May 15, 2008

4:34pm Thursday 15th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Kenny Rogers: A Love Song Collection (Capitol Records)

THERE cannot be many who have not heard of the artist tagged as The Gambler.

From the early days of the New Christy Minstrels, through the First Edition and on to the status of a single artist, Kenny Rogers has won world-wide acceptance.

Starting with the Mel Tillis classic, Ruby (Don't Take Your Love To Town), originally a hit for Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, he has stamped his vocal attributes on many songs.

His biggest break was the song entitled The Gambler, which gave him superstar status along with TV films portraying him in the title role, followed by the duet track of Islands In The Stream with Dolly Parton. In his 70th year he has released a collection of past hits which prove he is at his crossover best with a love song.

She Believes In Me, You Decorated My Life, Lady and Lee Greenwood's A Love Song are followed by We've Got Tonight with Sheena Easton, Don't Fall In Love with a Dreamer with Kim Carnes, Buy Me A Rose with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean and Islands In The Stream. Vocals, music and production are superb and worth a place in anyone's collection.