Greatest Hits 1986-2004

Description

Greatest Hits 1986-2004 is a compilation album by the American singer and songwriter Amy Grant, released on A&M Records/UTV Records in 2004, distributed by Universal Music & Video Distribution. Also released by Word Entertainment. Features on previously unreleased track; “The Water”.

It may be hard to believe, but A&M/UTV’s 2004 release Greatest Hits 1986-2004 is the first compilation of Amy Grant’s to be released since 1986’s The Collection. In that time, she went from CCM to secular pop music and back again, scoring several big hits in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Appropriately, that era dominates Greatest Hits, with a great majority of the album hailing from 1988-1994; in fact, nearly half of her biggest album, 1991’s Heart in Motion, is here. Some of this material is religious, including the previously unreleased opener, «The Water», but most of this sounds and feels like adult contemporary pop of the time, which shouldn’t be surprising because songs like «Baby Baby» and the Peter Cetera duet «The Next Time I Fall» defined the sound of the mainstream pop sound of the turn of the decade. While the production of this music is undoubtedly dated – the keyboard bass, synthesized backing, and surface gloss pin it to the year, if not very month, of release – it nevertheless has aged surprisingly well for two reasons. First, the songs featured on Greatest Hits were constructed with genuine skill, from the writing to the production; even if the sound of the record is dated, that popcraft means they’re still appealing, years after their release. Second, Grant is a very appealing singer. Not only does she have a warm, sweet voice that enlivens these highly polished productions, but she has a charming, everywoman persona that makes them easily relatable. Her strengths are most apparent on those hits from 1988-1994 that make for the bulk of the album, but the revelation of Greatest Hits is that she produced a consistently enjoyable body of work, with the late-’90s/early-2000s work and the new songs holding their own with the better-known material. And that’s what makes Greatest Hits 1986-2004 not only a good portrait of Grant, it makes it one of the best adult contemporary pop albums of its kind. [Initial pressings of Greatest Hits 1986-2004 contain a bonus disc with remixes of «Every Heartbeat», «That’s What Love Is For», «I Will Remember You», and «House of Love».] [Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG]

CD tracklist:

01. The Water – 5:06
02. Come Be With Me (feat. Keb’ Mo’) – 4:19
03. The Next Time I Fall (duet with Peter Cetera) – 3:41
04. Saved By Love – 4:39
05. Lead Me On – 5:36
06. Baby Baby – 3:56
07. Every Heartbeat (Edited Version) – 3:17
08. That’s What Love Is For – 4:16
09. Good For Me – 3:58
10. I Will Remember You – 4:59
11. Lucky One (Remix) – 4:09
12. House Of Love (duet with Vince Gill) – 4:39
13. Big Yellow Taxi (The Paradise Mix) – 3:03
14. The Things We Do For Love – 3:19
15. Takes A Little Time – 4:32
16. Like I Love You – 4:30
17. I Will Be Your Friend – 4:00
18. Simple Things – 3:58
Bonus Track:
19. Baby Baby (7″ Heart In Motion Mix) – 3:50

Bonus Disc

2-01. Every Heartbeat (Body and Soul Mix) – 3:50
2-02. That’s What Love Is For (7″ Single Mix) – 4:20
2-03. I Will Remember You (Rhythm Remix) – 5:05
2-04. House Of Love (Classic Philly Soul Mix) (duet with Vince Gill) – 3:50

Note: The initial pressings of Greatest Hits 1986-2004 contain a bonus disc featuring four remixes.