I enjoy the music, but I didn't levitate
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 05/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I notice that another Amazon UK ascribes all sorts of mystical powers to this double CD covering Foster and Allen`s music from 1981 to 2003, but I'll confess straight away that it didn't have that effect on me. Nevertheless, I do enjoy listening to their music. 13 of the 40 tracks appear to have been specially recorded, which encourages those fans who have all their earlier music to buy this too. I remember buying another double CD, Their greatest hits, but it was very different from this one. The earlier collection necessarily focused on their eighties music, much of which was either drawn from or inspired by the Irish traditional folk song heritage, although a few covers of country songs were included.
Since then, Foster and Allen have switched their focus and now mostly record albums filled with cover versions, often of pop songs but also including plenty of country songs and Irish songs. A lot of people deride cover versions, suggesting that people should listen to the original hit versions instead. I listen to those too, but I enjoy listening to albums like this too. Obviously, a lot of others also enjoy Foster and Allen's music too, because they are extremely popular in Britain, Ireland and other countries in which they promote their music.
Only a few songs from the earlier compilation are included here. A bunch of thyme, Maggie, After all these years, Old fames and Just for old time's sake all made the British singles charts. Of these songs, Joe Sun cut the original version of Old flames, but Dolly Parton made the song famous. Black sheep, a very moving story song didn't chart in Britain but it's my favorite Foster and Allen recording. One recording from the eighties that didn't make the earlier compilation, much to my disappointment, but which is included here is True love, a duet with TV presenter Gloria Hunniford.
Elsewhere, the compilation includes covers of country songs (Look at us, Take me home country roads, Green green grass of home, Gentle on my mind, One day at a time, There goes my everything) and traditional Irish songs (Fields of Athenry, Irish rover, Danny boy, Wild rover and a reels medley) as well as plenty of pop songs, among them being As tears go by, The wonder of you, All kinds of everything, Can't help falling in love and Matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs.
This is a magnificent compilation of Foster and Allen's music although I feel that the earlier compilation is even better (and even that one didn`t cause me to levitate). That compilation has been out of print for many years but you may be able to find a used copy somewhere. Even if you do, it shouldn't stop you buying this if you enjoy their music."
Track Listings (38) - Disc #1