Kim Carnes

Kim Carnes formed her style on the folk-rock circuit, where a dulcet, technical pop voice is not required. Her husky, full voice signifies early '80s radio and is still unforgettable. The sixteen-song collection starts with her 1981 single "Bette Davis Eyes." This song initiated a string of hits that kept her on the world's charts through 1986. Included here is a duet with Kenny Rogers, another gravel-voiced legend. This is a sparse, piano-introduced ballad from Rogers' 1980 Gideon, a concept album on a modern cowboy. Basically, this collection is an album reissue with six bonus tracks. The Mistaken Identity (1981) album contributes the first ten tracks of bouncy synth-pop, such as its title track and "Don't Call It Love." Other songs, like the acoustic guitar-led "When I'm Away From You," the hard rock "Break the Rules Tonite (Out of School)," and the piano and mandolin lament "My Old Pals" expose different facets of this pop talent. Kim Carnes drew on resources of country and folk to bring grace and individuality to the '80s charts. ~ Tom Schulte, All Music Guide