The Hits [Limited] (CD - 1994)

Personnel includes: Garth Brooks (vocals); Mark Casstevens, Johnny Christopher (acoustic guitar); Pat Alger (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar, background vocals); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Rob Hajacos (fiddle, background vocals); Sam Bush (fiddle, mandolin, background vocals); Terry McMillan (harmonica); Bobby Wood (piano, keyboards); Mike Chapman (bass, background vocals); Edgar Meyer (bass); Milton Sledge (drums, percussion).

Recorded at Jack's Tracks Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee. Includes liner notes by Garth Brooks.

The Hits is exactly what it says it is -- 18 of Garth Brooks' biggest hits, including his first 14 number one singles. Although he has good album tracks on each of his records, this is the essential Garth Brooks album -- it gives a good sense of the singer's talents, especially his underappreciated eclecticism. The Hits was only in print for a year, but it sold in excess of eight million copies, so it hardly can be called a limited edition. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

It is almost redundant to have the words "Garth Brooks" and "THE HITS" on the same album cover because this country music phenom is synonymous with the term "hit." After selling a gazillion records and topping the country singles chart, Brooks' "best of" collection has brought him to the peak of the pop album chart as well.

Everything is in place on THE HITS. Included are the anthems ("Ain't Goin' Down," "Standing Outside The Fire" and the courageously inspirational "We Shall Be Free"), the power ballads ("The River," "The Thunder Rolls," "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and Garth's personal favorite, "The Dance"), the novelty hits ("Friends In Low Places," "America Honky Tonk Bar Association"), the pop cover (Billy Joel's "Shameless"), the cowboy songs ("Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old," "Rodeo"), even a taste of zydeco ("Callin' Baton Rouge").

The 18 songs document five years of mixing traditional country with a well-defined pop orientation, making a mega-star out of Brooks and instant country classics out of his songs. Culled from five of his six albums (no cuts from the Christmas disc BEYOND THE SEASON), these prime selections provide an accurate account of Garth's young yet accomplished career. THE HITS is a godsend for fans, and a superb introduction for those one or two people who aren't already familiar with Brooks' work. minimize