16 Biggest Hits (Eco)

As one of the most consistent hit-makers in country music since the early '90s, it's impossible to represent Jackson's career, even his hits, in only 16 tracks. With 31 #1 hits, dozens more top-10s and top-40s, and over a dozen albums full of songs that weren't issued to radio, a paltry sixteen tracks can, at best, offer up a handful of fan favorites. And that's exactly what this latest volume does, combining five chart toppers with eleven top-10s to serve up a superb hour of heartfelt and fun country music.

Jackson's fans will find plenty missing here, but they're not the audience for this release. It's aimed at those just discovering Jackson, perhaps from his 2006 release "Like Red on a Rose." For new fans, this is a quick fix of many of Jackson's hit sides. It includes the fun-time stompers "Chattahoochee" and "Summertime Blues," the honky-tonk declaration "Don't Rock the Jukebox," covers of "Mercury Blues" and "Pop A Top," the country ballads "Here in the Real World"...Read more

In the 1990s, Alan Jackson was second only to Garth Brooks in country music popularity. Unlike Garth, he has continued to make best selling albums and Top 10 charting singles right up to now. Legacy's latest entry in its 16 Biggest series includes many of Jackson's best known songs, some of which are recognized beyond the confines of country: "Don't Rock the Jukebox," "Chattahoochee," "Gone Crazy," "Midnight in Montgomery." His first hit, "Here in the Real World," is included, as are his superb covers of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" and Jim Ed Brown's "Pop a Top." And let us not forget the timely satire of "Gone Country" and the populist sentiment of "Little Man." Jackson arrived on the scene in time for the "new traditionalist" movement and quickly staked his claim as the real thing, a worthy heir to the legacies left by Hank, Buck, Merle and George. The musical evidence to support his claim is plentiful on this CD.

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Lots of good songs, great to play with the windows down, sunny highway and the needle up past where it should be.