Greatest Hits (CD - 2002)

Personnel: Mark Wills, Jamie O'Neal (vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); JT Corenflos, Tom Bukovac (electric guitar); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Nashville String Machine (strings); Tim Akers (keyboards); Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass); Donnie Wilson (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Wes Hightower (background vocals).

Producers: Carson Chamberlain, Keith Stegall, Chris Lindsey, Mark Wills.

Recorded between 1996 & 2002.

Mark Wills' Greatest Hits collects 11 of the earnest country crooner's biggest hits and best songs. He has been a fixture near the top of the country singles and album charts since the beginning of his career. The disc kicks off with two songs from Wills' 1997 self-titled debut record: "Jacob's Ladder," a number six country hit, and "Places I've Never Been," a number five hit. Four tunes from his 1998 hit album follow and are all chart smashes: the number one "Wish You Were Here," the number twos "I Do (Cherish You)" and "Don't Laugh at Me," and the number seven "She's in Love." 2000's Permanently was another huge success for Wills, spawning the hits singles "Back at One" and "Almost Doesn't Count." Around this time Wills' sound began to get a little more glossy and pop-oriented, though strangely his songs didn't do as well in the charts. "I'm Not Going to Do Anything Without You," his duet with Jamie O'Neal from 2001's Loving Every Minute album, only reached number 31. The two new songs Wills recorded for this hits collection, the sentimental rocker "Somethin'" and the ballad "When You Think of Me," are solid country-pop tunes that also failed to catch fire with country audiences. Still, fans of Wills need to pick up the disc to get these two songs, and fans of solid, earnest country who want to check Wills out will find this the best place to start. ~ Tim Sendra

Like his contemporaries Clay Walker and Kenny Chesney, Mark Wills has always been at his best on the weepers. GREATEST HITS wisely sticks to ballads and thus makes for a cohesive, consistent and enjoyable listen. The tunes are arranged chronologically, so it's easy to hear how Wills's sound has become increasingly pop-oriented. Though the production eventually becomes so slick there's little to remind one that this is a country album, Wills's extraordinarily sensitive vocals more than make up for the rather bland backing tracks. In addition to the chart toppers, GREATEST HITS includes two new tracks. "19 Something" is a laundry list of gen-x nostalgia items (Stretch Armstrong, parachute pants) and is seemingly designed for fans of That '70s Show, but Wills's sincere delivery renders it strangely affecting. "When You Think Of Me" is similar thematically to Glen Campbell's classic "Witchita Lineman," and nearly as heart wrenching. GREATEST HITS is an excellent collection in that it showcases Mark Wills's wonderful voice on uniformly excellent material that, while often sentimental, is never drippy. minimize