AMG Review of Best of Eddy Arnold [RCA]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Released in 1967, RCA's The Best of Eddy Arnold offers an excellent 12-track overview of his countrypolitain peak for the label in the '60s. Arnold had a tremendous number of hits, charting consistently from 1955-1975, but the early-'60s singles that this record chronicles are at the heart of his legacy -- smooth, lush productions of sweet ballads and heartache songs, perfectly suited for his easy-rolling voice. Later collections might be more comprehensive, but this The Best of Eddy Arnold contains the essentials -- "Bouquet of Roses," "Make the World Go Away," "Anytime," "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)," "Last World in Lonesome Is Me," "What's He Doing in My World," a nice re-recording of "Cattle Call" -- that make this record as effective an overview now as it was back then. Other collections may be longer, but this will tell many listeners everything they need to know.