With “The Last One to Know,” we enter Reba McEntire’s forgotten era of hits.

This period encompasses the nine singles pulled from her final three studio albums with Jimmy Bowen as co-producer: The Last One to Know, Reba, and Sweet Sixteen. 

Five of those singles went to No. 1, but they are mostly forgotten today. 

They were first overshadowed by the megahits featured on her first Greatest Hits collection for MCA.

And then they went completely down the memory hole when Reba’s superstar nineties era kicked off with eight classic singles.

Of the five No. 1 singles, this is one of the best, exceeded only by a truly brilliant ballad from the Reba album. 

Most of the credit for what works here can be attributed to two women: Reba at the mic, and songwriter Matraca Berg, who has grown prodigiously as a writer since we last saw her with “Faking Love.”  But even a standout vocal from Reba can’t quite overcome the blandness of the production, which cries out for the twang that started to fade from Reba’s work at this time.

Still, among her late eighties work, this is a highlight. Her next chart topper is a Lee Greenwood cover, so enjoy this one while you can.

And also enjoy this fun fact: McEntire had to re-record this song because she changed “Oh, why is the last one to know” to “The wife is the last one to know.” Find that take in the vault, MCA!

“The Last One to Know” gets a B+,

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Source: CNN