Cheap Very Best of 1987-1989 (Music) (Charley Pride) Price

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+1/2 -- Good overview of Pride's post-RCA years
After an impressive run at RCA (29 #1s, total RCA sales second-only to Elvis), Pride succumbed, like so many others, to the label's youth movement. Rather than watching his success dwindle at the hands of reduced label interest and lowered marketing budgets, Pride opted out of his contract and signed with the then newly created 16th Avenue Records. As their flagship artist, Pride sprung several songs into the Top 40, and though he never reclaimed the commercial fortunes of his RCA years, neither was he reduced to knocking out filler.

Most of Pride's music from his three year stint at 16th Avenue has been out of print since the label folded in the early 90s - which is a shame, as these songs really do provide, as the liner notes succinctly describe, "a significant coda to one of country's most impressive chart runs." In addition to hits like "Shouldn't It Be Easier Than This," "I'm Gonna Love Her On the Radio," and "Have I Got Some Blues For You," Pride recorded many fine B-sides and album tracks. Kent Robbins' "If You Want a Fool Around" is given an original country-reggae treatment, and a cover of "On the Other Hand" may not make you forget Randy Travis, but neither does it hang as a reminder. The track list is complemented by four previously unreleased tracks from Pride's late '80s sessions.

Like many artists whose commercial fortunes waned in the wake of the next generation, Pride's artistry was far from exhausted. Though these tracks may not have scaled the same heights on the charts, ample craft was put to them, including songwriting from Bryan Gallimore, Mickey Newbury and others. This volume is a fine addition to Pride's hit-laden RCA catalog.

3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

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Much needed
In the late 1980's Charley Pride's hits started to dry up. So he switched to 16th avenue records to get a fresh approach. And to be honest, he went back to his country roots and away from the fat and sassy pop he had recorded for RCA in the 1980's.

This collection features all of his charting songs for 16th avenue records, long since out of print. This restores his last top 10, Shouldn't it be Easier than This and the fantastic regional hit, I'm Gonna Love Her on The Radio to disc.

The rest of the songs, though lesser known, are well done. His version of On The Other Hand is on par with Randy Travis. And that same steel guitar sound that was on "Storms of Life" is on these recordings.

All the songs are original recordings and the booklet is very well done.

I say grab this before this collection is out of print.