Real Reba

Entertainers come and go; that "fresh new face of country" someone raves about today may not be around much longer than tomorrow, unless he or she embodies truly unique qualities and talents. When Reba McEntire burst onto the country music scene, she was a youngster who garnered attention in the way of a LeAnn Rimes in today's market. Those of us who speculated she might not last should have known better, for she is genuinely talented. And her Greatest Hits--Volume II album is arguably her very best, for it is real Reba--straight forward and moving.

The duet with Linda Davis, "Does He Love You?" was a smash, as it should have been. Both women sing the song with emotion, and the agony and questions of both a betrayed wife and "the other woman" are apparent through the skillfully arranged first cut of the album. As a matter of fact, those who have seen the video may find, as I do, that they prefer the song without the theatrics of a boat being blown up; relationships such as those expressed in the song are usually not brought to closure, and the song leaves the question of what happens to both women an open one.

Virtually all the songs are wonderful slice-of-life songs. For some reason, "You Lie," the second cut, is the one I care for least, in spite of the vocal ranges it allows Reba to showcase. "Fancy" is a deserved slap in the face of the self-righteous, and "Is There Life Out There?" has to appeal to any woman who gave up career, and sometimes youth, to make a home for others. The fact that the song doesn't belittle that choice even as it questions it is a tribute to Reba's understanding of the values of home and family.

On any given day, and depending on my mood, the songs I like second or third best on the album change, but my absolute favorite is "The Greatest Man I Never Knew." This sentimental ode to the strong, silent father figure may eventually lose its significance as fathers become more involved, but how many of us grew up with dads who never knew how to tell us that we were loved? The irony, warmth and bittersweet tenderness of this song touch me each time I hear it, which is often.

Reba has other wonderful songs, but I don't have a single album of hers that is as consistently good. This really is a collection of greatest hits, and deserves to be in everyone's collection.