This collection of fourteen tracks, pulled from tribute albums and guest appearances on other artists' albums, displays the breadth of Yoakam's work with a conciseness that his own albums never could. To be fair, Yoakam's releases have been purpose-built as more focused efforts, and this collection, drawing from disparate sources across a full decade of recording, has a broader charter. It's astounding to hear in one place just how easily Yoakam fits into rootsy mountain bluegrass, honky-tonk country, smooth adult contemporary pop, and earthy blues-inspired country-rock.

Yoakam provides the ballast for Ralph Stanley's high-and-lonely on the latter's "Down Where the River Bends," and Stanley returns the favor by taking Yoakam's "Miner's Prayer" into the hills from which it was dug. Yoakam's honky-tonk outlaw heroes are recognized on covers of Waylon Jennings' "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)," Johnny Cash's "Understand Your Man," and Webb Pierce's "If You Were Me (And I Were You)." The latter, featuring harmonies by Gail Davies, is just one of several wonderful duets that include Deana Carter's adult-contemporary "Waiting" and Heather Miles' Mexicali-flavored "Little Chapel."

Yoakam is transcendent, surrounded by the acoustic sounds of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and tearing through "Mercury Blues" and ZZ Top's "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide." Bonus tracks include previously unreleased covers of Little Eva's "Loco-Motion" and two versions of John Prine's "Paradise." Other artists may have similar range, but precious few have the artistic gravity to make such a compilation cohesive. This is an essential collection for fans and an interesting introduction to Yoakam's breadth.

picked this up thinking it would be good stuff, then the covers realization set in and i regretted it, but then i listened to it a few times and i can't live without it. some really strange choices (Locomotion) but i'll be darned if they don't all work. Stop The World is one of the best covers i've ever heard, ditto for Understand Your Man. the bluegrass gets a little old, but it's still good. a bizarre hodgepodge of odds & ends that really work individually. color me surprised and impressed.

Little Bit of Rhythmn & a lotta Soul*

Dwight's Used Records: Even the title sounded interesting and being a big fan of His music it was a "must" on the day of its release. Can the album get any better with the choices of songs?!? He goes from covering 'The Late Great Waylon Jennings' and His modern day version of *Stop the World [and let Me off*] to Johnny Cash and 'Understand Your Man' one of the coolest tracks on there and deserves first listen. The ones that have appeared on previous albums, but this being a compilation album it has some great tunes to take along and listen if You dont feel like searching thru Your cd collection and would satisfy even the most die hardest of listeners. His voice so convincingly somber with Ralph Stanley on 'Down where the river bends'and then the ultra fave that I was lucky enough to hear Him do live last year on His 'Almost Alone' tour the two versions of *Paradise*. A cover song of John Prine's that the Singer says tells a similar story of His upbringing in Kentucky. The two versions are favourites at the end and His range in style also with covering ZZ Top on 'Im Bad Im NationWide' You just never know what to expect and find He always leaves Us wanting more with His future music that He is creating and covering here and there for Us to enjoy. Yes, definitely highly recommended, and the three new recordings produced with Mr Keith Gattis are worth getting it for Those that already may have the other songs on previous releases. *Stop the World and let Me off *Down where the river bends *Mercury Blues *Waiting *Some dark Holler *If You were Me *Little Chapel *Loco Motion [new recording produced by Dwight Yoakam/Keith Gattis *Miners Prayer *Understand Your Man *Wheels *Im Bad Im NationWide *Paradise [new recording produced by Dwight Yoakam/Keith Gattis *"I said" Paradise Reprise [new recording produced by Dwight Yoakam/Keith Gattis

Submitted by Yolanda Casey in Fresno, Cal

I love this CD. I think it is some of Dwight's best work. I liked the mix of songs, especially the almost 60's sound of Stop the World and Understand your Man and how the contrasted with the "classic" Yoakum sound of Miner's Prayer. The more often I listen to it, the more I like it, the beat is good and you can dance to it (smile). Dwight keeps getting better and better.

Some squeamish professorial types apparently think my reviews of Dwight Yoakam's albums verge on softcore porn. Well, to that I say a) what kind of soft porn have you been reading? (seriously, you're gettin' gypped), and b) the singing, songs, musicianship and soul in Dwight Yoakam's albums all warrant my swoon-y hyperbole.

USED RECORDS is my favorite because of the breadth of styles and songs. There's the incomparable duet with Kelly Willis, "Waiting," my favroite song ever. Then tehre's the gorgeous tarditional songs, like the Ralph Stanley duet "Down by the Sycamore Tree," then there are great push-your-tush numbers like "Loco-motion" and "Mercury Blues." And tasty Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings covers...I could go on and on. Stop me before I drool!

The bottom line is this: Buy this, it will be well-used by you (harhar) and cherished for many years to come.