Collection

Back in the early ‘90s, as one-half of a duo with mother Naomi, Wynonna Judd built her considerable success around sleek harmonies and a well-buffed, acoustically based sound. On her own, she tacked toward R&B even as she broadened her search for more challenging material. 1997’s Collection documents just how successful these moves were, both artistically and commercially. Wynonna truly came into her own during this era, quickly moving from sentimental love narratives (“She Is His Only Need”) and buoyant country-pop tunes (“I Saw the Light”) into soaring twang-rock (“Tell Me Why”) and thumping Memphis soul (“No One Else on Earth”). She turned in a heart-melting performance on “My Strongest Weakness” and strutted like a born survivor on “Rock Bottom.” From the spirited feminist anthem “Girls With Guitars” to the sensuously simmering “To Be Loved By You,” her mid-‘90s singles remain uncommonly eclectic and consistently satisfying. The proof is here in this no-filler sampling of her best from these years.