One word describes this overview of Willis's three years with MCA Nashville: maddening. Willis has everything: a flawless, classic country voice; a dreamy face; a shrewd eye for catchy but complex material; and a rock-stea... more »dy band. Nashville and country radio should have been ready for her earthy sophistication and guileless talent; they weren't--she never cracked the Billboard Top 50--but neither was the shy, stubborn Willis ready to compromise. From 1990 to 1993, her MCA run left some fresh, exciting country music. Her biggest hit, "Baby Take a Piece of My Heart," only hints at the fiery "Little Honey" (written by Dave Alvin), the effortless swing of "Heaven's Just a Sin Away," the Bakersfield-flavored "Looking for Someone Like You," and the irresistible "Take It All Out On You" (cowritten by husband Bruce Robison). In her own way, and on her own terms, Willis has made it outside of the Nashville majors. These 14 songs are indelible reminders of just how much they missed. --Roy Kasten« less
One word describes this overview of Willis's three years with MCA Nashville: maddening. Willis has everything: a flawless, classic country voice; a dreamy face; a shrewd eye for catchy but complex material; and a rock-steady band. Nashville and country radio should have been ready for her earthy sophistication and guileless talent; they weren't--she never cracked the Billboard Top 50--but neither was the shy, stubborn Willis ready to compromise. From 1990 to 1993, her MCA run left some fresh, exciting country music. Her biggest hit, "Baby Take a Piece of My Heart," only hints at the fiery "Little Honey" (written by Dave Alvin), the effortless swing of "Heaven's Just a Sin Away," the Bakersfield-flavored "Looking for Someone Like You," and the irresistible "Take It All Out On You" (cowritten by husband Bruce Robison). In her own way, and on her own terms, Willis has made it outside of the Nashville majors. These 14 songs are indelible reminders of just how much they missed. --Roy Kasten
"MCA has just issued a collection drawn from Kelly Willis' three early '90's albums for the label, which I guess partially makes up for deleting all three titles from their catalog. "One More Time" is a solid but hardly insightful assortment that unfortunately includes no previously unreleased tracks. The only rarity is a song that previously appeared only on the "Thelma & Louise" soundtrack. Many people discovered Kelly through her wonderful 1999 release "What I Deserve" for Rykodisc. If you aren't familiar with her MCA recordings, this is probably the best (if not only) place to start. (If you ever see the third album, 1993's "Kelly Willis," grab it) Willis' songwriting was still at a developmental stage, so she relied on outside writers in her early years, including John Hiatt and Marshall Crenshaw. She began her career singing rockabilly-influenced music and there are some excellent examples of that phase on this release. There is much excellent music here, and fans of "What I Deserve" should be very pleased.What bothers me about "One More Time" is the self-serving essay in the album notes. Within about a paragraph, the writer manages to credit MCA for Kelly's subsequent and hard-earned success. Well, MCA deserves credit only if putting a person through hell constitutes nurturing the artist. They straightjacketed Kelly on her first two albums, put pressure on her that led to the breakup of her band, and tried to turn into a video-ready glamour girl, the Pre-Shania, if you will. When she left MCA in 1994 she struggled for another five years before she had a chance to record a full album. I have no doubt that MCA invested and lost a lot of money on Kelly's early work, but for them to claim to have assisted in her rise to success is ludicrous, if not downright dishonest. Kelly Willis owes no thanks to MCA for fumbling away her first shot at artistic and commercial success. For this reason, and this reason alone, this release is docked one star."
"I first heard Kelly Willis with her last CD.",What I Deserve",and had to hear more. As most of her earlier works are out of stock, this is a good way to hear the music of an artist who likes to do things on her own terms. Kelly Willis manages to blend country,honky tonk,rockabilly and just plain old rock and roll together on this "greatest hits" package. If you've been listening to "alternative country" and shake your head when you turn on the radio then this is for you. A clear lilting voice that carries you away with each song makes "One More Time" an instant classic. Now I know what I've been missing. Play it in rotation with Charlie and Bruce Robison. You won't be disappointed."
An excellent album
F. Anderson | Surrey United Kingdom | 08/13/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I got this album I only knew one of the songs on it (Little Honey) but I am very much pleased with it. One of the reasons I like it, is that there are not all ballads nor are they "naff" like some country records can be. I am new in the country music world because where I live (England) country music is not big but I think this album is great and well worth it. It is probarbly the most listened to out of all my music and I love it, I definatly recomend it."
Great Compilation
F. Anderson | 03/12/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Willis fans are celebrating with the release of this collection of some of her best from her trilogy of now-difficult-to-find MCA releases. "Bang Bang" is missing, a perky rocker from her sophomore effort, with "My Heart's In Trouble Tonight" from her stunning debut album (worth whatever it costs to obtain.) Some of her best is here, Steve Earle's "Sincerely, Too Late To Turn Back Now," "River of Love," Dave Alvin's "Little Honey" (a movie cut from 'Thelma and Louise') and her definitive Marshall Crenshaw-penned "Whatever Way the Wind Blows," a CMT video hit. Willis touched commercial success on her 1991 sophomore effort, with super-songwriter Kostas' "Baby Take a Piece of My Heart" climbing into the Billboard Top 60, but her stubborn preference for cutting edge, rocking material limited her chart runs. In the end, her sweet soprano, deft song choices, and slapping rhythm arrangements were probably too trendy for the docile female country scene of the early 90's, but her efforts produced a trio of CD's that need to be owned alongside this sampler."
As good as it gets....
Frank Garon | Breinigsville, PA United States | 08/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember when Kelly's first three albums came out.Stuff like "Bang Bang" and "Would You Settle For Love" - I ask you - is this Rock? Is it Honky Tonk? Is it Americana? It's all the above and MORE. Just like every other song on this compilation.It's all powerful stuff - Kelly can rock out with the best of them on one song, and bring you to tears with a slow moving ballad on the next. A true talent, and one of the purist and brightest voices in Country Music. This one is a must-have!"