Search - Alabama :: For the Record: 41 Number One Hits

Alabama is great. Edited versions of songs aren't great.

Robert | Illinois | 10/09/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When Alabama first came out, they were one of the few country acts to not only have a string of hit singles, but also have albums that you could listen and enjoy nearly every song. So many compilations have been issued featuring Alabama's best, but this is the first to encompass their entire career. I've always enjoyed Alabama, especially their early releases. What I don't enjoy is buying a $25 CD set and getting cut-up edited versions of songs. For instance, half the fiddle solo is cut out of "Dixieland Delight", the drum solo is cut out of "Mountain Music" and those are just a couple examples. I wish RCA would release a compilation featuring the versions that are on the original albums. That's how I remember the songs, that's how I want to hear them today."

20 years of rocking country music

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 07/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"41 number one hits (and they've had a 42nd since then) is an impressive record by any standards. They've also had a lot of other hits which came close. One of my favorite Alabama songs, Pass it on down, peaked at number two, therefore didn't make this collection. Their debut single, My home's in Alabama, only peaked at number 16 and also misses out. I'm not complaining really, but it would be nice to see another compilation - perhaps it could be called Not the number one hits (it would contain a lot of quality songs, and would be better than most Greatest hits collections).



What you get here is three songs recorded especially for this album, one of which made number one when eventually released as singles, together with all those 41 hits.



Alabama were always the champions of the blue collar workers, most clearly illustrated on Forty hour week, in which they pay tribute to all those who keep America going. It's a great song, but there are several others I like even better. One of my favorites, In pictures, is a song about being so busy working that you don't see much of your family except in pictures. It was brilliantly covered by Linda Davis, a seriously under-rated singer who spent a lot of time backing Reba. Tennessee River, another of my favorites, was Alabama's first number one. Hank Williams Junior did a great cover of it for his Rowdy album, which is one of his best albums. My favorites also include Old flame, Feels so right, Mountain music, Song of the south and Hometown honeymoon - but most of the other songs are not far behind.



Alabama wrote nearly all their own material, but they did occasionally record covers. The only one to qualify for this collection is Touch me when we're dancing, previously recorded by the Carpenters. This is a wonderful collection which may not appeal to the critics, but the fans love it, and it's not difficult to see why."

One of country musics top bands

Theodore Illenberg | Fresno, CA United States | 10/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before the 1980s there was only one established country band, they were the Statler Brothers. By the 1980s country music had a new band, they were called Alabama. For over twenty years Alabama has been a major country band. They are popular throughout the world. This CD contains all of their number one classics. From the riveting "Mountain Music" and "Tennessee River" to their tender ballads "Feel so right" and "Why lady why". One great song is "Roll on eighteen wheeler." The lyrics were not that great but the song expresses a strong love for family. "Forty-Hour week" is a tribute to the working class person who keeps this country moving. One of their top songs is "Song of the South" which is about life in the south during the depression. Alabama has shown they can sing ballads as well as riveting songs that gets your feet tapping. They effectively blend both country and rock and roll. Very few bands last as long as long as Alabama. Alabama will be a major part of country and American popular music for years to come."