The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years

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The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years
The Best of Kenny Rogers Through the Years - Kenny Rogers.webp
Compilation album by
Kenny Rogers
ReleasedSeptember 21, 2018 (2018-09-21)
Genre Country
Length133:16
Label Capitol Records Nashville
Producer
Kenny Rogers chronology
Once Again It's Christmas
(2015)		The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years
(2018)		 Life Is Like a Song
(2023)

The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years is a compilation album by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. The album was released on September 21, 2018, via Capitol Records Nashville.

Contents

The album was released to coincide with both the 40th anniversary of Rogers' landmark LP The Gambler and his 80th birthday. Following his death in March 2020, the album surged in popularity and returned Rogers to the top of the country albums chart for the first time in more than three decades.

Background

The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years serves as a career-spanning collection that pays tribute to Rogers' legacy as one of the most successful and beloved country-pop crossover artists. With over 120 million albums sold and three Grammy Awards to his name, Rogers amassed 21 number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart during his lifetime. [1] Sixteen of those are included on this collection, which also contains several of his signature duets and ballads.

Among the featured tracks are chart-topping singles such as "The Gambler," "Lucille," "Coward of the County," "She Believes in Me," "You Decorated My Life," and "Lady," the latter a 1981 duet written and produced by Lionel Richie. [1] The collection also includes notable collaborations with artists like Dottie West ("What Are We Doin' in Love"), Sheena Easton ("We've Got Tonight"), Kim Carnes ("Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer") and Ronnie Milsap ("Make No Mistake, She's Mine"). [2]

Despite its comprehensive nature, critics noted the album's omission of a few major hits, most notably "Islands in the Stream," Rogers 1983 number one duet with Dolly Parton, and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," a hit from Rogers earlier work with the First Edition. [3] [2]

The album was released on CD and digital formats but did not initially chart upon its release in 2018. However, it later experienced a resurgence in sales and streaming following Rogers' death in 2020.

Critical reception

Following Rogers' death on March 20, 2020, The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for the week of April 4, 2020. It marked Rogers' first chart-topping album since The Heart of the Matter in 1985, and his 12th overall number one album. [4] [5] [3]

The album also entered the Billboard 200 at number nine, his highest position on the all-genre chart since 1983. [5] [3] In the tracking week ending March 26, the compilation earned 32,000 equivalent album units, including 10,000 traditional album sales, 13,000 in streaming equivalent units, and 8,000 in track equivalent units. [5]

Its resurgence placed Rogers above several contemporary artists on the chart that week, including Luke Combs and Kelsea Ballerini. [3] The chart-topping performance was widely seen as a testament to Rogers' enduring appeal and the timelessness of his music, particularly as fans revisited his catalog during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. [3]

Track listing

The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Lucille"
 Larry Butler 3:41
2."Daytime Friends" Ben Peters Butler3:09
3."Love or Something Like It"
Butler2:50
4."The Gambler" Don Schlitz Butler3:30
5."She Believes in Me"Steve GibbButler4:11
6."Coward of the County"
Butler4:19
7."You Decorated My Life"
Butler3:37
8."Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" (with Kim Carnes)
  • Kim Carnes
  • David Ellingson
  • Butler
  • Rogers
3:40
9."Love the World Away"
  • Morrison
  • Johnny Wilson
3:11
10."Lady"RichieRichie3:52
11."What Are We Doin' in Love" (with Dottie West) Randy Goodrum
3:00
12."I Don't Need You"Rich ChristianRichie3:26
13."Through the Years"
Richie4:22
14."Love Will Turn You Around"
  • Rogers
  • Malloy
3:37
15."We've Got Tonight" (with Sheena Easton) Bob Seger
3:49
16."This Woman"
  • Galuten
  • Gibb
  • Karl Richardson
3:58
17."Crazy"
Foster3:41
18."Morning Desire" Dave Loggins George Martin 4:05
19."Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (with Ronnie Milsap) Kim Carnes
3:56
20."I Can't Unlove You"
  • Wade Kirby
  • Will Robinson
 Dann Huff 3:24
Total length:133:16

Charts

Weekly chart performance for The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [6] 12
US Billboard 200 [7] 9
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [8] 1

References

  1. 1 2 Sexton, Paul (October 14, 2018). "'Through The Years' Celebrates Stellar Career Of Kenny Rogers". uDiscover Music. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years - Kenny Rogers : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Moore, Addie (April 1, 2020). "Kenny Rogers Scores Posthumous No. 1 Album". Wide Open Country. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (March 30, 2020). "Weekly Register: Kenny Rogers Reclaims Country Albums Chart Pinnacle". MusicRow . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Caulfield, Keith (March 29, 2020). "Kenny Rogers Is No. 1 on the Top Country Albums Chart for the First Time Since 1986". Billboard . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
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