Jerry Douglas Dobro
Garth Brooks Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Sam Bush Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Wayland Patton Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Steve Wariner Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Trisha Yearwood Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Pat Alger Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Buddy Mondlock Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Donna McElroy Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Edgar Meyer Bass (Acoustic)
Gary Chapman Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Bobby Wood Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Jim Rooney Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Bobby Doyle Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
David Angell Strings
Richard Aspinwall Assistant Engineer
Sam Bacco Percussion, Drums
George Binkley III Strings
John Borg Strings
Bruce Bouton Guitar (Steel), Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Dennis Burnside String Arrangements
David Campbell String Arrangements
Shawn Camp Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Mark Casstevens Guitar (Acoustic)
John Catchings Strings
Kathy Chiavola Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Roy Christensen Strings
Johnny Christopher Guitar (Acoustic)
Don Cobb Mastering
Johnny Cobb Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Charles Cochran String Arrangements
Carolyn Corlew Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Travis Cottrell Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
John Cowan Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
David Davidson Strings
Connie Ellisor Strings
Gail Farrell Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Béla Fleck Banjo
Kim Fleming Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Pat Flynn Guitar (Acoustic)
Carl Gorodetzky Strings
Charles Green Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Carlos Grier Digital Editing
Jim Grosjean Strings
Rob Hajacos Fiddle, Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Vicki Hampton Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Yvonne Hodges Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Mark Ivey Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Wendy Suits Johnson Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Bonnie Keen Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
John Kelton Engineer
Bill Kennedy Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Gordon Kennedy Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Steven King Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Wayne Kirkpatrick Guitar (Acoustic)
Anthony LaMarchina Strings
Lee Larrison Strings
Chris Leuzinger Guitar (Electric)
Huey Lewis Harmonica
Ted Madsen Strings
Kenny Malone Percussion, Drums
Bob Mason Strings
Blair Masters Keyboards
Jimmy Mattingly Fiddle, Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Terry McMillan Harmonica
Joey Miskulin Accordion
Dennis Molchan Strings
Laura Molyneaux Strings
Farrell Morris Percussion, Drums
Nashville String Machine Strings
Jim Ed Norman String Arrangements
Louis Dean Nunley Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Jennifer O'Brien Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Kathryn Plummer Strings
Denny Purcell Mastering
Allen Reynolds Producer
Jon Sherberg Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Lisa Silver Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Mark Sissel Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Pamela Sixfin Strings
Milton Sledge Percussion, Drums
Jimmie Lee Sloas Bass
Keith Stegall Engineer
Bruce Sweetman Strings
Julia Tanner Strings
Christian Teal Strings
Jason Thompson Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Mark Tucker Photography
Alan Umstead Strings
Catherine Umstead Strings
Gary VanOsdale Strings
Mary Kathryn Vanosdale Strings
Bergen White Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Hurshel Wiginton Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Kristin Wilkinson Strings
Curtis Young Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Joann Cruthirds Strings
Dave Gant Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Russell Terrell Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Paul Tobias Strings
Lisa Cochran Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Antoine Silverman Strings
Mike Chapman Bass, Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Virginia Team Art Direction
Jerry Joyner Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
David Corlew Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Jon Small Video Producer
Dale Pierce Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Marabeth Jordon Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Mary Beth Felts Make-Up
Duke Duczer Assistant Engineer
Jack Jezioro Strings
Debbie Nims Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Bruce Wethey Strings
Monisa Angell Strings
Elizabeth Stewart Strings
Caryn Wariner Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Karen Winkelmann Strings
Joe Mansfield Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Earl Bud Lee Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Bruce Christensen Strings
Randall Olson Strings
DeWayne Blackwell Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Stephanie C. Brown Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Cate Myer Strings
Steve Morley Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Jocelyn Jones Strings
Rusty Jones Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Brian Petree Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Gerald Greer Strings
Dorothy Robinson Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Joe Harris Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Tami Rose Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Lee Sartin Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Scott Stem Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Dan Heins Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Janet Askey Strings
Carolyn Demarzio Strings
Sam "The Man" Duczer Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Al "Shaggy" Barclay Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Tim Bowers Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Sandy Brooks Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Eric Conn Digital Editing, Mastering
Elisabeth K. Small Strings
Carolyn Wann Strings
Carole Rabinowitz-Neuen Strings
Bryan Kennedy Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Denise Baker Strings
Tom "Big Tom" Endres Digital Editing
Beverly Drukker Strings
Jana King Evans Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Shane McConnell Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Matt Allen Assistant Engineer
Tracy Greenwood Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Producer, Harmony Vocals
Matt Lindsey Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Luellyn Latocki Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals, Art Direction
Ron Roark Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals, Graphic Design
Howard Smith Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Cassandra Tormes Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
David Gant Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Robert Bailey Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Gary Birdwell Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Paul Bogart Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Karen Byrd Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Patsi Bale Cox Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Chick Lewis Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Jerrod Niemann Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Kirsten Cassel Strings
Mark "Guitar" Miller Engineer, Mixing
Sandy Mason Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
B-3's Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Rebekah Lee Beard Production Assistant
Richie Brown Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Polly Edwards Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Qiane Hale Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Jeff Kaplan Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Cale Lang Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
LeDouxers Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Rebekah Lee Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Karen Lindsaey Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Mandy McCormack Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Craig Nelson Strings
Mike Palmerman Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Lane Rose Thompson Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Tami Rose Thompson Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
Beau Serry Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus, Harmony Vocals
In a way, it's like Garth Brooks never retired. He may have stopped touring and releasing new music, but he kept repackaging and reissuing his older albums, striking up an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart highlighted by a second box set called The Limited Series in 2006. That exclusivity contract expired in the summer of 2007, leaving Brooks a free agent, and he capitalized on his freedom almost immediately, delivering the double-disc singles collection The Ultimate Hits just in time for the holiday season of 2007. Where previous Garth repackagings could seem a little unnecessary -- it's not quite clear just how many of his fans needed that second Limited Series anyway -- The Ultimate Hits actually fills in a needed gap within his catalog, as Brooks hasn't had a hit compilation since his first, the 1994 The Hits. That disc was a "limited edition" at least in theory -- there were so many copies pressed it wasn't exactly rare -- and out of print since the mid-'90s, so it wasn't available in most retail stores, plus it didn't cover all the hits he had between its release and his retirement. The Ultimate Hits does exactly that, containing all 18 tracks from The Hits (albeit not in the same sequencing), adding 12 hits that he had in the last half of the '90s, along with four new songs highlighted by a cover of Huey Lewis & the News' "Workin' for a Livin'." The new songs are a nice touch, but the real purpose of this set is to offer casual fans a way to get all of Brooks' best-known hits in one package, and in that regard The Ultimate Hits not only succeeds, it's long overdue. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
© 2008