Greatest Hits (BlackHawk album)
Encyclopedia
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits
package released by the country music
band Blackhawk
. It features hits from their first four studio albums, as well as the newly recorded "It Takes a Woman", "I Need You All the Time", and "Ships of Heaven". "I Need You All the Time" was released as a single from the album, peaking at #40 on the country charts in 2000. "Ships of Heaven" was one of the last songs written by member Van Stephenson
before his death.
; "I'm Not Strong Enough to Say No", "Big Guitar", "Almost a Memory Now" and "Like There Ain't No Yesterday" from Strong Enough
; "Postmarked Birmingham" from Love & Gravity
, and "There You Have It" and "Always Have, Always Will" from The Sky's the Limit. Of these existing songs, "Always Have, Always Will" was the only one that was never issued as a single. Three of the band's chart singles are not included on this compilation: "King of the World" from Strong Enough, "Hole in My Heart" from Love & Gravity, and "Your Own Little Corner of My Heart" from The Sky's the Limit.
Three new tracks are included as well: "It Takes a Woman", "I Need You All the Time", and "Ships of Heaven". "I Need You All the Time" was the only one to be released to radio, peaking at #40 on the country charts in mid-2000. This song was also one of the last songs to be written by Van Stephenson
, who died shortly after the album's release.
, centers around a person who is dying but has lived a full life and therefore doesn't want his loved ones to "cry for" him when he's gone. He reflects on love he's experienced in life and explains that it was strongest in the end, and that now he'll sail "on the ships of heaven" and wait to see his loved ones in the future: "I'll be sailing on the ships of heaven / When the tide rolls out for the last time / You'll find me sailing on the ships of heaven / Waiting for the day I come sailing back to you."
The song features Wayne Killius on drums
and percussion, Randy Threet on bass guitar
, Dave Robbins on keyboards
and piano
, Bobby Huff on keyboards, Dale Oliver
on electric
and acoustic guitar
, B. James Lowry on acoustic guitar and Jonathon Yudkin on violin
and mandolin
. A "Ships of Heaven" tabernacle choir was formed to sing in the song's background. After recording, Blackhawk lead singer Henry Paul
stated that he believed the song was "absolutely amazing" and "probably the best thing [the band has] ever put on tape."
The song was dedicated to Stephenson, who also wrote a thank you to fans, friends and family in the album notes. He died of melanoma
on April 8, 2001. Blackhawk announced in March 2009, that it had added the song to its new tour set as the "show stopper."
gave the album a mixed review, saying that it showcased the band's change in sound, from their more traditionally country tracks on their first two albums, to the more pop-oriented material on the next two albums, which he considered substantially weaker. He also considered the three new songs inferior in quality to their early work, especially "Ships of Heaven" and "It Takes a Woman", which he referred to as "uninteresting ballads".
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
package released by the country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Blackhawk
Blackhawk (band)
Blackhawk is an American country music group founded in 1992 by Henry Paul , Van Stephenson , and Dave Robbins...
. It features hits from their first four studio albums, as well as the newly recorded "It Takes a Woman", "I Need You All the Time", and "Ships of Heaven". "I Need You All the Time" was released as a single from the album, peaking at #40 on the country charts in 2000. "Ships of Heaven" was one of the last songs written by member Van Stephenson
Van Stephenson
Van Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart...
before his death.
Content
Greatest Hits reprises twelve tracks from the band's first through fourth studio albums: "Goodbye Says It All", "Every Once in a While", "I Sure Can Smell the Rain", "Down in Flames" and "That's Just About Right" from 1993's BlackhawkBlackhawk (album)
Blackhawk is the first studio album by the American country music group Blackhawk. Released in 1994 on Arista Nashville, it was certified 2× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA for shipping two million copies. The album produced the singles "Goodbye Says It All", "Every Once in a While", "I Sure Can...
; "I'm Not Strong Enough to Say No", "Big Guitar", "Almost a Memory Now" and "Like There Ain't No Yesterday" from Strong Enough
Strong Enough (Blackhawk album)
Strong Enough is the second studio album by the American country music band BlackHawk, released in 1995. It features the singles "I'm Not Strong Enough to Say No", "Like There Ain't No Yesterday", "Almost a Memory Now", "Big Guitar", and "King of the World", which respectively reached #3, #11, #17...
