16 Biggest Hits - Mickey Gilley

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Reviewed by Kathy Coleman

In the twenty-plus years since Urban Cowboy made Gilley's Club a household name, it's become very easy to forget that Mickey Gilley is far more than just the proprietor of a huge bar where you can ride a mechanical bull; he was, and still is, a pretty danged good singer. He was responsible for a number of gigantic hits on his own, quite aside from his impact on country music via his celebrated bar.

With this 16 Biggest Hits collection, some of Mickey's biggest and best are available all in a single CD collection, an ear-pleasing group of songs gleaned from the singer's catalog, including "Room Full Of Roses," "I Overlooked An Orchid," "Window Up Above," and the rollicking "Don't The Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time."

It's a terrific little collection of really good stuff, a sentimental walk down a classic country trail, finding these old songs just like new. Gilley's sweet, slightly rough, tender tenor voice is soothing in sound, and he can flat-out deliver a song.

The compilation is put together very haphazardly, however. There is no information on the liner notes, only the date of release and songwriters listed, with no players; the final track is a "bonus" 17th track, a VERY 80's pop style duet with an uncredited female singer. It seems to be hastily constructed without much thought beyond getting all the songs put together on one disc.

Still, it's worth the listen, especially for such tracks as "That's All That Matters," "True Love Ways," and Gilley's tremendous cover of "Stand By Me." If you're new to the sound of 70's country, this is a good place to start. Check it out. Song List:

1. Room Full of Roses
2. I Overlooked an Orchid
3. City Lights
4. Window Up Above
5. Don't All the Girls Get Prettier at Closing Time
6. Bring It on Home to Me
7. She's Pulling Me Back Again
8. True Love Ways
9. That's All That Matters
10. A Headache Tomorrow (Or a Headache Tonight)
11. You Don't Know Me
12. Lonely Nights
13. Put Your Dreams Away
14. Talk to Me
15. Fool for Your Love
16. Stand by Me
17. Paradise Tonight