The Greatest Hits Collection - Jackson, Alan (CD 1995)

At the risk of undermining the trust others have placed in my previous opinions, I'll admit that I am a fan of country music, and moreover, that Alan Jackson is far and away my favorite country singer, Ford truck commercials not withstanding. Perhaps I'm biased by the fact that his range is nearly identical to mine, so I can sing along effortlessly to all of his songs. Which is not to suggest that I personally have any potential as a country music star -- I am visibly lacking such necessities as a cowboy hat and a 6 inch mustache, although having grown up in North Carolina I can fake a southern accent to a degree. Regardless, if there is one CD that forever enamored me to Mr. Jackson's particular twang, it is his collection of greatest hits.

I first borrowed the CD from a friend of mine as a freshman in college, having heard "Chatahoochee" (the first track on the CD, and the impetus for the title of this review) on the radio and gotten a good chuckle out of it. After listening to the CD a few times, I realized that it was one of those rare gems that allows one to listen, straight through or on shuffle, without ever pressing the "skip" key -- every song is a winner and deserving of the title "greatest hit". What makes this even more impressive is the extensive set of songs; this is no 45 minute CD thrown together as a last-ditch attempt to squeeze a few dollars out of a one-hit wonder. There are over 20 songs that pack the CD to the gills.

More than anything else, country music is about lyrics -- it's one of the few genres of music where words are celebrated rather than hidden behind a funky beat or a whiny voice. As a songwriter, Alan Jackson embodies this ideal with clever lyrics that pay tribute not to his life, although the songs are sung in the first person, but to the life of someone who he brings to life in each and every song. Whether the songs are funny, heartwarming, or sad, they're sung with an energy and conviction that can't help but make you (or at least me!) smile. For long time country fans or for adventurous first-timers, you can't go wrong with Alan Jackson's Greatest Hits.