Recording information: 1983 - 1993.

Kathy Mattea is one of the brightest lights of the country scene, not just for her hitmaking ability--though she has that too--but for the deep soulfulness of her voice and her willingness to incorporate diverse elements (namely folk and gospel) into her sound. 2006's 20-track DEFINITIVE COLLECTION easily bests any prior Mattea compilation, and is an excellent way for both newcomers and long-time fans to get a taste of Mattea's large and varied discography. Reaching back to Mattea's early 1980s albums and continuing right through into the 2000s, DEFINITIVE skims the cream from the guitarist/singer's trove of fine performances, and includes "Love at the Five and Dime," "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses," and "Where've You Been," among others.