Rating:
Genre: Country
Release Date: 11/06/2007

In a way, it's like Garth Brooks never retired. He may have stopped touring and releasing new music, but he kept repackaging and reissuing his older albums, striking up an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart highlighted by a second box set called The Limited Series in 2006. That exclusivity contract expired in the summer of 2007, leaving Brooks a free agent, and he capitalized on his freedom almost immediately, delivering the double-disc singles collection The Ultimate Hits just in time for the holiday season of 2007. Where previous Garth repackagings could seem a little unnecessary -- it's not quite clear just how many of his fans needed that second Limited Series anyway -- The Ultimate Hits actually fills in a needed gap within his catalog, as Brooks hasn't had a hit compilation since his first, the 1994 The Hits. That disc was a "limited edition" at least in theory -- there were so many copies pressed it wasn't exactly rare -- and out of print since the mid-'90s, so it wasn't available in most retail stores, plus it didn't cover all the hits he had between its release and his retirement. The Ultimate Hits does exactly that, containing all 18 tracks from The Hits (albeit not in the same sequencing), adding 12 hits that he had in the last half of the '90s, along with four new songs highlighted by a cover of Huey Lewis & the News' "Workin' for a Livin'." The new songs are a nice touch, but the real purpose of this set is to offer casual fans a way to get all of Brooks' best-known hits in one package, and in that regard The Ultimate Hits not only succeeds, it's long overdue.

~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

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Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Garth Brooks - Guitar (Acoustic)
Garth Brooks - Vocals (Background)
Garth Brooks - Choir, Chorus
Garth Brooks - Harmony Vocals
Sam Bush - Fiddle
Sam Bush - Mandolin
Sam Bush - Vocals (Background)
Sam Bush - Choir, Chorus
Sam Bush - Harmony Vocals
Wayland Patton - Vocals (Background)
Wayland Patton - Choir, Chorus
Wayland Patton - Harmony Vocals
Steve Wariner - Guitar (Acoustic)
Steve Wariner - Vocals (Background)
Steve Wariner - Choir, Chorus
Steve Wariner - Harmony Vocals
Trisha Yearwood - Vocals (Background)
Trisha Yearwood - Choir, Chorus
Trisha Yearwood - Harmony Vocals
Pat Alger - Guitar (Acoustic)
Pat Alger - Vocals (Background)
Pat Alger - Choir, Chorus
Pat Alger - Harmony Vocals
Buddy Mondlock - Vocals (Background)
Buddy Mondlock - Choir, Chorus
Buddy Mondlock - Harmony Vocals
Donna McElroy - Vocals (Background)
Donna McElroy - Choir, Chorus
Donna McElroy - Harmony Vocals
Edgar Meyer - Bass (Acoustic)
Gary Chapman - Vocals (Background)
Gary Chapman - Choir, Chorus
Gary Chapman - Harmony Vocals
Bobby Wood - Keyboards
Bobby Wood - Vocals (Background)
Bobby Wood - Choir, Chorus
Bobby Wood - Harmony Vocals
Jim Rooney - Vocals (Background)
Jim Rooney - Choir, Chorus
Jim Rooney - Harmony Vocals
Bobby Doyle - Vocals (Background)
Bobby Doyle - Choir, Chorus
Bobby Doyle - Harmony Vocals
David Angell - Strings
Richard Aspinwall - Assistant Engineer
Sam Bacco - Percussion
Sam Bacco - Drums
George Binkley III - Strings
John Borg - Strings
Bruce Bouton - Guitar (Steel)
Bruce Bouton - Vocals (Background)
Bruce Bouton - Choir, Chorus
Bruce Bouton - Harmony Vocals
Dennis Burnside - String Arrangements
David Campbell - String Arrangements
Shawn Camp - Guitar (Acoustic)
Shawn Camp - Vocals (Background)
Shawn Camp - Choir, Chorus
Shawn Camp - Harmony Vocals
Mark Casstevens - Guitar (Acoustic)
John Catchings - Strings
Kathy Chiavola - Vocals (Background)
Kathy Chiavola - Choir, Chorus
Kathy Chiavola - Harmony Vocals
Roy Christensen - Strings
Johnny Christopher - Guitar (Acoustic)
Don Cobb - Mastering
Johnny Cobb - Vocals (Background)
Johnny Cobb - Choir, Chorus
Johnny Cobb - Harmony Vocals
Charles Cochran - String Arrangements
Carolyn Corlew - Vocals (Background)
Carolyn Corlew - Choir, Chorus
Carolyn Corlew - Harmony Vocals
Travis Cottrell - Vocals (Background)
Travis Cottrell - Choir, Chorus
Travis Cottrell - Harmony Vocals
John Cowan - Vocals (Background)
John Cowan - Choir, Chorus
John Cowan - Harmony Vocals
David Davidson - Strings
Connie Ellisor - Strings
Gail Farrell - Vocals (Background)
Gail Farrell - Choir, Chorus
Gail Farrell - Harmony Vocals
Béla Fleck - Banjo
Kim Fleming - Vocals (Background)
Kim Fleming - Choir, Chorus
Kim Fleming - Harmony Vocals
Pat Flynn - Guitar (Acoustic)
Carl Gorodetzky - Strings
Charles Green - Vocals (Background)
Charles Green - Choir, Chorus
Charles Green - Harmony Vocals
Carlos Grier - Digital Editing
Jim Grosjean - Strings
Rob Hajacos - Fiddle
Rob Hajacos - Vocals (Background)
Rob Hajacos - Choir, Chorus
Rob Hajacos - Harmony Vocals
Vicki Hampton - Vocals (Background)
Vicki Hampton - Choir, Chorus
Vicki Hampton - Harmony Vocals
Yvonne Hodges - Vocals (Background)
Yvonne Hodges - Choir, Chorus
Yvonne Hodges - Harmony Vocals
Mark Ivey - Vocals (Background)
Mark Ivey - Choir, Chorus
Mark Ivey - Harmony Vocals
Wendy Suits Johnson - Vocals (Background)
Wendy Suits Johnson - Choir, Chorus
Wendy Suits Johnson - Harmony Vocals
Bonnie Keen - Vocals (Background)
Bonnie Keen - Choir, Chorus
Bonnie Keen - Harmony Vocals
John Kelton - Engineer
Bill Kennedy - Vocals (Background)
Bill Kennedy - Choir, Chorus
Bill Kennedy - Harmony Vocals
Gordon Kennedy - Guitar (Acoustic)
Gordon Kennedy - Guitar (Electric)
Steven King - Vocals (Background)
Steven King - Choir, Chorus
Steven King - Harmony Vocals
Wayne Kirkpatrick - Guitar (Acoustic)
Anthony LaMarchina - Strings
Lee Larrison - Strings
Chris Leuzinger - Guitar (Electric)
Huey Lewis - Harmonica
Ted Madsen - Strings
Kenny Malone - Percussion
Kenny Malone - Drums
Bob Mason - Strings
Blair Masters - Keyboards
Jimmy Mattingly - Fiddle
Jimmy Mattingly - Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Mattingly - Choir, Chorus
Jimmy Mattingly - Harmony Vocals
Terry McMillan - Harmonica
Joey Miskulin - Accordion
Dennis Molchan - Strings
Laura Molyneaux - Strings
Farrell Morris - Percussion
Farrell Morris - Drums
Nashville String Machine - Strings
Jim Ed Norman - String Arrangements
Louis Dean Nunley - Vocals (Background)
Louis Dean Nunley - Choir, Chorus
Louis Dean Nunley - Harmony Vocals
Jennifer O'Brien - Vocals (Background)
Jennifer O'Brien - Choir, Chorus
Jennifer O'Brien - Harmony Vocals
Kathryn Plummer - Strings
Denny Purcell - Mastering
Allen Reynolds - Producer
Jon Sherberg - Vocals (Background)
Jon Sherberg - Choir, Chorus
Jon Sherberg - Harmony Vocals
Lisa Silver - Vocals (Background)
Lisa Silver - Choir, Chorus
Lisa Silver - Harmony Vocals
Mark Sissel - Vocals (Background)
Mark Sissel - Choir, Chorus
Mark Sissel - Harmony Vocals
Pamela Sixfin - Strings
Milton Sledge - Percussion
Milton Sledge - Drums
Jimmie Lee Sloas - Bass
Keith Stegall - Engineer
Bruce Sweetman - Strings
Julia Tanner - Strings
Christian Teal - Strings
Jason Thompson - Vocals (Background)
Jason Thompson - Choir, Chorus
Jason Thompson - Harmony Vocals
Mark Tucker - Photography
Alan Umstead - Strings
Catherine Umstead - Strings
Gary VanOsdale - Strings
Mary Kathryn Vanosdale - Strings
Bergen White - Vocals (Background)
Bergen White - Choir, Chorus
Bergen White - Harmony Vocals
Hurshel Wiginton - Vocals (Background)
Hurshel Wiginton - Choir, Chorus
Hurshel Wiginton - Harmony Vocals
Kristin Wilkinson - Strings
Curtis Young - Vocals (Background)
Curtis Young - Choir, Chorus
Curtis Young - Harmony Vocals
Joann Cruthirds - Strings
Dave Gant - Vocals (Background)
Dave Gant - Choir, Chorus
Dave Gant - Harmony Vocals
