Greatest Hits

Photographers: Kristin Barlowe; Josh Reeder; Joseph Llanes; Eric Welch; Eric Anderson.
Country star Rodney Atkins signed with Curb Records in 1997, but it wasn't until 2003 that he released his first album, as he tinkered with different songs, producers, and styles (with label head Mike Curb's blessings) as he looked for just the right formula. The wait paid off; "Honesty (Write Me a List)," the leadoff track from the 2003 album Honesty, rose to number four on the country singles charts, and 2006's If You're Going Through Hell established Atkins as a major country star, spinning off three major hit singles, "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)," "These Are My People," and "Cleaning This Gun (Come on in Boy)." Greatest Hits features 12 songs from Atkins' first four albums for Curb, reflecting his upbeat style and small-town attitude. Other selections include "It's America," "Farmer's Daughter," "Watching You," "About the South," and more. ~ Mark Deming