It's a mystery why
Columbia
has so many
Robbins
compilations in print, since they all cover roughly the same territory.
Lifetime of Song (1951-1982)
isn't as comprehensive as the
Essential Marty Robbins: 1951-1982
box, nor as concise as
The Story of My Life
; what it is, rather, is a kind of a follow-up to 1972's
All-Time Greatest Hits
collection, featuring a number of classics (
"A White Sport Coat,"
"Singing the Blues,"
"Among My Souvenirs"
) that were omitted from the earlier record. It duplicates many tracks from the aforementioned sets, but it's still great listening on its own, even if it isn't necessarily the place to start. ~ Jim Smith