Sammy Kershaw

The title pretty much explains it all on Sammy Kershaw's Coverin' the Hits. This is not a collection of his hit singles, it's a compilation of covers Kershaw cut throughout the '90s, including songs from his own albums and selections from tribute albums. That it all sounds like it came from the same session says as much about Kershaw's consistency as it does for his taste. Consider this: the closest he comes to straight country here is "Third Rate Romance," the 1975 classic from country-rockers Amazing Rhythm Aces. It's either that or Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee," which many a country singer, including Buck Owens, has tackled over the years. No, this reveals that Kershaw is as much a fan of '70s soft rock as he is of country, which is to his benefit. He never treats this material with contempt, he has fun with it, and delivers sincere, effective versions of "More Than I Can Say," "Chevy Van," "Fire and Rain," "Angie," "I Got a Name," and "Little Bit More," plus a respectable version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's rocking "I Know a Little." That might not make Coverin' the Hits a major item per se in Kershaw's catalog, but it sure is a lot of fun. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide