Search - Bill Anderson :: Classics

Late 90s re-recordings of hit songs

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 07/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Anderson's whispering style of singing (borrowed by names other country singers) is one that ages well. On these late-90s re-recordings of some of Anderson's seminal songs, the whispered and spoken passages hold much the same drama as the original 1960s hits. Anderson's singing voice is clearly older, but the slight wavers actually fit the whispery sections.The production is sharp and pleasantly light, with touches of steel and countrypolitan background harmonies. Like so many artists revisiting their catalogs, the upside is a chance to hear Anderson, with most of his singing powers intact, reconsider his earliest creations. The downside is that compressing a decade's worth of songs into a few contemporary recording sessions lends a relaxed sameness to all the tracks. Fans may enjoy this second pass, but those wanting to get at the roots of Anderson's art should seek Varese's out-of-print greatest hits collections from the mid-90s. For a good view of Anderson's contemporary work, check out his 2001 release "A Lot of Things Different."3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings."