If you don't own anything from Billy Ray, this is a good place to start. 9 hits, 3 new songs. To the new songs: The single "It's All The Same To Me" is clearly meant for radio but it's much better than most of the songs standing in the Top 40. "Cover To Cover" is a beautiful ballad, with well-crafted lyrics, powerful vocal performance and nice melody. The last new song, "Bluegrass State Of Mind" is just splendid. For the hits, they will show and prove you that he deserves more recognition and that he's more than Mr. "Achy Breaky Heart". He's far more talented than most of the new young acts and if you give this set a listen, you'll know it's true. He gives outstanding vocal performances on every song of this release.

I agree with the reviewer from Philadelphia that Cyrus has gotten a bum rap from the critics and the country music "establishment". "Achy Breaky Heart" was a novelty song but it was catchy, clever, funny and upbeat. What's wrong with that? Furthermore, the rest of that album ("Some Gave All") was terrific--his voice is impressive and the songs were thoughtful, humorous, melodic and moving. It's still my favorite of all his CDs, although I haven't heard "Southern Rain". This collection of his "best" is not all I would like it to be since it leaves out several of his best songs (" Some Gave All", for one)but it is good as far as it goes and gives a pretty good idea of his talent. There is a lot of trash in country music today and a lot of marginal ability which is far below the quality of Cyrus. Get off his back, folks, and enjoy a unique and engaging entertainer.

In the mid-eighties, there was a resurgence of country traditionalists that included Randy Travis, George Strait, and continued into Clint Black, Vince Gill and others. These days most of the stuff turned out by these former traditionalists is no better and in many cases lyrically much worse than what's on this album.

Billy Ray got a bum rap because he had the misfortune of looking like a Chippendale dancer. Many critics in and out of country music also made light of his first hit. Hmm, perhaps someone should listen to the garbage that Tim McGraw had to sing to get his first hits - anyone remember "Indian Outlaw"?

In fact, most of the performances on this album are solid "pop", well crafted and performed by a guy with a hell of a singing voice. It's not the kind of music I sit around listening to, but that's why there's chocolate and vanilla. However, this album's got better songs than the drivel that's celebrated as country these days, and Billy Ray's a better singer than most.

The reviewer from Philadelphia is exactly right. Billy Ray's only mistake was making "Achy Breaky Heart" his first single. Critics had a field day with this one, stereotyping him as "all looks, no talent." But anyone open-minded enough to keep listening has learned that he's got plenty of talent, a strong singing voice, & a message (in fact, several of them.) Having said that, I feel this is a good, but not great album. In my opinion, it doesn't include all of B.R.'s best hits. Overall, this collection is too ballad-heavy for me. While it does include several radio hits, my favorite track is the self-penned "Trail of Tears", a thought-provoking, surprisingly up-tempo song addressing the plight of the Native American. "Bluegrass State of Mind" is a nice slow, mandolin-flavored tune, & by the time you get to "Achy Breaky" at the end, this is a welcome change of pace from the rest of the album. I would've liked to see "Deja Blue", "Redneck Heaven" and/or "I Ain't Even Left" included to break up the mood. Also, where's "Some Gave All", Billy's tribute to Vietnam Vets?

Billy Ray Cyrus is much more then what people presumed him to be when "Achy Breaky Heart" came out. This album contains the most popular songs from his first 4 albums [Some Gave All, It Won't Be The Last, Storm In The Heartland, and Trail of Tears]. This is pretty much the greatest Billy Ray Cyrus CD that there is. It also has three songs on it that were made just for the album [It's All The Same To Me, Cover To Cover, and Bluegrass State of Mind]. This CD expresses all the sides of Billy Ray's singing, and shows off his amazing vocal and musical abuility. A must have!