Reba McEntire’s former label released an album entitled ’’Reba Nell’’....For some reason Mercury/Polygram Records do not really give much information on when this great album was released or when Reba herself recorded it, but I will say this much, it is a great album folks! Reba keeps it very traditional here on this long lost album! She taps into some deep country roots and also using very much the style of country sounds that were being used at the current time! My guess for when this album would have been done is probably in the very early 80’s! To start off in a traditional way, Reba steps off with a song called I’ve Never Stopped Dreaming Of You.....this song puts me to mind of past country hit makers such as Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, and Ricky Skaggs! There is a hint of a waltz in this great piece of music here!
This song is sung so well and Reba really stays true to country here! I think you will find yourself playing this great song time and time again! Certainly a rare jewel worth putting in your Reba McEntire collection! Hold On follows up on the album! Starting out with beautiful strings and piano, with Reba ready to go vocally! It starts out slow and in the chorus it begins a catchy hook! Hold On in very much in the same style as Dolly Parton or Crystal Gale! I like this song because even though it is die hard country here, I often hear a hint of light pop here, and I really enjoy this song alot!
A song I would put into a Reba McEntire compilation Cd! I Know I’ll Have A Better Day Tomorrow is very much a song that Loretta Lynn would do!!!!! This song was written by Reba herself and Loretta comes through bright on this one! Reba does it as her idol would! This song is certainly real life! The kind of song you would play at the end of a really bad day, so you can honestly say her folks that we can all relate to this great down home country song! Don’t Say Goodnight, Say Good Morning is very Reba McEntire here! This is a typical song for Reba and it is yet a style Reba will use again in future albums to come! The subject matter is one Reba is good at talking about! In this song, she is trying to convince an ex boyfriend or husband that time has taken a toll and let’s try to revive the relationship that such a spark in the very beginning! Muddy Mississippi is certainly down home and very southern!
This song is like that of a Ricky Skaggs or Alabama!!! She gets down home and makes you wanna two step to this!!! It is an up beat song and fun to sing along with too! This is the country style I remember most that the television show Hee-Haw would often play! A MAJOR highlight here folks if you have never heard Reba get down home! Reba comes back on another great ballad entitled It’s Another Silent Night! The sort of song that tackles a fighting couple! She tells you the story of how both stubborn people are not speaking! He is doing his own thing and she is doing hers!
This is the same style that Reba will once again use in the MCA years! It is safe to say that Reba really did alot of the same styles with a few experiments in her early years, like most artist of any style of music would do! But back to this song, I could easily hear this song on her mega hit album Whoever’s In New England! Empty Arms goes back into a Patsy Cline song, and when you hear the oooh’s in the beginning and the piano, you almost think Patsy is gonna sing! Vocally Reba gives her all here and she puts Patsy in the driver’s seat ( so to speak )...You can tell Reba idolizes Patsy!
I give two thumbs up for this particular song, because Reba is one who never forgot that Patsy Cline is just one of the few females who opened the doors for some of the leading ladies of country music! Following behind Empty Arms is another ballad called Love Is Never Easy! This song has a soft flow to it, with strings and an acoustic guitar! Reba flows on her vocal, and it has this sort of Crystal Gale feel to it! This is probably among a favorite of mine! I would reccomend this song to anyone to hear who loves the music of Reba McEntire! Yes, I consider this a MAJOR highlight here! The next track on the album is Waitin’ For The Sun To Shine! Really hard to compare this unique country piece! I like it due to being different from any other song Reba has done in her career! I would probably compare to this to a Jimmy Buffet piece, like a softer Margaritaville, musically! Truly a great song and worth listen! Good Friends rounds this album off! She closes us out on a great and soft ballad and also a similar style she will return to in her MCA years! Good Friends is the kind of song that you would dedicate to that special best friend, or even to a group of friends!
I like this soft pop styled song! She puts you to mind of Dolly or Dottie West here! Good song and it is perfect to close out ’’Reba Nell’’.....This album may be a little hard to find, unless you know where to buy your music! I found this at store similar to Wal-mart, by the name of Meijer....for those of you who live in the Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio areas, you can find it there! If you buy from E-bay it may be found there, and if not, keep trying, it will surely land there! Possibly Amazon.com may have this or your local music store in your mall may have this long lost album! For any die hard Reba fan this album is a treat!