Prinze. Subsequently, Kenny became the dapper host to megastar celebs like Robert Blake, Redd Foxx, Charro and Lonnie Anderson. Overnight, Kenny's sharp wit proved to be a show biz sensation and the show became a laff riot... 5. Kenny made a tremendous impact in the film world with his awesome onscreen presence in the smash hits, "The Gambler", "The Gambler Part 2" "The Gambler Part 3" "The Gambler Part 4" and lest we forget, "The Gambler Part 5". 6. "The Coward of the County." Need we say more? 7. Kenny has thousands of impersonators. If you have any doubts about this, check out your local mall on any given day. In fact, the annual "Kenny Empressario" convention in Branson, Missouri will regularly draw dozens of middle-aged, bearded men. When not exchanging "trade" secrets", these individuals play cards, smoke cigars and watch video outtakes of the "The Gambler", "The Gambler Part 2" "The Gambler Part 3" "The Gambler Part 4" and lest we forget, "The Gambler Part 5". 8. Kenny has authored and has been the subject of many books, including "The Gambler", "The Gambler Part 2" "The Gambler Part 3" "The Gambler Part 4" and lest we forget, "The Gambler Part 5". 9. Kenny and Dolly Parton will probably some day get married. 10. As a pol and then as President, Kenny probably will probably have some great social programs that will need to be legislated and financed. Money? No problem! With Dolly as first lady, he'll be able to raise millions of dollars at fundraisers. After that, there'll be massive tax cuts for everybody!! After all, Kenny can do anything!! I really enjoyed listening to this fantastic CD and you will too!!! Rating: - A very stong collection by one of my favorite singersThis collection traces Kenny's music from his hits with the First Edition up to his comeback with Buy me a rose. It does not contain all his hits - there are too many to include in a double CD - but it includes all the classics such as Ruby don't take your love to town, Lucille, The gambler, Coward of the county and Lady. A 4-CD boxed set (Through the years) is available for those who want a more comprehensive collection, though it doesn't contain any of his comeback hits. While a lot of great songs are necessarily missing from this double CD, Love will turn you around (surprisingly omitted from the boxed set) is included. The collection contains many of Kenny's American country and pop hits of the seventies and eighties, a few of which also made the British pop charts (and all his British hits are included). The set includes five duets with Dottie West (a vastly under-appreciated singer) and one duet each with Kim Carnes (Don't fall in love with a dreamer), Dolly Parton (Islands in the stream), Sheena Easton (We've got tonight) and Ronnie Milsap (Make no mistake she's mine). Among his solo tracks on this CD, you will have your own favorites. Lucille is the song that turned me on to Kenny's music and I still think it's his best - but not by much. I particularly like Scarlet fever and Blaze of glory. Note that Daytime friends is a solo track, not a duet wth Dottie. If you only want one Kenny Rogers collection and don't want to buy the boxed set, this set is the one to buy. I still get immense pleasure from listening to him, even though I've heard some of the songs hundreds of times. Rating: - Best Rogers Collection Next To His Box SetWhether or not you like his music, you can't deny Kenny Rogers is one of the most prolific and commercially successful artists ever. This two-disc restrospective 42 Ultimate Hits is the first collection other than his box set Through The Years to contain recordings from each of his labels since he first hit the charts in the `60s. Five recordings by Rogers with the First Edition (1967-1970, on Reprise) lead off the first disc and they are an impressively versatile lot. There's the psychedelic "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," the sexy, r & b lavored "Something's Burning" and best of all, the folk tales "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" and "Reuben James." Sorely missed here, however, is their sweet country-pop hit "But You Know I Love You." The First Edition broke up in 1975 and Rogers signed a solo deal with United Artists (later folded into Liberty, then Capitol) records. These are the recordings that made Rogers a superstar and they comprise 25 of the 42 tracks found here). Rogers' initial producer at United Artists, Larry Butler, encouraged Rogers to make his sandpapery vocals a trademark (created by rehearsing until hoarse and straining to hold those almost out of reach notes). Rogers' early solo hits like Lucille," "The Gambler," "Coward Of The County," "Lady," and "Love Will Turn You Around" were strong representatives of cross-over country during the Urban Cowboy era. With one major exception: "You Decorated My Life." Who was that intended for, Martha Stewart? The real highlight of Rogers' United Artists/Liberty years were the duets. Pairing Rogers with diverse artists like Kim Carnes("Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer") and Sheena Easton ("We've Got Tonight") provided a great showcase for his harmonic talents. Even better are the half-dozen singles that Rogers recorded with the late Dottie West during the late '70s. Their mixture of honey (West) and gravel (Rogers) made for a surprisingly tasty mix, especially on the jazzy "What Are We Doin' In Love" and the delightfully lustful "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight." Dolly Parton succeeded West as Rogers' duet partner in the '80s when he jumped to the RCA label, but their potent natural blend on the megahit "Islands In The Streams" was weakened by their overly loud backup singers/producers, the Bee Gees. "Islands" is followed here by five more hits from Rogers' RCA years (1983-1988), including the beautifully reflective "Twenty Years Ago," the horny "Morning Desire" and the Ronnie Milsap duet, "Make No Mistake, She's Mine." Unfortunate omissions from the RCA era include the galloping "Evening Star," and the chart-topping Parton collaboration "Real Love." Slighted even more on this set is Rogers' late '80s - early '90s tenure on Reprise. By this point, country radio was concentrating on the new traditionalists and Rogers was no longer topping the charts. He made some wonderfully eclectic music, however, like the intergalactic cowboy ode "Planet Texas," the inspirational "When You Put Your Hear In It" and the wedding anthem "The Vows Go Unbroken," but only the latter recording is included here. Check out Through The Years for a more healthy sampling of the RCA and Reprise solo eras. After some lean recording years, Rogers made an improbable but highly successful comeback in 1999 with the one-two punch of the humorous baseball saga "The Greatest" and the number one hit "Buy Me A Rose" for his own Dreamcatcher label. The three new tracks that follow and close this collection - including "My World Is Over" with Shania Twain-soundalike Whitney Duncan - reveal Rogers is still making quality music. Even if they fail to reach the upper regions, he's had - as this impressive set reminds us - a hell of a ride. Rating: - Vintage goods at a bargain priceYou don't have to be a Kenny Rogers fan to enjoy this collection. I mean, it's got 42 great songs, including two new ones - two cds for the price of one! I knew all the favorites of course, lustily and badly singing along to "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", "Reuben James", "Lucille", "The Gambler", "She Believes In Me", "You Decorated My Life", "Coward Of The County", "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer", "Lady", "Through The Years", "We've Got Tonight", "Buried Treasure", "Buy Me A Rose" and of course "Islands In The Stream". This is karaoke heaven, especially if you have a singing partner who sounds and looks like Dolly Parton. Like him or not, Kenny Rogers is an integral part of country music, and this album nicely summarises all his best work in one compact package. Highly recommended for every collection (even if you don't play it everyday) Amanda Richards August 8, 2004 Rating: - Great CD for a great careerThis CD is a must for any Kenny Rogers fans. From his First Edition songs to the new releases, Kenny's voice sounds spectacular. Who else could have number one hits in five decades? There are a lot of Kenny Rogers' greatest hits collections and, while this isn't the most comprehensive, it's at the top of the list. Most importantly, it's the only place you can hear his great new song, "My World is Over" with Whitney Duncan. It's a terrific song.
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