Search - Greatest Hits on DVD

Way past Pierce's prime

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 12/25/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard not to watch Webb Pierce's "Greatest Hits" and wish that it could have been different. As far as qualities go, this DVD features Webb Pierce playing the songs that made him famous. It features such memorable tunes as 'In the Jailhouse Now,' 'There Stands the Glass' and 'Rocky Top.' In addition, Pierce's daughter joins him for a few tunes. Derived from television broadcasts, the audio and video is excellent. To top it all off, a sweater wearing Pierce introduces each song. Despite such strengths, the time period is a miss. Pierce released all of his big hits in the 50's. Indeed, Webb Pierce's decade was the 1950's. While the actual broadcast dates are never shared, the performances were probably aired sometime between the late 60's and mid 70's. In this respect the cover is a false advertisement. Like so much country music from that time period, it is spoiled with corny female background vocals. Given this dark era of country music, it's surprising that a symphony orchestra wasn't employed. It seems hard to believe that this was the best thing in the Webb Pierce video archive. Those seeking a vintage look at Webb Pierce should watch "Country Music Classics." Best suited for completists, "Greatest Hits" is an uncompelling but interesting look at a country legend."

Rare Video on One of Country's Greatest Stars

"Tee" | LA | 03/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Who would have thought Webb Pierce would be one of the few country stars to have multiple DVDs out? He was king of the jukeboxes in the 1950's and country's biggest hit maker that decade but slipped hard in the smoother "Nashville sound" era of the 1960's although he was still an active artist well into the late 70's. The other DVD features appearances from the 1950's this DVD features television footage (from his brief late 60's/early 70's tv series?) and concert footage all of it apparently circa 1968-1976 despite the 1950s cover photo of Webb. This release was apparently produced for video release in 1990 a few years before Webb passed away and he introduces every song with recent commentary. I think this was never released before the current DVD, however. The DVD contains 18 songs with chapters to each one (starting at his intros): IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW, WONDERING, MORE AND MORE, SLOWLY, THERE STANDS THE GLASS, DOES MY MEMORY EVER CROSS YOUR MIND, ROCKY TOP (this song is actually done by Webb's daughter Debbie who sings with him on a couple of other tracks) , TAKE THE TIME IT TAKES, HOW DO YOU TALK TO A BABY, IT'S BEEN SO LONG, MEMORY NUMBER ONE, SONGWRITERS LOVE SONG, COWTOWN, DONT DO IT DARLING, HONKY TONK SONG, TUPELO COUNTY JAIL, SOMEDAY. Film quality is excellent if uncreatively photographed. If you like your country music undiluted, unashamed, and strong, Webb Pierce is your guy. He was considered "too country" even by the Country Music Hall of Fame for years!!! The CMA's slight outraged many country purists and artists and they finally got around to inducting him a few years ago."