AMG Review of Country Music Hall of Fame Series

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Country Music Hall of Fame contains 16 of Kitty Wells' best songs, giving a reasonably thorough overview of her career by combining big hits like "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" with minor hits like "A Woman Half My Age." The songs on this single disc were recorded for Decca Records between 1952 and 1965, so it naturally touches on many of the highlights from her artistic heyday, including "Release Me," "Making Believe," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Mommy for a Day," and "Heartbreak, USA." It's an excellent retrospective, even though several important cuts -- including most of her up-tempo material -- is missing. Nevertheless, it's collects many of her most important songs and provides a terrific introduction to one of the most important vocalists in country music history.