Best Betts

8/28/2007 Stephen L. Betts   Crystal Gayle’s phenomenally successful pop-country career is spanned beautifully in Greatest Hits, a sparkling compilation featuring 25 of her best-known chartmakers.   From her first country chart single, “I’ve Cried the Blue Right Out of My Eyes)” (No. 22 in 1970) to her huge 1977 crossover hit, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” to the chart-topping 1982 duet, “You and I” with the late Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal remains one of the classiest ladies in any musical genre, and this hit-filled collection is a nice introduction to the polished, tuneful material that helped propel her remarkable career. Also out today: Keith Urban and Trace Adkins help Cledus T. Judd pay tribute to country funnyman Ray Stevens on an album titled Boogity, Boogity: A Tribute to the Comic Genius of Ray Stevens. Included are Cledus’ takes on Ray’s classics such as “The Streak,” “It’s Me Again, Margaret,” and “Mississippi Squirel Revival.” The liner notes were written by Ray Stevens himself. Newcomer Sarah Johns debuts with Big Love in a Small Town, featuring the single, “The One in the Middle.” American Idol season two alum Carmen Rasmusen releases her pop-country flavored debut, Nothin' Like the Summer. Lyle Lovett and His Large Band’s latest project, the aptly titled It’s Not Big, It’s Large.