This compliation may only be another two years removed from Greatest Hits 3 and a bit of a head-scratcher to some but in the world of repackaging a stars hits, this one actually makes sense as it can cover the complete sixteen year run of hits from 1994 ‘til now. What’s interesting about this collection is that every #1 on the billboard chart is included here and in all honesty, some of the other tunes that hit #2 may have been #1 hits on the second or third charts of the time yet Curb has chosen to stick with Billboard’s ‘industry leading standard’ chart for the two discs to make the collection a lean 24 song collection with only the new single “Felt Good On My Lips” and a remixed version of break-through hit “Indian Outlaw,” a song which didn’t hit #1, added to flesh out the collection (and to get longtime fans to buy it).
The compilation starts off with what many would consider Tim's iconic and signature tune, the Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols co-write “Live Like You Were Dying.” This fantastic song about living life to its fullest was a seven-week #1 and 2004’s most-played single. The next song on the compilation is Tim’s second #1 hit, “Don’t Take The Girl” and while not as iconic as track one, it is nonetheless a tent pole of Tim McGraw’s career (even if the production feels a bit dated). In many ways the tracks on the first disc of Number One Hits are the biggest hits of Tim McGraw’s career with the award-winning duet “It’s Your Love” with wife Faith Hill and “I Like It, I Love It” leading the way.
The second disc starts off with Tim’s most recent #1 from 2009, “Southern Voice,” a song that surprised many when it hit #1 but it no doubt enjoyed more exposure as the title credits song to the much-watched film, The Blind Side, of which Tim was a co-star in. “Everywhere” and “Back When” are included in this disc along with the sweet “My Best Friend” and “Not A Moment Too Soon.” “Last Dollar (Fly Away)” (written by Big Kenny of Big & Rich) and “Where The Green Grass Grows” have similar themes while “Grown Men Don’t Cry” and “Angry All The Time” helped prove how successful Tim McGraw was at picking heart-tugging ballads. In fact, this album is a great indication of how an artist can be really good at picking songs. While many artists now write their songs, Tim McGraw is one reminder of how powerful the songwriting community in Nashville can be in helping an artist become as successful as Tim McGraw has become.
While there’s nothing on here outside of the new (Top 10 as of this writing) single “Felt Good On My Lips” and the previously un-available dance mix of “Indian Outlaw,” that hasn’t been featured on previous hits albums or tim’s catalog of recordings, Number One Hits nonetheless feels like a great starting point for new fans to get a good taste of who Tim McGraw is as an artist, which is – after all – typically what these types of collections are for, except for the ‘completist’ fans out there that buy everything from their favorite artists.
You can support Tim McGraw by purchasing this album at Amazon | iTunes.
if you prefer the music to be more than ones and zeroes, you can get the CD at Amazon.
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