In the past couple of years, there have been some good single disc Ronnie Milsap retrospectives released, including 1995's 20-track Essential Ronnie Milsap and 2001's 16-track RCA Country Legends. This 23-track chronologically arranged set surpasses both, to become the best single disc available on one of country music's all-time greatest artists.

The set contains hits Milsap recorded for RCA between 1974 and 1989. During that 15-year period, no one else hit the top of the charts as often (40 times) - or even came close. It's a testament to the diversity of Milsap's vocal and song-selecting talents.

Those diverse classics include pure pop ("Pure Love," "Smokey Mountain Rain"), polished honkytonkers ("Daydreams About Night Things," "I'm A Stand By My Woman Man,"), stone country weepers ("Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," "Am I Losing You"), bluesy scorchers ("Stranger In My House"), and adult contemporary fare ("It Was Almost Like A Song"). Toward the end of his hit-making tenure, Milsap also dwelled on nostalgia, with the vintage sounding "Lost In The Fifties Tonight."

The double-disc Forty # 1 Hits (2000) remains by far the strongest summation of Milsap's glory days. Among the great recordings found there but omitted here are "Let's Take The Long Way Around The World," "Why Don't You Spend The Night," "She Keeps The Home Fires Burning," and "Since I Don't Have You." But if you are on a strict budget and can only afford a single disc, this Ultimate Ronnie Milsap is the set to get. This collection's lineup is as follows:

1. Pure Love

Ronnie Milsap has so many great songs that you can't fit them all on one disc, but RCA actually did a really good job on choosing which ones to put on here. I miss "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning" and "All Is Fair In Love and War" not being on here, but with 22 songs, I can't complain. Every single song is heartfelt and enjoyable, and there are even a few that are sad enough to bring tears to your eyes. The only other two people that can do ballads as good as Ronnie Milsap are Lionel Richie and John Lennon. If you're debating between getting this one or the Essential disc, get this one. Essential leaves off his earlier classics, so songs like "Smokey Mountain Rain," "It Was Almost Like A Song," "Am I Losing You," and "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," aren't included on it. ...Oh, and it doesn't sound like a homemade copy like that one reviewer said. The sound quality is excellent. I highly recommend getting this compilation if you can't get a good deal on his 40 #1 hits.

This is a cd I got for my birthday one day. With 22 chart hits being on here, I didn't expect the fact that every track, except Stranger In My House, was a country number one hit. The Grammy winning tracks are all here: Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends, I'm A Stand By My Woman Man(although the liner notes say it was Stranger), There's No Getting Over Me, Lost In The Fifties Tonight, and a duet with Kenny Rogers on Make No Mistake, She's Mine. The first two, along with Pure Love, I'd Be A Legend In My Time, Daydreams About Night Things, It Was Almost Like A Song, and Smoky Mountain Rain, are seven of my nine favorite songs by Ronnie Milsap. The other two, Back On My Mind Again, and What A Difference You've Made In My Life, are omitted. However, other tracks saved this from being a four star. But let me tell you this: What Goes On When The Sun Goes Down is not on here, and I am not sure if it, She Loves My Car, and She Keeps The Home Fires Burning should have all even been included on here; there might have not been any room for those. However, in terms of quality, it was thanks to this cd that 16 Biggest Hits has already been made obsolete before release. Highly recommended!

this cd is awesome.

Anyone who loves Ronnie Milsap will love this

Cd It was just like being inconcert! Order it today!!

thank you for a terrific cd. He is a great singer. I hope you get to listen to him sometime.