42 Ultimate Hits

You don't have to be a Kenny Rogers fan to enjoy this collection. I mean, it's got 42 great songs, including two new ones - two cds for the price of one!

I knew all the favorites of course, lustily and badly singing along to "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", "Reuben James", "Lucille", "The Gambler", "She Believes In Me", "You Decorated My Life", "Coward Of The County", "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer", "Lady", "Through The Years", "We've Got Tonight", "Buried Treasure", "Buy Me A Rose" and of course "Islands In The Stream".

This is karaoke heaven, especially if you have a singing partner who sounds and looks like Dolly Parton.

Like him or not, Kenny Rogers is an integral part of country music, and this album nicely summarises all his best work in one compact package.

Highly recommended for every collection (even if you don't play it everyday)

Amanda Richards August 8, 2004

Their are many compilation albums on Kenny Rogers. For the best over-view of the hit's this is likely the best one, though (even with 40 plus songs) this is not comprehensive and misses a fair amount of great songs off (like other reviews state it is impossible to fit all of Rogers hits on a 2 cd collection).

Rogers began recording in the 1950's, he toured with pop and jazz bands in the early days, as well as having a solo career in between groups. He didn't record any country back then but it was the music he was raised on. After a stint with a folk outfit (The New Christy Minstrels) Rogers found The First Edition and it is with this group he would begin recording country music with, though with a rock-pop edge.

The first edition first hit the big time in 1968 with "Just Dropped In (Too See What Condition My Condition Was In)", which made the top 5. It is this country-rocker that opens the album (Mickey Newbury wrote this song which has a phallic feel)...Read more

I wanted a good collection of Kenny Rogers music to use for my DJ service. The only disc that I had was full of lousy re-recordings. In my mind, if they are not the original recordings that actually became hits, then they are worthless to me. I read all of the mixed reviews here on Amazon regarding this collection, but decided to take a risk and purchase it. I have listened to the full collection 3 times in full. Many reviewers are saying that this collection is full of re-recordings, but that is not true. These ARE the original hit recordings. This is a great, quality collection. Yes, the first 5 tracks are Kenny Rogers & The First Edition- but the package states that they are. Besides, he made those particular songs hits when he WAS with The First Edition. Those ARE the originals. You won't find a better Kenny Rogers collection out there; believe me- I've searched. The only things that could have made this collection better, are if they would have given us Kenny's solo version of...Read more