Russell Terrell - Vocals (Background)
Russell Terrell - Choir, Chorus
Russell Terrell - Harmony Vocals
Paul Tobias - Strings
Lisa Cochran - Vocals (Background)
Lisa Cochran - Choir, Chorus
Lisa Cochran - Harmony Vocals
Antoine Silverman - Strings
Mike Chapman - Bass
Mike Chapman - Vocals (Background)
Mike Chapman - Choir, Chorus
Mike Chapman - Harmony Vocals
Virginia Team - Art Direction
Jerry Joyner - Vocals (Background)
Jerry Joyner - Choir, Chorus
Jerry Joyner - Harmony Vocals
David Corlew - Vocals (Background)
David Corlew - Choir, Chorus
David Corlew - Harmony Vocals
Jon Small - Video Producer
Dale Pierce - Vocals (Background)
Dale Pierce - Choir, Chorus
Dale Pierce - Harmony Vocals
Marabeth Jordon - Vocals (Background)
Marabeth Jordon - Choir, Chorus
Marabeth Jordon - Harmony Vocals
Mary Beth Felts - Make-Up
Duke Duczer - Assistant Engineer
Jack Jezioro - Strings
Debbie Nims - Vocals (Background)
Debbie Nims - Choir, Chorus
Debbie Nims - Harmony Vocals
Bruce Wethey - Strings
Monisa Angell - Strings
Elizabeth Stewart - Strings
Caryn Wariner - Vocals (Background)
Caryn Wariner - Choir, Chorus
Caryn Wariner - Harmony Vocals
Karen Winkelmann - Strings
Joe Mansfield - Vocals (Background)
Joe Mansfield - Choir, Chorus
Joe Mansfield - Harmony Vocals
Earl Bud Lee - Vocals (Background)
Earl Bud Lee - Choir, Chorus
Earl Bud Lee - Harmony Vocals
Bruce Christensen - Strings
Randall Olson - Strings
DeWayne Blackwell - Vocals (Background)
DeWayne Blackwell - Choir, Chorus
DeWayne Blackwell - Harmony Vocals
Stephanie C. Brown - Vocals (Background)
Stephanie C. Brown - Choir, Chorus
Stephanie C. Brown - Harmony Vocals
Cate Myer - Strings
Steve Morley - Vocals (Background)
Steve Morley - Choir, Chorus
Steve Morley - Harmony Vocals
Jocelyn Jones - Strings
Rusty Jones - Vocals (Background)
Rusty Jones - Choir, Chorus
Rusty Jones - Harmony Vocals
Brian Petree - Vocals (Background)
Brian Petree - Choir, Chorus
Brian Petree - Harmony Vocals
Gerald Greer - Strings
Dorothy Robinson - Vocals (Background)
Dorothy Robinson - Choir, Chorus
Dorothy Robinson - Harmony Vocals
Joe Harris - Vocals (Background)
Joe Harris - Choir, Chorus
Joe Harris - Harmony Vocals
Tami Rose - Vocals (Background)
Tami Rose - Choir, Chorus
Tami Rose - Harmony Vocals
Lee Sartin - Vocals (Background)
Lee Sartin - Choir, Chorus
Lee Sartin - Harmony Vocals
Scott Stem - Vocals (Background)
Scott Stem - Choir, Chorus
Scott Stem - Harmony Vocals
Dan Heins - Vocals (Background)
Dan Heins - Choir, Chorus
Dan Heins - Harmony Vocals
Janet Askey - Strings
Carolyn Demarzio - Strings
Sam "The Man" Duczer - Vocals (Background)
Sam "The Man" Duczer - Choir, Chorus
Sam "The Man" Duczer - Harmony Vocals
Al "Shaggy" Barclay - Vocals (Background)
Al "Shaggy" Barclay - Choir, Chorus
Al "Shaggy" Barclay - Harmony Vocals
Tim Bowers - Vocals (Background)
Tim Bowers - Choir, Chorus
Tim Bowers - Harmony Vocals
Sandy Brooks - Vocals (Background)
Sandy Brooks - Choir, Chorus
Sandy Brooks - Harmony Vocals
Eric Conn - Digital Editing
Eric Conn - Mastering
Elisabeth K. Small - Strings
Carolyn Wann - Strings
Carole Rabinowitz-Neuen - Strings
Bryan Kennedy - Vocals (Background)
Bryan Kennedy - Choir, Chorus
Bryan Kennedy - Harmony Vocals
Denise Baker - Strings
Tom "Big Tom" Endres - Digital Editing
Beverly Drukker - Strings
Jana King Evans - Vocals (Background)
Jana King Evans - Choir, Chorus
Jana King Evans - Harmony Vocals
Shane McConnell - Vocals (Background)
Shane McConnell - Choir, Chorus
Shane McConnell - Harmony Vocals
Matt Allen - Assistant Engineer
Tracy Greenwood - Vocals (Background)
Tracy Greenwood - Choir, Chorus
Tracy Greenwood - Producer
Tracy Greenwood - Harmony Vocals
Matt Lindsey - Vocals (Background)
Matt Lindsey - Choir, Chorus
Matt Lindsey - Harmony Vocals
Luellyn Latocki - Vocals (Background)
Luellyn Latocki - Choir, Chorus