Kenny Rogers compilations tend to drift in and out of print, yet in a sense it doesn't matter much, because most featured most of the big hits. However, very few contained them all and, as of 2004, the only collection in print that contained all his big hits, from the First Edition through the mid-'80s, was 1999's four-disc box set Through the Years, which was too exhaustive for all but dedicated Rogers fans. So, there was a need for a new, relatively concise collection that featured all the hits; hence Capitol's 42 Ultimate Hits, a double-disc set that spans Kenny's entire career, from the First Edition to two new tracks, including a duet with Whitney Duncan. There's not much missing -- a few First Edition singles, along with several post-Eyes That See in the Dark hits that weren't all that memorable, neither of which are missed -- and it could even be argued that it stretches a little bit too far into the present on its second disc, which loses its momentum halfway through. Nevertheless, these are minor complaints, since the bulk of the collection provides Kenny Rogers' biggest songs -- among them "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," "Lucille," "Every Time Two Fools Collide," "The Gambler," "Coward of the County," "You Decorated My Life," "Lady," "Love Will Turn You Around," and "Islands in the Stream" -- in a chronological order and a listenable sequence. It may fall a little short of definitive, but it's still the best compilation on the market as of this writing.
Disc One
01. Just Dropped In (To See What Conition My Condition Was In) (3:22)
02. Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town (2:58)
03. Kenny Reuben James (2:49)
04. Something's Burning (3:59)
05. Tell It All Brother(3:23)
06. Love Lifted Me (3:45)
07. Lucille (3:37)
08. Daytime Friends (with Dottie West) (3:11)
09. Sweet Music Man (4:20)
10. Every Time Two Fools Collide (with Dottie West) (3:02)
11. Love Or Something Like It (2:54)
12. Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight (with Dottie West) (2:23)
13. The Gambler (3:35)
14. All I Ever Need Is You (with Dottie West) (3:09)
15. She Believes In Me (4:15)
16. 'Till I Can Make It On My Own (with Dottie West) (3:20)
17. You Decorated My Life (3:41)
18. Coward Of The County (4:22)
19. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer (with Kim Carnes) (3:42)
20. Love The World Away (3:13)
21. Lady (3:54)
~ Tracks 1 - 5 Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
Disc Two
01. What Are We Doin' In Love (with Dottie West) (3:04)
02. I Don't Need You (3:30)
03. Share Your Love With Me (3:20)
04. Blaze Of Glory (2:40)
05. Through The Years (4:24)
06. Love Will Turn You Around (3:40)
07. A Love Song (3:18)
08. We've Got Tonight (with Sheena Easton) (3:52)
09. Scarlet Fever (3:56)
10. Islands In The Stream (with Dolly Parton) (4:13)
11. Buried Treasure (4:13)
12. Crazy (3:45)
13. Morning Desire (4:11)
14. Make No Mistake, She's Mine (with Ronnie Milsap) (4:00)
15. Twenty Years Ago (3:47)
16. The Vows Go Unbroken (3:33)
17. The Greatest (3:14)
18. Buy Me A Rose (with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean) (3:50)
19. It's A Beautiful Life (3:15)
20. My World Is Over (with Whitney Duncan) (3:47)
21. We Are The Same (4:30) *
~ * Previously unreleased
