Track Listing

1. Tell It Like It Is
2. Over You
3. Bells
4. Don't Take Away My Heaven
5. Warm Your Heart
6. You Never Can Tell
7. Close Your Eyes - Aaron Neville, Linda Ronstadt
8. Grand Tour
9. Louisiana 1927
10. Everybody Plays the Fool
11. Don't Go, Please Stay
12. Angola Bound
13. Change Is Gonna Come - Aaron Neville, Neville Brothers
14. Betcha by Golly, Wow
15. Stardust - Aaron Neville, Rob Wasserman
16. Use Me
17. ...To Make Me Who I Am
18. Don't Know Much - Aaron Neville, Linda Ronstadt

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5028 in Music
• Brand: Aaron
• Released on: 2000-01-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Possessor of one of contemporary music's most instantly recognizable voices, Aaron Neville has a recording career that spans nearly 40 years. While he started out as a bona fide purveyor of New Orleans-flavored R&B in the '60s, Neville has added his distinctive styling to pop fare in more recent years. Miraculously, even though he's recorded a diverse range of material--from Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" to a cover of the Originals' classic "The Bells"--Neville has lost none of his innate soulfulness. At last, there's a complete compilation that is a glorious testament to his skills as a vocal master. Thankfully, the original version of "Tell It Like It Is," Neville's 1967 R&B standard, is included here alongside his very first charted hit, 1960's "Over You." Neville's smash duet with Linda Ronstadt, "Don't Know Much" (1989), is naturally a standout, but equally impressive are tracks culled from the vocal stylist's four non-Christmas albums for A&M: "Don't Take Away My Heaven," a Louisiana workout of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell"; the infectious "Angola Bound"; a beautiful reading of the Stylistics' "Betcha By Golly Wow"; and, as a bonus, a brilliant reading of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," recorded with his brothers for the 1989 "Yellow Moon." An essential collection and a reminder of Neville's undeniable artistry. --David Nathan

Customer Reviews

Fine, Almost Complete Overview
This CD covers Neville's A&M solo albums and throws in 3 ringers: His hit duet with Linda Ronstadt ("Don't Know Much") and 2 classic solo sides from the 60's (both of which sound great and are the original cuts). There's also a fine cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" from the Neville Brother's album Yellow Moon, and a selection from Rob Wasserman's Duets album. What's missing are the records Aaron made after "Tell It Like It Is" from the late 60's and mid 70's. For that I strongly recommend Rounder Records superb "My Greatest Gift" - The Classic Aaron Neville. As an overview of his A&M years this is good, indeed. Tracks like his covers of "The Grand Tour" and "Lousiana 1927" show his taste in great songs. And ballads like "Betcha By Golly Wow" and "Warm Your Heart" are carried along by his incredible voice. Good liner notes and excellent sound. If you're just getting in to Aaron Neville's solo career this is the best collection out there.

Aaron Neville's voice is the instrument of an angel!
Rich in God blessed talent! During the holidays I caught a Christmas special where Aaron Neville captivated me. The song was sweet and sexy about a kiss, I watched him and was like WOW! Just purchased "The Very Best of Aaron Neville" album for a long car ride. What great classic songs done by the voice of an angel. The instrumental is great but his voice becomes the instrument. Such a gift! I loved the classics but truthfully song 17, "TO MAKE ME WHO I AM", moved me to tears. It is insightful, honest and heartwrentching. As a book publisher and author, I am curious if they debated over this one meaning the exposing of this artist? When we live in a society that only wishes to show the commercially bought into package, Neville risks/reveals himself and hits a cord in the humanity of us all. I share this song with those I care deeply for, and then switch gears and dance to the classic "YOU NEVER CAN TELL". It is absolutely beautiful!

This CD completely blew me away!
I wasn't familiar with Aaron Neville's music until I heard him sing "Louisiana 1927" on TV after hurricane Katrina and during the flooding. That song truly touched my heart. I had to have it. I found it on Amazon and liked the other song samples too, so I purchased it. When I heard the whole CD, he went from "never heard of him" to "all time favorite" instantly. His wonderful, unmistakable voice is addicting. I love all the songs on the CD, but I'm partial to "Don't Take Away My Heaven", "Warm Your Heart", "Louisiana 1927", and "To Make Me Who I Am", as well as the livelier "Over You" "Angola Bound" and "Use Me".The last song is the very beautiful "Don't Know Much" which he sings with Linda Ronstadt; it's a captivating blend of their two very distinctive voices.