July, 1985, a little over a year and a half since she had switched from Mercury to MCA, and it’s time for a new album release, as Have I Got A Deal For You hits the store shelves. Reba’s third MCA album would feature two top ten singles and eventually attain Gold status for sales of over 500,000. The album would peak at twenty-seven on the bestseller lists, and as of this writing (2/13), is her last studio album (excluding Christmas and compilations) to fail to reach the top ten.
This album opens with a rousing piece titled “I’m In Love All Over”. Some very good country swing, right here, giving the song a fun feel.
“She’s Single Again” is an interesting take that is completely different than the Janie Fricke hit version. Whereas her version was the standard country-pop style of the times, Reba turns it into a honky tonk sound, perfect for an old dusty dance floor.
The first ballad on the album is “The Great Divide”. Not the same track as the Roy Clark hit from 1974, this is a quality piece of music that features some strong writing to go with Reba’s stellar vocals. A Hidden Gem contender.
The title cut is next, a song that only peaked at six on the charts in the early Fall of 1985. Rhythmic and country and one of her more underrated hits.
Another Hidden Gem contender is “Red Roses (Won’t Work Now)”. One could argue this is how a country ballad should sound. It would be hard to dispute.
The album’s other single opens side two (on the vinyl version), “Only In My Mind”. A top five hit at the end of 1985 and I would argue another underrated hit.
The tempo picks up on “She’s Loving You Now”, which features a great melody, simply infectious. Another Hidden Gem contender.
The one song on the album that failed to generate any excitement for me was “Whose Heartache Is This Anyway?”. A mid tempo beat, the song simply isn’t quite the same level as the other nine. It does feature some nice fiddle work, though.
“I Don’t Need Nothin’ You Ain’t Got” may also not be the strongest composition, but Reba’s performance, mixed with a great Bob Wills-type sound more than makes up for that. You keep waiting for Bob to chime in with one of his trademark, a-ha’s. Good stuff.
You could argue that Reba saves her best for last, with the track “Don’t Forget Your Way Home”. May well be her best performance on the album.
Originally released on vinyl and cassette, and later compact disc, this album remains on the market on both compact disc and MP3. As for used copies, they are plentiful in all three formats, mostly in the $10 or less, range.
I give “Only In My Mind” the Standout Track nod, while “She’s Loving You Now” gets the Hidden Gem nod. I would say “Whose Heartache Is This Anyway?” gets the Weakest Track, as it just didn’t generate any real excitement or interest.
Overall, this is the Reba McEntire that I still like to hear, the most. The days when she was country, plain and simple. While polishing the sound may have increased fanbase size and record sales, something in the music was lost when she strayed from this sound, at least for me. I rate this one a 4 out of 5.
Your thoughts?
Saving vinyl, one record at a time.
Reba McEntire "Have I Got A Deal For You" Classic Album Review
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