Kenny Rogers releases three-CD set marking first 50 years of his career on Oct. 27

October 27, 1:49 AMCountry Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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Kenny Rogers marks the first 50 years of his recording career with a three-CD set that drops Oct. 27

Courtesy of Webster & Associates

Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years is a striking look back at an incomparable career that has landed Kenny Rogers in the pop and country charts every single decade for the past 50 years, a feat no other artist has matched.

Released Oct. 27, the 45-track collection includes all original versions of his biggest hits, as well as three new songs, including one with his longtime collaborator, Dolly Parton. The set also marks the first time all of Rogers’ hit duets have been collected in one place, and beyond the box set, a single disc called The Greatest Duets is available at retail outlets, too, beginning today, Oct. 27.

As for his new 45-song CD set, however, “The great thing about all of this is that it represents the first 50 years of my music career,” Rogers says. “I’m currently working on the next,” he adds, smiling.

About Kenny Rogers

Rogers began his recording career in 1957 and immediately became a local sensation in his Houston neighborhood and throughout Texas. In 1968. he made the leap to the national stage his group, the First Edition. A hint at what his career was to become, the band quickly amassed 10 hits in four years, including the powerful “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town.”

After leaving the First Edition, Rogers embarked on a solo career at the age of 37 and defied the youth-driven pop charts with his 1977 runaway hit, “Lucille,” a massive crossover sensation that became part of mainstream pop culture and remains one of his most iconic songs.

That year, another pivotal moment in his career took place; Kenny discovered his love of duets. By chance, he recorded “Every Time Two Fools Collide” with Dottie West. As an artist, he was impressed by the chemistry that a duet creates. As a chart-topper, he saw the appeal of a song that didn’t feature just his own vocals, giving fans something different to listen to. Since then, he's continued to make duets an important part of his career, recording with Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, Gladys Knight, Don Henley, James Ingram, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap and Travis Tritt.

As some might guess, his favorite partner by far is the unforgettable Parton, with whom he shared the megahits “Islands in the Stream,” “Real Love,” and now their newest song, “Tell Me That You Love Me.“

In the grand tradition of country music, Rogers has a special affinity for story songs and many fans would say no one does them better. His easygoing storytelling manner began with onset of his career, driving “Ruby” and “Lucille” to the top of the charts. But perhaps there is no greater story song ever recorded than “The Gambler” (1979), which became his second pop-culture phenomenon and one of his biggest hits of his career, spawning no fewer than five movies and a five-episode mini-series that starred Rogers and was seen by 100 million people.

To date, he’s ecorded more than 65 albums, selling 105 million-plus copies worldwide, earning 20 platinum albums and 21 gold. He’s collected four Grammy awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music honors and 11 Country Music Association trophies and remains as active as ever, continuing to tour and record new music year round.

The following is a listing, by disc, of the songs included on the brand-new Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years release.

Disc 1: Duets
1. Islands in the Stream Kenny Rogers duet with Dolly Parton
2. Make No Mistake, She’s Mine Ronnie Milsap & Kenny Rogers
3. We’ve Got Tonight Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
4. What About Me? Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes and James Ingram
5. Owe Them More Than That Kenny Rogers featuring Tim McGraw
6. ’Til I Can Make It on My Own Kenny Rogers and Dottie West
7. Calling Me Kenny Rogers featuring Don Henley
8. Real Love Dolly Parton with Kenny Rogers
9. Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers and Dottie West
10. If I Ever Fall in Love Again Anne Murray with Kenny Rogers
11. All I Ever Need Is You Kenny Rogers and Dottie West
12. If I Knew Then What I Know Now Kenny Rogers duet with Gladys Knight
13. Don’t Fall in Love with A Dreamer Kenny Rogers vocal duet with Kim Carnes
14. If I Were You Kenny Rogers duet with Travis Tritt
15. Tell Me That You Love Me (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

Disc 2: Story Songs
1. Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
2. Lucille
3. Reuben James Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
4. Sweet Music Man
5. The Gambler
6. Abraham, Martin and John / Precious Memories (Medley)
7. Coward of the County
8. San Francisco Mabel Joy
9. Scarlet Fever
10. Twenty Years Ago
11. The Factory
12. Ol’ Red
13. The Greatest
14. Harder Cards
15. Goodbye (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

Disc 3: Love Songs
1. She Believes in Me
2. I Don’t Need You
3. Love Will Turn You Around
4. You Decorated My Life
5. Lady
6. Love The World Away
7. Crazy
8. I Prefer The Moonlight
9. A Love Song
10. Beautiful (All That You Could Be)
11. The Vows Go Unbroken (Always True To You)
12. Morning Desire
13. Through the Years
14. Buy Me a Rose Kenny Rogers with Alison Krauss & Billy Dean
15. Loving You Is a Natural Thing To Do (previously unreleased)