; "Postmarked Birmingham" from Love & Gravity
Love & Gravity
Love & Gravity is the third studio album released by the American country music group Blackhawk. It features the singles "Hole in My Heart" and "Postmarked Birmingham", which peaked at #31 and #37, respectively, on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1997.All of the songs center...
, and "There You Have It" and "Always Have, Always Will" from The Sky's the Limit. Of these existing songs, "Always Have, Always Will" was the only one that was never issued as a single. Three of the band's chart singles are not included on this compilation: "King of the World" from Strong Enough, "Hole in My Heart" from Love & Gravity, and "Your Own Little Corner of My Heart" from The Sky's the Limit.
Three new tracks are included as well: "It Takes a Woman", "I Need You All the Time", and "Ships of Heaven". "I Need You All the Time" was the only one to be released to radio, peaking at #40 on the country charts in mid-2000. This song was also one of the last songs to be written by Van Stephenson
Van Stephenson
Van Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart...
, who died shortly after the album's release.
"Ships of Heaven"
"Ships of Heaven", written by late guitarist Van StephensonVan Stephenson
Van Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart...
, centers around a person who is dying but has lived a full life and therefore doesn't want his loved ones to "cry for" him when he's gone. He reflects on love he's experienced in life and explains that it was strongest in the end, and that now he'll sail "on the ships of heaven" and wait to see his loved ones in the future: "I'll be sailing on the ships of heaven / When the tide rolls out for the last time / You'll find me sailing on the ships of heaven / Waiting for the day I come sailing back to you."
The song features Wayne Killius on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and percussion, Randy Threet on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Dave Robbins on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Bobby Huff on keyboards, Dale Oliver
Dale Oliver
Dale Byron Oliver is an American music composer who works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Formerly a guitarist in BackHawk , Oliver serves mainly as a composer of theme music used in professional wrestling.-Music composer for TNA:Since 2003, Oliver writes, records, and produces music under...
on electric
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, B. James Lowry on acoustic guitar and Jonathon Yudkin on violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
. A "Ships of Heaven" tabernacle choir was formed to sing in the song's background. After recording, Blackhawk lead singer Henry Paul
Henry Paul (musician)
Henry Paul is an American southern rock and country singer/songwriter who was a founding member of the Southern rock band Outlaws, the front man and founder of the Henry Paul Band and the lead singer for the country band BlackHawk.-Early life:Henry was born in Kingston, New York and lived on a...
stated that he believed the song was "absolutely amazing" and "probably the best thing [the band has] ever put on tape."
The song was dedicated to Stephenson, who also wrote a thank you to fans, friends and family in the album notes. He died of melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
on April 8, 2001. Blackhawk announced in March 2009, that it had added the song to its new tour set as the "show stopper."
Critical reception
Giving the album four stars out of five, Maria Dinoia of Allmusic said that Greatest Hits played out like a tribute to Stephenson. She noted the fact that the album started out with the band's debut single, "Goodbye Says It All", and that the album represented a "bright" future even without Stephenson. Brian Wahlert of Country Standard TimeCountry Standard Time
Country Standard Time is a website dedicated to country music and related genres such as Bluegrass and Rockabilly. It provides news and musical reviews pertaining to the genre. It was established in 1992 by Jeffrey B. Remz as a print magazine, which was first published only in New England but went...
gave the album a mixed review, saying that it showcased the band's change in sound, from their more traditionally country tracks on their first two albums, to the more pop-oriented material on the next two albums, which he considered substantially weaker. He also considered the three new songs inferior in quality to their early work, especially "Ships of Heaven" and "It Takes a Woman", which he referred to as "uninteresting ballads".
Track listing
- "Goodbye Says It AllGoodbye Says It All"Goodbye Says It All" is the title of a song recorded by American country music band BlackHawk. It was released in October 1993 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. It peaked at #11 in the United States, and #29 in Canada...
" (Charlie Black, Bobby Fischer, Johnny MacRae) – 3:24 - "I'm Not Strong Enough to Say NoI'm Not Strong Enough to Say No"I'm Not Strong Enough to Say No" is the title of a song written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in July 1995 as the lead-off single from their album Strong Enough...
