90s, Borders.com in Country Music

"Nineties Country Hits" (n/a) Country Various Artists, Platinum Disc Corp.Nineties Country Hits collects ten popular country singles released on BMG in that decade. Most of this material leans toward the adult contemporary side of country, especially "Down Home" (Alabama), "Half Enough" (Lorrie Morgan), "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" (Aaron Tippin), and "When She Cries" (Restless Heart). Tracks from Alan Jackson, Lari White, Shenandoah, Lonestar, Martina McBride, and Doug Supernaw round out this entertaining budget retrospective. ~ Al Campbell BMG Special Products' 90's Country Hits features ten country-pop hits from ten RCA-Nashville artists, including Alabama ("Down Home"), John Anderson ("I've Got It Made"), Lorrie Morgan ("Half Enough"), Doug Supernaw ("I Don't Call Him Daddy"), Lonestar ("Tequila Talkin'"), Aaron Tippin ("I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way") and Lari White ("Now I Know"). Ultimately, the disc isn't much more than a sampler, but it's an enjoyable one that will be of interest to casual fans of country-pop radio. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

"Hot Country Hits of the 90's, Vol. 3" (1998) Country Various Artists, Platinum Disc Corp.

"Super Colossal Smash Hits of the 90's: The Best of the Mavericks" (11/22/1999) Country Mavericks (The), MercuryContains 8 tracks from previous releases and 4 new tracks. The Mavericks: Raul Malo, Robert Reynolds, Nick Kane, Paul Deakin. Additional personnel: Jaime Hanna (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Robbie Turner (pedal steel guitar); Dennis Solee (alto saxophone); Matt Glassmeyer (tenor saxophone); Jeff Coffins (baritone saxophone); Scotty Huff (trumpet, background vocals); Matt Nygren (trumpet); Barry Green, Richard Foust, Chris Dunn (trombone); The Havana Horns (horns); Eric Holt (piano); Dennis Burnside (Hammond B-3 organ); Glenn Caruba (percussion); The Nashville String Machine. Producers: Don Cook, Raul Malo, Richard Bennett, Steve Fishell. This best of collection of new country stars The Mavericks includes "Things I Cannot Change," "Dance The Night Away," and "There Goes My Heart." The German version of THE BEST OF THE MAVERICKS includes three bonus tracks. Throughout the '90s, the Mavericks were one of the few bands to successfully fuse roots-rock and countrypolitan at a time when Music Row was infatuated with soft-rock flavored superstars. SUPER COLOSSAL not only proves this point, but includes new material that promises a rosy future for country music. Songs such as the lush ballad "I Should Have Been True" and the loping lament "This Broken Heart" point to Raul Malo's sonorous vocal style drawing directly from Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline. Throughout, guitarist Nick Kane's liberal use of reverb is a welcome touch. Malo's Latin roots also play a part in the music whether via the use of Texicali-flavored horns worthy of Marty Robbins on "Dance The Night Away" or a Tex-Mex two-step with Flaco Jimenez on "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down." Honky-tonk is represente as well, with "There Goes My Heart," a song Dwight Yoakam might have written. Even the newer songs bask in this kind of fun-loving abandon. Most notable is a swinging, Burt Bacharach-flavored take on Cat Stevens' "Here Comes My Baby" and "Think Of Me (When You're Lonely)," which sounds like Buck Owens meeting the mambo.