The Greatest Hits Collection (CD - 1997)

Brooks & Dunn: Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn (vocals)

Additional personnel: Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Bruce C. Bouton (lap steel, steel, slide & pedal steel guitars); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Dennis Burnside (piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ); John Barlow Jarvis (piano, organ, keyboards); Glenn Worf, David Hungate, Mike Chapman, Michael Rhodes (bass); Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion); Tom Roady (percussion); Scott Hendricks (cowbell); Dennis Wilson, John Wesley Ryles, Wes Hightower, Terry McBride, Liana Manis, Harry Stinson, Bill LaBounty, Arista Tabernacle Choir (background vocals).

Producers: Don Cook, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Scott Hendricks.

Recorded at SoundShop Recording Studios and Tree Studio, Nashville, Tennesee.

Personnel: Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar, lap steel guitar); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Dennis Burnside, John Barlow Jarvis (piano, keyboards); Dennis Dunside (piano); Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion); Scott Hendricks (cowbells); Tom Roady (percussion); Dennis Wilson , Arista Tabernacle Choir, Harry Stinson, John Wesley Ryles, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride, Wes Hightower, Bill LaBounty, Liana Manis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Mike Bradley; Scott Hendricks.

Audio Remasterer: Hank Williams.

Recording information: Buffalo Trax, Nashville, TN; Midtown Tone Recording Studio; SoundShop Recording Studios A & B, Nashville, TN; The Castle Recording Studios, Franklin, TN; Tree Studio, Nashville, TN; Volume Recording Studio.

Photographer: Russ Harrington.

A greatest hits collection is almost a redundancy for this chart-topping contemporary country duo, since nearly everything they touch turns to gold (if not platinum). Nevertheless, this compilation condenses the band's catalog, including three brand new tracks, into 19 sparkling gems of country-pop, bound to please both longtime fans and curious first-timers. They're all here, from the band's stellar cover of the pop hit "My Maria" to beer-swiggin' jukebox faves like "Boot Scootin' Boogie" and "Honky Tonk Truth."

What comes across most strongly on this album is the consistency of Brooks and Dunn's work, as it moves from house-rockin' uptempo numbers to sentimental ballads without losing a step. Every track features top-notch performances from great Nashville studio musicians, state-of-the-art production, and of course, the lilting harmonies of Brooks and Dunn. What more could a fan ask? minimize