Sammy Kershaw - 20th Century Masters - The DVD Collection: The Best of Sammy Kershaw

This 17-and-a-half-minute DVD compresses Sammy Kershaw's career as a country hitmaker into five tracks, four of which were among his biggest hits, with the fifth also a Top Ten entry. Properly speaking, his sole number one hit, "She Don't Know She's Beautiful," should be here in place of "Haunted Heart," which only got to number nine, and it might have been nice to have found a place for "I Can't Reach Her Anymore," if indeed those missing songs have music videos. Otherwise, the highlights of Kershaw's commercial peak of 1992-1998 are here. The singer gamely mimes his songs in a variety of typical video contexts. "Cadillac Style" is probably the most enjoyable effort, a lighthearted film that could double as a commercial for New Orleans tourism. "Haunted Heart" is a black-and-white clip heavy on shadows and rain in concordance with the song's theme. "National Working Woman's Holiday" is another lighter effort, complete with actors reflecting the lyrics. The oddest video also uses actors; it's Kershaw's hit revival of "Third Rate Romance," which is not satisfied with the sleazy story told in the song itself and adds its own twist. The lyrics don't change, but onscreen the one-night stand is turned into a robbery. "Love of My Life," the biggest Kershaw hit included, ends the collection with a warm-hearted depiction of domestic contentment starring the singer. He holds his own as a silent-film actor here and elsewhere, but the videos don't go much beyond standard ideas for illuminating the songs. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide