8/20/2007 Stephen L. Betts Garth Brooks put several rumors to rest on Saturday (Aug. 18), during a press conference at Nashville's Renaissance Hotel, as he took the stage to announce a new single, and the CD/DVD collection that will be in stores Nov. 6. The boxed set, to be called The Ultimate Hits, will be a two-CD set of 30 of Garth's hits, plus four new songs. The DVD in the package will contain music videos for 33 of Garth's songs. Garth revealed that the collection's first single, "More Than a Memory," will hit radio on Aug. 27. Another of the new track is a duet with Huey Lewis on Huey's 1982 hit, "Workin' For a Livin'." Garth is a co-writer on the new track, "Midnight Sun," which he says, not surprisingly, is the "most Garth-like," and he describes the bonus track, "Leave a Light On," as an "anthem." Another of Garth's anthemic tunes, the 1992 hit "We Shall Be Free" is being presented in an updated video, with all-new cameos from current celebrities and sports figures. Prior to the press conference, Garth met with a large group of country radio programmers and DJ's, and in addition to playing the new music for them, unveiled two different CD covers - one he described as "traditional" and one designed for the limited-edition release of the collection. "With every package now," he said during the press conference, "we have the traditional album cover that we hope stands the test of time. And we have a 'limited' edition too, for those people who will [buy] it first." Both CD covers depict Garth looking back, which is why he says they were chosen for this greatest-hits compilation. "Also these were about the only two where I looked thin in them," he said, with a laugh. Reportedly 40 pounds thinner, the 45-year-old Garth insists it's all part of an effort to be a competitive player on a crowded, and increasingly youthful, playing field. Garth says the collection will probably be sold for a retail price in the $11-14 range, and also revealed that his material probably won't be available on iTunes any time soon, since he prefers that the songs be available only as a package and not sold individually. Since retiring in 2001, Garth has publicly stated that he would not consider touring again at least until his youngest daughter (who is now 11) turns 21. He will, however, make himself available to promote the new music. "As late as [next] February, you're going to see us everywhere," he says. "It's going to be my job to do that, because Wal-Mart and the other retailers have bought in big to this. So it's my job to let people know it's out there. We'll be taping programs for different people that might be seen for the next year, throughout. I'm just finishing this promise that I made to [Wal-Mart]. Our youngest is 11, so we've got a stretch of about 10 years of just raising children and doing our thing." The Ultimate Hits will be self-distributed via Garth's Pearl Records to all retailers, and promoted by Big Machine Records, home to Garth's wife, Trisha Yearwood. GARTH, IN HIS OWN WORDS... On his first impression of the new venture: The thing ... that attracted me is that it was going to be easy. I could not have been more wrong. This has been one of the wildest rides of my life, and to try to do this at a pace that's competitive with everyone that's running out there, these young guys ... and take the kids to school and soccer, I don't see how working moms and dads do it, to tell you the truth." On staying competitive in today's country-music market: "I don't know if you have your eyes open ... but Keith Urban is a beautiful guy, and he can play the hell out of guitar, he can sing his butt off and he's a great entertainer. Well, that's just one of about 50 out there that you're gonna go face to face with this fall, and if you're not gonna bring your 'A' game, you're gonna get run over. So I'm gonna do my best at 45 to try and represent myself the best I can. I'm scared to death. If you ever stood outside a race track and tried to figure out how in the world you get up to that speed without getting run over, that's where I'm at." On doing someting live in concert to promote the collection: "If we're going to do something on that scale, we're going to find a way to bring it locally into your town." On deciding not to make his music available online: "If you want to go online -- if you want to pay 99 cents [per track] for all of them -- at 33 bucks, the math's pretty easy. So I feel really good about this." On partnering with his wife Trisha's label, Big Machine Records: "We feel very lucky to be united with Big Machine. It's not because my wife told me to do this. All I can say is they seem to be at the top of their game. They work 24/7 and that's the kind of people I want to be involved with." On working with Huey Lewis: "He's about 10 years older than me, he's beautiful, he's in great shape. And as a fan, that's how you want to see the people you're a fan of." On how his children influence his decisions: I don't think [my children] have any doubt in their minds that I'm really where I want to be right now, with [them] and with Miss Yearwood. And knowing that the future might involve being able to do this on a full scale somewhere down the line ... that's a pretty good goal. I've taken them with me on things that we've played. Most recently they were up with Al and Tipper [Gore] in D.C. during Live Earth. They know how I feel when I play, and ... it's not one-tenth of what I feel when I watch them play. They know that. All three of my kids are on the honor roll and those are the greatest things to me. You walk all through my house, you won't see a Grammy, but you'll see the honor roll on the refrigerator. Of course that's where I spend most my time, but it's a very proud moment for us. And one of the things I like to do, I'm not very good at it, but I try my best, is to keep my promises. And my promise to them is to prepare them to fly. Not to hang onto them, but to prepare them to fly. So they're starting to get it as the years go on. On the rules of the house: At 12 years old you get a cell phone for emergency uses only, no pictures. Try and find a cell phone that doesn't take pictures. You can't! And when they're 14 they get to have one that takes pictures. At 16 we talk about double piercings. I am not a fan of the double piercings. Things like tattoos, all these things come when they're 18. That's the big magic age for us. At 18, hopefully we've done what we can and you're going to go out in the world and you're going to do things that will represent the rest of your life.
