The Definitive Collection

Performer: Brenda Lee
Producer: Owen Bradley; Ron Chancey; Mickie Most; Owen Bradley; Ron Chancey; Andy McKaie (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Recording information: Nashville, TN (04/12/1957-07/24/1979). Photographers: David Redfern; Brian Smith . While Brenda Lee is sometimes overlooked--ignored in favor of her contemporary Patsy Cline or dismissed as a singer of pop and novelty songs--this generous best-of collection will hopefully help to correct those misconceptions. Lee was one of Nashville's brightest stars in the late 1950s and early '60s, and THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION shows why. From the pop boogie of "Dynamite" (check Lee's growls at the start of each verse) to number one hits like the lilting ballad "I'm Sorry" and the string-heavy "I Want to Be Wanted," Lee proves herself a consistently appealing and capable vocalist. Roots country fans may balk at the smooth, syrupy countrypolitan arrangements that dominate her sound, but Lee's recordings are among the best of the genre, thanks in large part to her sensual, well-controlled voice. Lee's less orchestrated recordings (like the bona fide rocker "Is It True?") are even better, and show her ability to shine in a variety of contexts. At 28 tracks, THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION shows the range and depth of Lee's talents, and as such is the perfect sampler of this important Nashville artist. Like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and only a few others, Brenda Lee could sound equally wonderful whether she was tearing into an upbeat rock & roll number or crooning a melancholy countrypolitan ballad. The fact that she demonstrated ample knowledge of both even before getting halfway through her teenage years made her achievements much more special. MCA's The Definitive Collection befits its title in one area: it's the definitive collection of her Billboard chart history, where most -- but not all -- of her artistic excellence occurred. The disc includes a full 28 tracks, but dispatches her early history as a rock firebrand with only three songs (when even ten wouldn't have been overdoing it), and moves quickly to her decade-long mastery of the forlorn, love-scorned ballad. It's a fact that most new listeners with a potential appreciation for Lee's talents would be drawn to her earlier rockabilly material, not her balladry, so this is a lost opportunity that some other collection will have to remedy. (In fact, the two-disc Anthology [1956-1980] proves that there's enough excellent Brenda Lee material to fill two discs.) ~ John Bush

With over 100,000,000 records sold, Brenda Lee resides in the pantheon of most successful recording artists of all time, right up there with Elvis Presley, who was an early supporter. Her precocious talent, grown-up voice, and passionate stage performances earned her the nickname Little Miss Dynamite as a million-selling teenage recording artist. When the British Invasion of the early '60s put a halt to the careers of many performers of the previous decade, Lee made an ultimately successful return to her country roots.

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