" (Robert John "Mutt" Lange) – 4:16 - "Every Once in a WhileEvery Once in a While"Every Once in a While" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in April 1994 as the second single from their self-titled debut album. It peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and at #3 on Canadian...
" (Henry PaulHenry Paul (musician)Henry Paul is an American southern rock and country singer/songwriter who was a founding member of the Southern rock band Outlaws, the front man and founder of the Henry Paul Band and the lead singer for the country band BlackHawk.-Early life:Henry was born in Kingston, New York and lived on a...
, Van StephensonVan StephensonVan Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart...
, Dave Robbins) – 3:40 - "I Sure Can Smell the RainI Sure Can Smell the Rain"I Sure Can Smell the Rain" is the title of a song written by Walt Aldridge and John Jarrard, and recorded by American country music band BlackHawk. It was released in August 1994 as the third single from their self-titled debut album...
" (Walt AldridgeWalt AldridgeWalt Aldridge is an American musician, singer, songwriter, engineer and record producer.Aldridge is known primarily as a Nashville songwriter...
, John Jarrard) – 3:37 - "That's Just About RightThat's Just About Right"That's Just About Right" is the title of a song written by Jeff Black and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in April 1995 as the fifth and final single from their self-titled debut album...
" (Jeff Black) – 4:04 - "Big GuitarBig Guitar (song)"Big Guitar" is the title of a song written by Henry Gross and Henry Paul, and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in June 1996 as the fourth single from their 1995 album Strong Enough...
" (Henry Gross, Paul) – 2:59 - "Almost a Memory NowAlmost a Memory Now"Almost a Memory Now" is the title of a song recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in February 1996 as the third single from their 1995 album Strong Enough...
" (Dale OliverDale OliverDale Byron Oliver is an American music composer who works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Formerly a guitarist in BackHawk , Oliver serves mainly as a composer of theme music used in professional wrestling.-Music composer for TNA:Since 2003, Oliver writes, records, and produces music under...
, Stephenson, Robbins) – 3:13 - "There You Have ItThere You Have It"There You Have It" is the title of a song written by Steve Bogard and Rick Giles, and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in August 1998 as the lead-off single to their fourth album The Sky's the Limit...
" (Steve Bogard, Rick Giles) – 3:12 - "Always Have, Always Will" (Robbins) – 2:45
- "Like There Ain't No YesterdayLike There Ain't No Yesterday"Like There Ain't No Yesterday" is the title of a song recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in November 1995 as the second single from their 1995 album Strong Enough. It peaked at #3 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks, while it was their...
" (Mark Narmore, Aldridge) – 3:17 - "Postmarked Birmingham" (Phil VassarPhil VassarPhil Vassar is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw , Jo Dee Messina , Collin Raye , and Alan Jackson Phil Vassar (born May 28, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an...
, Don Sampson) – 4:22 - "Down in FlamesDown in Flames (Blackhawk song)"Down in Flames" is the title of a song written by Michael Clark and Jeff Stevens, and recorded by American country music band BlackHawk. It was released in December 1994 as the fourth single from their self-titled debut album...
" (Michael Clark, Jeff StevensJeff Stevens (singer)Jeffery David "Jeff" Stevens is an American country music singer, songwriter and record producer. He recorded two albums on Atlantic America Records with his brother Warren Stevens and cousin Terry Dotson as Jeff Stevens and the Bullets, and later as a solo artist on the same label...
) – 3:45 - "It Takes a Woman" (Rob CrosbyRob CrosbyRobert Crosby Hoar , is an American country music artist, known professionally as Rob Crosby. Between 1990 and 1996, Rob charted eight singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. He has also recorded six studio albums, with his most recent, Catfish Baby, being released in 2007...
, Roger MurrahRoger MurrahRoger Murrah is a songwriter and music publisher who has written hits for artists including Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Alabama....
, Kitty Murrah, Philip White) – 3:19 - "I Need You All the Time" (Jimmy Price, Pat Bunch, Shane Teeters) – 2:47
- "Ships of Heaven" (Stephenson) – 4:47
Album
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 18 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 152 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 18 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | ||
| 2000 | "I Need You All the Time" | 40 | 40 |