21 Number Ones - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
The gravel-and-grits voice of Kenny Rogers ultimately came to define the "Urban Cowboy" era of pop excess, even as the earlier "Lucille" and "The Gambler" were some of the most galvanizing story songs in country music's history. Looking back at this body of hits, it's easy to poke fun at the treacley "You Decorated My Life" or wince at the cheesy string arrangements on "Through the Years." It's also natural to wish Rogers had never heard of Sheena Easton, his misguided duet partner on "We've Got Tonight," and recorded more with the soulful, sad Dottie West ("Every Time Two Fools Collide") and the randy Dolly Parton ("Islands in the Stream"). (A bonus track, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer," pairs him with old pal Kim Carnes.) As the years went by, Rogers got fatter, lazier, and more content to make crappy TV movies and wallow in the flaccid sentimentality of adult contemporary pop ("Buy Me a Rose"). He also got smug--the worst of sins for a man in his business. But behind the microphone, he always knew how to make even the hoariest of lyrics resonate with feeling. And at his peak, he was the perfect male country superstar, equal parts swagger and sweet, sweet promise. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Kenny collection #14. January 24, 2006
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

Ok, so Kenny Rogers has a ton of "Hits" albums out, but this is possibly the best on one disc. Nearly every major hit is included, however, the #2's and 3's didn't make the cut. Mostly I miss "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", and a few other minor hits. But it's hard to complain when we get "Lucille", "Coward Of The County", "Lady", and numerous others. Plus this includes his perfect duet with Dolly "Islands In The Stream", and the infamous sing-a-long "The Gambler". It's still hard for me to get interested in new country when the classic songs sound this good. If you need more Kenny than this, you'll have to get the 42 track "Ultimate Hits".

5 out of 5 stars

As Good As It Gets with a Single Disc March 2, 2006
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Give Kenny Rogers his due. In the '70s and '80s, he was one of the top artists placing more than 60 singles on both the pop and country charts. He was the first country artist to earn 20 RIAA gold records. In 1978 he had his first country chart topper with "Lucille," and more than twenty years later he had a country No. 1 with "Buy Me a Rose," making him the oldest country artist to top the chart at age 61.

Because this collection focuses only on his No. 1 hits (with a few exceptions), there are none of his hits with The First Edition. [You'll have to buy 2004's 42 ULTIMATE HITS to get those.] What you do get are some of his best known solo hits like "The Gambler," "Coward of the County," "Daytime Friends" and "Love or Something Like It." Plus there are his duets: "We've Got Tonight" with Sheena Easton, "Islands in the Stream" with Dolly Parton," "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" with Ronnie Milsap, and three hits with his favorite duet partner Dottie West--"Every Time Two Fools Collide," "All I Ever Need Is You" and "What Are We Doin' in Love."

My only complaint is the exclusion of his 1985 No. 1 "Tomb of the Unknown Lover." [Inexplicably, they include his duet with Kim Carnes ("Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer") which only reached No.3 along with two other solo hits ("Through the Years" and "Share Your Love with Me") that both peaked at No. 5.] So, while 21 NUMBER ONES may stretch the truth a bit, this is a solid collection of some of Kenny Rogers' best material. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

5 out of 5 stars

First Rate January 26, 2006
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

The music on this CD is first rate. 21 Number One Hits by one of music all-time greats, Kenny Rogers!

This CD doesn't include all of hits chart-toppers ("What about me?", "Crazy In Love", etc are not here) but we get 21 of his chart-toppers and as a bonus we get the #2 smash hit "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer".

While their are no First Edition hits here (they never had a US Number one, despite topping pop and country charts around the globe in countries including Great Britain and New Zeland) this covers from 1977 with Rogers first solo chart topper "Lucille", right up to the present with the equally classic "Buy Me A Rose".

Very few artists during the 20th century saw the huge success of Kenny Rogers and this collection of chart-toppers shows why.

UPDATE: In repsonse to the reviewer (Steve Vrana) who claimed that the album title stretches "the truth", I have to correct you. ALL of these songs reached Number 1 on the charts in the USA. Capitol records are including the AOR chart where Rogers had several songs reach #1 (such as "Through the years") that didn't quite make it all the way on the pop or country list, hence this album DOES contain 21 bonafide Number one singles!! (plus the bonus track 22 - a top 5 hit duet with Kim Carnes)!

3 out of 5 stars

Slight Chop Job July 16, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I noticed that nearly every song on this CD has had maybe the last 3-5 seconds chopped. Im surprised noone has mentioned this, as it pretty much chops off the last chord of "Lady". The effect on most other songs is nearly unnoticeable though. And my god! Is that really the original recording of The Gambler? If it is, then they did an excellent job remastering it. It sounds legit so far to me. Save your money if possible though and get the Through The Years: A Retrospective box set which has everything this disc has (except "Buy Me A Rose") along with the #1's that didnt make this collection like "Tomb of Unknown Love" without the chop job at the end. Heck, the Retrospective box set sports just every one of his charted sings that I can think of all the way to 1997.

5 out of 5 stars

Superb single-disc of The Gambler's country, AC and pop #1s May 10, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Those looking for Rogers' classic sides will find his latest greatest hits collection to be a generous single disc. Each of the 21 sides topped either the country or adult-contemporary charts, and the bonus 22nd track, a duet with Kim Carnes for "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" struck top-5 across AC, Country and Pop. By sticking to #1s, a few favorites are missed, including First Edition hits "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" and "Reuben James." Rogers' newly penned liner notes illuminate his view of each song, and with a song list that stretches from 1976's "Lucille" through 1999's "Buy Me a Rose," the disc covers a lot of ground. Whether singing twangy country-pop or straight-up adult contemporary, Rogers consistently displays the high level of craft that earned him sustained commercial success. [2006 hyperbolium dot com]

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