Track Listing

1. When You Love Someone Like That (LeAnn Rimes)
2. Does The Wind Still Blow In Oklahoma (Ronnie Dunn)
3. Because Of You (Kelly Clarkson)
4. Faith In Love (Rascal Flatts)
5. She Can't Save Him (Trisha Yearwood)
6. Everyday People (Carol King)
7. Every Other Weekend (Kenny Chesney)
8. These Broken Hearts (Vince Gill)
9. Sleeping With The Telephone (Faith Hill)
10. The Only Promise That Remains (Justin Timberlake)
11. Break Each Others Hearts Again (Don Henley)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2947 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
From the moment you hear the voice, you know it: fierce and powerful, clear and passionate, a voice that has sold 49 million records, a voice that could belong to no one else but the woman millions of fans the world over know only as Reba. So what do you do when you're the owner of that iconic voice -- and the embodiment of a genre-bending artistic presence that spans the worlds of music, screen and stage? If you're Reba McEntire, you find creative soul mates in 11 other amazing voices and produce a groundbreaking collection of music simply titled Reba Duets. Or, as McEntire herself might describe it, you gather up some friends old and new, and have a party - oh, and make an amazing new album at the same time. "It was like a family reunion. It was just so much fun!" says the easygoing superstar. And the results? "Well, I'm just so tickled!" she says with her trademark Southern charm. "I can't wait for everyone to hear it." Duets was a long time coming, says McEntire. "You have to keep creating things, thinking about what's next and how to keep it fresh for your fans," she says. "I've always thought a duets album would be a great thing to get to do, and the timing was finally right to make it happen."

Amazon.com
Country music queen Reba McEntire sounds like she feels at home with a variety of big-name artists, who wisely adapt to her style rather than making her stretch to accommodate them. Perhaps the biggest surprise is her duet with Justin Timberlake on "The Only Promise That Remains," which he wrote for her as an acoustic ballad far removed from most of the music he makes on his own. The power balladry of "Because of You" receives the full diva treatment in its teaming of McEntire with Kelly Clarkson, while Carole King adds some pop buoyancy to "Everyday People" (not the Sly and the Family Stone classic). LeAnn Rimes pays trans-generational homage with opener "When You Love Someone Like That" (which also closes Rimes’ recent Family as a bonus cut). "Does the Wind Still Blow in Oklahoma," a duet with Ronnie Dunn, finds the pair writing as well as singing together, and Vince Gill offers his "These Broken Hearts" for the duet treatment. Faith Hill and Reba wring high drama from "Sleeping with the Telephone," which humanizes the war from the perspective of a soldier’s wife whose husband is overseas. --Don McLeese

From the Artist
As McEntire sees it, amazing songs have little to do with genre, and everything to do with emotion and nuance. "I've been a fan of different kinds of music all my life," she says. "I really don't like to categorize music. To me, there's only two categories: good and bad. And I try to sing the good songs, and listen to good music. When it touches my heart, and I can deliver it with all my heart and soul, then it's a good Reba McEntire song. In the end, I want all the songs to touch my listener's hearts." It's that devotion to making quality music that brings her audience back to Reba again and again. "The great thing about it is, my fans have always continued to go along with me on these journeys I take, whether it's television, music, Broadway or movies. They really hang in there with me, and I sure do appreciate that. It's been a good journey." The next chapter on that journey is about to begin, with Duets - and the amazing music created when Reba's signature voice finds new harmony with a few stellar friends. "I hope people are going to be caught up in the moment of listening to this music," says McEntire. "There's a lot of love in this record, because I love these people that I get to sing with. And I think people are going to love it, too. I honestly do."

Customer Reviews

ALBUM OF THE YEAR!
I guarantee you that this is an album you will want in your collection. Reba, one of the leading female country vocalists of our time, has teamed with 11 of the greatest voices in music today to produce an amazing new CD. I don't think I have ever been more excited for a CD release...Reba has chosen not only 11 excellent duet partners, but 11 superb songs...songs about divorce ("Every Other Weekend"), dealing with an alcoholic spouse ("She Can't Save Him"), blame and accusation ("Because of You"), heartbreak ("Break Each Other's Hearts Again") and even maintaing your romantic ideals despite challenges ("Faith in Love"). I got my new CD today and absolutely love it! There is not, in my opinion, a bad song on it. Each song can somehow touch SOMEBODY...and there's sure to be a huge appreciation for not only Reba herself, but how well she blends with other her duet partners. The first single with Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You," has made a huge impression at country radio...their voices blend together perfectly and the orchestral arrangment soars as they effortlessly deliver this cover of Clarkson's self-penned 2005 pop hit. It would be impossible for me to list my favorites, however...seeing as I truly do love each one! But I am especially partial to "Every Other Weekend" and "Sleeping with the Telephone." So get this CD, listen to it, enjoy it, and share it. As Reba herself says in the editorial section, there is a lot of love on this record, because she really loves everyone she got to sing with. You will, too!!!

Reba returns to form on Duets
2007 marks Reba's 30th year as a recording artist. Over the past several albums she's kind of been adrift but with "Duets" she's back to her old self. The songs on here are very country sounding. Even when she's singing with Kelly Clarkson ("Because Of You") or Justin Timberlake ("The Only Promise That Remains") she is still very country. Reba makes Clarkson's "Because Of You" her own. "Every Other Weekend" with Kenny Chesney is also a standout (and I'm not a Chesney fan at all). The whole album is just great, each song has something to offer. If you're a fan of the 80's and early 90's Reba, you won't be dissappointed.

Reba & Friends deliver the goods
If you are a fan of Reba McEntire, or country music, or country-pop music, or if you just like good music, or know someone who does, then you should buy this album immediately.

Like, right now.

I mean it!

The first single from this album will knock your socks off. "Because of You" is a remake of the Kelly Clarkson hit from her album Breakaway, and of course Clarkson joins Reba both for the single, and for the video, which will also keep those socks flying. I think the video is one of my all time favorites, so make sure you check out these two beautiful ladies in a stunning performance. (Can you tell that I really like this song?)

For an encore, Reba teams up with Mr. Sexyback Justin Timberlake for single number two, "The Only Promise that Remains", and even though Reba completely overpowers Justin vocally, he gets props for writing the song. Also try "When You Love Someone Like That" with LeAnn Rimes, also on her album Family; "Faith in Love" (featuring Rascal Flatts); and especially "Everyday People" (featuring Carole King)

Other tracks feature Ronnie Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Faith Hill and Don Henley, and believe me, there's not a stinker in the lot.



Amanda Richards, November 11, 2007