Rating:
Genre: Country
Release Date: 06/19/2000

Charley Pride was always the odd man out in Nashville, and not just because of his race. The cat was a professional baseball player in the Pioneer League, and he was a good one. His sound was far more country than many of his peers with big whining steel guitars, huge gospel choruses, and deep mountain melodies entrenched in his popular mode of singing. Chet Atkins knew exactly what he was doing when he signed him, and Willie Nelson knew even better when he brought Pride to the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1960s. Pride's particular gift was that he was a deep link between the countrypolitan sound of the time and the music's rich history that was brought into being by the Carter and Stoneman families. Nowhere is the evidence more clear than on this triple-CD package put out by RCA Australia (and budget priced). There are 50 tracks on this comp (as is customary for this series) that cover Pride's career from his first single, "Mississippi Cotton Pickin' Time," to his first Grammy nomination in 1967 with "Just Between You and Me" to his first number one single in 1969 with "All I Have to Offer You Is Me" to the rest of his 29 number one singles (country charts), as well as interesting overlooked items, B-sides, and more. The final track listed here is Pride's last charting single, "Crystal Chandeliers." This is an awesome introduction to a major, if not cited often enough, country music powerhouse, and a solid compilation that bests anything released in the United States. There is a lack of documentation in terms of years and related albums, but this is a small complaint when compared to the treasure trove of fine material here.

~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

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Charley Pride - Main Performer
Bruce Sheldrick - Mastering
Peter Harding - Liner Notes
Peter Harding - Executive Producer
Giulietta Pellascio - Design
Mark Rhodes - Executive Producer

All-Time Greatest Hits
    Marty Robbins / CD / 1972
The Essential Jim Reeves [RCA]
    Jim Reeves / CD / 1995
Willie Nelson, Vol. 1 [Platinum Disc]
    Willie Nelson / CD / 2000
An American Quilt: 1967-1974
    Bobbie Gentry / CD / 2002
David Allan Coe Presents Patsy Cline
    Patsy Cline / CD / 2002
RCA Country Legends
    Hank Locklin / CD / 2003
The Essential Tammy Wynette
    Tammy Wynette / CD / 2004
The Definitive Collection 1955-1962
    George Jones / CD / 2004

Release Date: 06/19/2000
Genre: ctry