Omitted top ten hits "The First Step" and "I Wanna Feel That Way Again" should have also made the lineup - particularly the latter, as ballads are in short supply on this collection. At ten hits plus one new selection, Keepers also seems a bit skimpy (most country collections of late have been offering at least twelve tracks - usually more - with two or three new recordings).

The new track "When Mama Ain't Happy" is an uptempo ditty about pleasing the Mrs. It's lack of success on the charts was a big surprise, since lightweight romps of this sort usually do quite well at radio. Byrd apparently did not want to record this song and subsequently left MCA after this album. He landed at RCA where he's recently had a couple of great singles ("Put Your Hand In Mine" and "Just Let Me Be In Love").

Overall, Keepers is a pleasant collection. Yet with a little more effort from the folks at MCA, it could have been great. For a slightly stronger look at Byrd's MCA years, check out the new twelve track Millennium Collection.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:


Very good CD! Definitely a "Keeper."  Oct 29, 1999
This is a good CD that sums up Tracy Byrd's work up until this point. My least favorite song on this CD is the new track, "When Mama Ain't Happy." It isn't bad, though. My favorite songs on this CD are "Holdin' Heaven," "Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich and Famous," and the best song on the album, "Keeper Of The Stars." There are other goodies on the album, such as the two Johnny Paycheck songs "Someone To Give My Love To" and "Don't Take Her She's All I Got," "Watermelon Crawl," "Love Lessons," "Heaven In My Woman's Eyes," "Big Love," and "I'm From The Country." A good album from start to finish.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:


Really Shows Tracy's Best Work!  Dec 23, 2000 By Chris
Good CD, but where is his recent hit "I Wanna Feel That Way Again" and his classic hit "Walkin' To Jeruselum"?

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


awesome  Jul 04, 1999
A complete awesome record that should have over 3 million copies sold. Keep remaking more Johnny Paycheck songs and more raving reviews will follow. Also try some Merle Haggard songs, I think they will fit Tracy.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


WHAT CAN I SAY? HE'S THE "ONLY WAY TO FLY"!!!!  Mar 07, 1999
There's not much to be said about a greatest hits. What can a person say? We've all heard the songs. We've all sung along with Tracy in concert. When WATERMELON CRAWL is played at a club, everyone lines up to dance. Many of us get drunk and scream that "I'M FROM THE COUNTRY"!!! Tracy Byrd hasn't had the sucess that Garth or George Strait has, but he's still got an impressive fan following. I've had the opportuniy to see Tracy 6 times in concert, and he's never let me down. The fans love him. How many acts do you know of that can pull off performing Waylon Jennings, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, George Jones, and Merle Haggard???? I can't think of one..............To sum up, Tracy Byrd is a love him/hate him peformer. You either LOVE his music or you HATE it. This cowboy LOVES his music, and I'd like to see him be remember long after his career is over...........

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