Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: I'm a Survivor (CD - 2001)

Personnel includes: Reba McEntire (vocals); Alison Krauss (vocals, viola); Steve Gibson, Ron Block (guitar); Chris Thile (bouzouki); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Gary Smith (piano); Steve Nathan, Matt Rollings (keyboards); Barry Bales, Michael Rhodes (bass); Jim Keltner, Paul Leim (drums); Russell Terrell, Kim Parent (background vocals); Brooks & Dunn.

Producers include: Tony Brown, David Malloy, Tim DuBois, John Guess, Alison Krauss.

Compilation producer: Hank Williams.

Includes liner notes by Lon Helton.

Personnel: Alison Krauss (vocals); Ron Block (guitar); Steve Gibson (electric guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Gary "Bud" Smith (piano); Matt Rollings, Steve Nathan (keyboards); Jim Keltner, Paul Leim (drums); Kim Parent, Russell Terrell (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Gary Paczosa; Justin Niebank.

Recording information: Emerald-Studio A; Seventeen Grand.

Photographer: George Holz.

Bookending Reba McEntire's third volume of greatest hits are two previously unreleased songs. The first is from her TV series, demonstrating the fact that she's not just a country star, and the second is a Kenny Rogers song that underlines both the aforementioned star quality and the reasons she's stayed a country star for so long. In between there's a plethora of fine material (not all chart hits in the accepted sense, but hey, it's Reba--who cares?) that showcases the vitality, musical smarts, and sheer spunk that have kept the diminutive singer in her public's heart for two decades.

"She Thinks His Name Was John," "The Fear of Being Alone," and the caustic, funny "Why Haven't I Heard From You" all display McEntire's talent for portraying the lives of poor but proud, hard-working people. Which is where her appeal--and that of the best country music--has always been. You feel she's on our side, because she's one of us, and no matter how many TV or Broadway shows she stars in, she'll never lose the common touch. Long may she run. minimize