''Greatest Songs'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released November 19, 1996, on

Curb Records Curb Records (also known as Asylum-Curb and formerly known as MCG Curb) is an American record label started by Mike Curb, originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963. From 1969 to 1973, Curb merged with MGM Records where Curb served as President of ...

. It was his 35th studio recording in his career as a recording artist. It was also his third album issued for the Curb label. Although titled ''Greatest Songs'', the album actually contained re-recordings of songs originally recorded in decades prior.

Background, content and reception

''Greatest Songs'' was Anderson's album released for Curb Records. It would also be his final release with the label. The album contained re-recordings, technically categorizing it as a studio album. Sessions were produced in 1996. The re-recordings chosen were some of Anderson's biggest hits and most well-known material while signed to

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

. The set was a collection of ten newly-recorded tracks. Some of the hits from Anderson's career include " Still", " I Get the Fever", "Po' Folks " and " Wild Week-End". The collection also included some well-known album cuts such as "I Wonder If God Likes Country Music". The song was originally recorded as a duet with

Roy Acuff Roy Claxton Acuff (September 15, 1903 – November 23, 1992) was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the "King of Country Music", Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown ...

in 1979. ''Greatest Songs'' was first released on November 19, 1996, on

, becoming his 35th studio album. It was originally released as a compact disc in 1996, but was later released to digital and streaming retailers in the 2010s. The album did not spawn any known singles nor did it peak on any ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' charts. ''Greatest Songs'' was reviewed by Allmusic, who only gave the project 2.5 out of five stars. Reviewer

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...

recommended for listeners to avoid the album because it was re-recordings, not originals. "''Greatest Songs'' is a budget-line collection featuring pleasant but unexceptional '90s re-recordings of Bill Anderson's best-known material," he commented.

Track listing

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1996 albums Bill Anderson (singer) albums Curb Records albums