Audio CD review:
Brenda Lee - The Collection

Brenda Lee - The Collection

Band: Brenda Lee Title: The Collection Rating: Release Date: 2004-11-16 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: I'm Sorry - Brenda Lee, Self, Ronnie 2: All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee, Hadjidakis, Manos 3: Sweet Nothin's - Brenda Lee, Self, Ronnie 4: I Want to Be Wanted - Brenda Lee, Gannon, Kim 5: Break It to Me Gently - Brenda Lee, Lampert, Diane 6: Fool #1 - Brenda Lee, Fulton, Kathryn R. 7: Dum Dum - Brenda Lee, DeShannon, Jackie 8: Emotions - Brenda Lee, Tillis, Mel 9: As Usual - Brenda Lee, Zanetis, Alex 10: You Can Depend on Me - Brenda Lee, Hines, Earl 11: Dynamite - Brenda Lee, Glazer, Tom 12: Losing You - Brenda Lee, Renard, Jean Marie 13: Johnny One Time - Brenda Lee, Frazier, Dallas 14: Coming on Strong - Brenda Lee, Wilkins, David 15: Too Many Rivers - Brenda Lee, Howard, Harlan 16: Big Four Poster Bed - Brenda Lee, Silverstein, Shel 17: Nobody Wins - Brenda Lee, Kristofferson, Kris 18: That's All You Gotta Do - Brenda Lee, Reed, Jerry 19: Jambalaya - Brenda Lee, Williams, hank 20: End of the World - Brenda Lee, Dee, Sylvia 21: If You Love Me (Really Love Me) - Brenda Lee, Piaf, Edith 22: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee, Marks, Johnny

Beware, fake greatest hits! Even the packaging (cover pic from the 60s) makes one think that! The words "The Collection" certainly makes one think that. Yes, I too have been taken! I feel so ripped off and by Brenda yet!! I am a fan and in my haste bought this without reading the reviews thinking it was a real 'greatest hits' album. Then you hear it! It sounds like the original 45 recordings being played on 33 1/3~! It is obviously an older Brenda with less range and most assuredly less energy in her voice. Well, we all age, and one knows that. I'm not faulting her voice, but to put out a record album like this knowing it is a redo of her hits and not the original recordings themselves is just plain deceit! She must really need the money. Brenda Re-Records! Beware! Be very Beware!....... How could Metamorpho be so naive? Can you feel my pain? Good. People-- I know what you're thinking. O. K. , now that I'm over my tantrum, let me say that - yes - these tunes are all re-recordings of her finest hits. I did not know this when I purchased it because there is no information to that effect on the c. d. That said, in fairness, the songs were done with state-of-the-art production and orchestration. The music sounds incredible. All of her early hits are here ("I'm Sorry", "All Alone Am I", "Break It To Me Gently"). Plus other tracks from her career. In all, a nice retrospect from one of my favorite singers. (Yes. . . . that's right. . . . Metamorpho does have a calmer side. I do not review psychedelia exclusively you know!). The only sadness I suffer over this (not complaints OR whining), is A) They made it a two-c. d. set when all the songs could have fit on one c. d. , B) I expected the originals but they cleverly told me nothing on the cover, and C) while this is definitely Brenda Lee singing (and a true joy), it is not the 16 yr. old Brenda Lee. Admittedly, her vocals have matured and that is not a bad thing. But, when you are so used to the originals, and the nuanced reflections in her voice, you are thrown off at first hearing. Take heart . . . . it gets better and over all, not a bad proffering from this exquisite singer. She even does a remake of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", which is a noble effort. But, it can never take the place of the original one you hear at the holidays. THAT is forever embedded in everyone's souls. So, in conclusion, I was at first disappointed. But Metamorpho doesn't get down for long. I have rebounded and love the c. d. However, if you are looking for the originals, then this c. d. will not satisfy you. Still. . . . I love Brenda Lee. She is great to hear while conjuring up a worthy "reflective" mood. Gotta go. It's been fun. Metamorpho. You can see a complete list of all Brenda Lee discography, or go back to the Brenda Lee tabs