ABSOLUTELY, NOT ONE OF ANY OF THE CURRENT 'GREATEST HITS' OR 'ANTHOLOGY' REISSUES LISTED AS EITHER 'KENNY ROGERS & THE FIRST EDITION' OR 'KENNY ROGERS' OFFERS A FULL [OR EVEN 'HALF' FULL] SELECTION OF THIS GROUPS EARLY, PRIME MATERIAL! I HAVE EMAILED THE OFFICIAL KENNY ROGERS WEBSITE IN REGARDS TO OFFERING A MORE COMPLETE 'FIRST EDITION' RETROSPECTIVE AND THEY JUST KINDLY [IN A COUNTRY-KINDA-WAY] BLEW ME OFF, STATING THEY SHOWED NO INTEREST ... WHATSOEVER ... IN THAT MATERIAL! GRANTED THE REMAINING UNRELEASED [IGNORED] RECORDINGS WERE NOT "MAJOR" HITS FOR THE GROUP, BUT IN RETROSPECT THEY WERE INDEED IMPORTANT SINGLE RELEASES ... AND A FEW OF THEM WERE ACTUALLY VERY, VERY GOOD SONGS! EXAMPLES: "TULSA TURNAROUND", "CAMPTOWN LADIES", "CALICO SILVER", "CHARLIE FER DE LANCE", "MAMMA'S WAITING" ... TO NAME THE MORE IMPORTANT SONGS! ALSO, WHY HAS THERE NEVER BEEN A CD RE-ISSUE OF THEIR CLASSIC "BALLAD OF CALICO" DOUBLE-ALBUM??!! THIS ALBUM WAS A VERY IMPORTANT RECORDING!! IT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST 'CONCEPT' ALBUMS EVER RECORDED, AND IT CONTAINS A BOUNTY OF BEAUTIFUL WESTERN/COUNTRY SONGS - ALL OF WHICH WERE WRITTEN BY THE LEGENDARY "MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY". TRULY A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS WHEN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY NOT ONLY IGNORES IT IMPORTANT MOMENTS, BUT BLOWS-OFF ITS FANS!

As a fan who followed the group from their first album, at ten years old, I was surprised that some great songs that developed the group early on were not included such as; "If Wishes Were Horses", "I Found A Reason", and one of the especially notable songs by Thelma Comacho "I Get A Funny Feeling". These early songs were a catalyst in the group's initial success with appearances on such shows as The Smothers Brothers, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. The Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand. With each member's unique talent, this could have definitely been a 2 CD package. As a fan I wanted more of the memories of the original members. But for those that recall the most radio heavy aired tunes, they are included right here. I also appreciated Todd Everett's seven page history of the group's evolution and update of each band member.

I AM NOT THE TYPE TO COMPLAIN, BUT DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THIS CD IS MISSING THE GREAT KENNY ROGERS AND THE FIRST EDITIONs SONG "MOMMA'S WAITING"? I ONLY MENTION IT BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE LP RECORD, THEN THE 8-TRACK TAPE, THEN ON THE CASSETE THAT I HAVE LONG AGO WORE OUT.

The only CD of Kenny Rogers & the First Edition you'll need. Has all the original hits and great liner notes.

This album contains the cream of the cream about Kenny Rogers , his first steps just in the rise of his unbeatable career .
Something's burning , Ruby don't take your love to town or Ruben James are among the most representative and emblematic of this ensemble with clear country influences , but his compositions are made with broad gusto , rhytms and excellent arrangements . This album still remains as a classic in the glorious sixtioes decade .
If you are a hard fan of the Kenny Rogers from 1977 to 2004 , please turn around the clock , go back to his origins and you will be rewarded with this melodic voice.