10 Years of Hits boasts quite a title; at the time of its release, Ronan Keating had only been a solo artist for four years, and not one of his hits from the six previous years as lead singer for Boyzone is featured in its original form. The three Boyzone hits, re-recorded for this collection, were all previous hits for other artists -- "Baby Can I Hold You" by Tracy Chapman, "Words" by the Bee Gees, and "Father & Son" by Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens). If it is a misleading title, it is also a forgivable one, because 13 U.K. Top Ten hits are included in the collection, as well as duets with Yusuf Islam, LeAnn Rimes, and Lulu, and Bryan Adams's "The Way You Make Me Feel," on which he sings background vocals. It is a comprehensive collection of Keating's material up to 2004, and if one doesn't find anything of interest on it, one will probably not find much of interest on the individual albums, because he has a very set sense of style, and seldom strays from it. The other artists mentioned are an indication of that style, which reflect his love for country, pop, folk, ballads, and light -- very light -- rock. Signature Keating ballads include the U.K. number one "When You Say Nothing at All," which he recorded for the Julia Roberts film Notting Hill and began his solo career, a cover of Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes," which reached number one in the U.K., and his self-penned "The Long Goodbye," which reached number three in the U.K. and won him the BMI European Song-Writing Award. It was also covered by Brooks & Dunn in the U.S. and reached number one on the Billboard Country Chart. His other number one hit is the pop song "Life Is a Rollercoaster." The CD booklet offers a photo collage, scans of the singles covers, a letter by Keating, and track notes and thoughts. All in all, a respectable artist, and a respectable collection of songs. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
David Frank (Engineer), Heff Moraes (Mixing), David Frank (Drums), Ed Colman (Engineer), Jem Godfrey (Instrumentation), Ren Swan (Mixing), John Themis (Guitar), Keith McDonnell (Engineer), Yvonne Williams (Vocals (Background)), John Themis (Bouzouki), Zanna (Photography), David Frank (Pipe Organ), Mark Cooper Smith (Bass), Reece Gilmore (Programming), Tuff Session Singers (Vocals (Background)), Jem Godfrey (Producer), Jack Kugell (Engineer), Rick Nowels (Keyboards), Phil Thornalley (Producer), Bill Padley (Instrumentation), Cliff Masterson (String Arrangements), Mac McKenna (Vocals (Background)), Avril MacKintosh (Digital Editing), Eddie Hession (Accordion), Jeff Balding (Mixing), Phil Thornalley (Guitar), Bill Padley (Programming), Francesco Cameli (String Engineer), Sylvia Mason James (Vocals (Background)), Scrap Marshall (Assistant), Dave Way (Mixing), Mark Read (Vocals (Background)), Tim Pierce (Guitar (Electric)), James McNally (Whistle (Human)), Dominic Miller (Guitar), Steve Robson (Producer), Chris Brown (Engineer), Steve Mac (Arranger), Rick Nowels (Piano), Gavyn Wright (Leader), Randy Wine (Engineer), Crystal Murden (Vocals (Background)), Joshua Binder (Engineer), Nick Ingman (Horn Arrangements), Rick Nowels (Vocals (Background)), Rick Nowels (Guitar (Acoustic)), Norman Watson (Photography), Bill Padley (Arranger), Paula Jones (Engineer), Steve Lipson (Producer), Wayne Rodriguez (Drum Programming), Miriam Stockley (Vocals (Background)), Ray Hedges (Keyboards), Chuck Sabo (Drums), Steve Mac (Wurlitzer), Wayne Rodriguez (Programming), Brian Rowling (Drums), John Pierce (Guitar (Bass)), Mark Taylor (Producer), Shawn Lee (Drums), Rusty Anderson (Bouzouki), Heff Moraes (Engineer), Ren Swan (Engineer), Jem Godfrey (Programming), David Pyatt (Horn), Wayne Rodriguez (Editing), Tessa Niles (Vocals (Background)), Wayne Hector (Vocals (Background)), Mary Scully (Bass), Isobel Griffiths (Contractor), London Session Orchestra (Strings), Avril MacKintosh (Programming), Isobel Griffiths (String Contractor), Derrick Santini (Photography), Wayne Rodriguez (Digital Editing), Ronan Keating (Vocals), Greg Kurstin (Keyboards), David Frank (Producer), Steve Lipson (Programming), Steve Mac (Producer), Alfie Silas (Vocals (Background)), Steve Lipson (Guitar (Bass)), Nick Ingman (String Arrangements), Adey Wilson (Guitar), Phil Thornalley (Mixing), Avril MacKintosh (Vocal Producer), Marty Phillips (Programming), James H. Brown (Mixing), Ash Howes (Producer), Dave Arch (Piano), Lewis Jones (Assistant), Mark Taylor (Engineer), David Frank (Keyboards), Anne Dudley (String Arrangements), John Gilbert (Photography), Sue Ann Carwell (Vocals (Background)), Steve Pearce (Guitar (Bass)), Pete Murray (Keyboards), Dave Arch (String Arrangements), Will Malone (Conductor), David Munday (Guitar), Rick Nowels (Mellotron), Paul Bushnell (Bass), Gregg Alexander (Producer), Bryan Adams (Guitar), Steve Mac (Keyboards), Denny Fongheiser (Tom-Tom), Ray Burmiston (Cover Photo), Bill Padley (Producer), Cliff Masterson (Conductor), Ray Hedges (String Arrangements), James McNally (Accordion), Mark Taylor (Mixing), Ray Burmiston (Photography), Rick Nowels (Producer), Steve Robson (Keyboards), Katie Kissoon (Vocals (Background)), Rusty Anderson (Guitar (Electric)), Denny Fongheiser (Cymbals), Andy Duncan (Drums), Denny Fongheiser (Percussion), Steve Lipson (Guitar), David Frank (Arranger), Marty Phillips (Digital Editing), Steve Robson (Guitar), Wayne Rodriguez (Keyboards), Chris Laws (Drums), Steve Mac (Piano), Jackie Smiley (Vocals (Background)), Paul Gendler (Guitar), Cliff Masterson (Piano), Andy Caine (Vocals (Background)), Adam Phillips (Guitar), John Pierce (Bass), Philip Rose (Assistant Engineer), Shawn Lee (Percussion), Bryan Adams (Vocals (Background)), Chris Laws (Engineer), Rusty Anderson (Guitar), Jem Godfrey (Arranger), Rohan Thomas (Keyboards), Daniel Pursey (Assistant Engineer), Wayne Rodriguez (Drums), Dan Huff (Vocal Engineer), Chris Dibble (String Engineer), Chris Garcia (Engineer), Gerard Navarro (Engineer), Will Malone (String Arrangements), Ash Howes (Mixing), Rick Nowels (Wurlitzer), Ray Hedges (Mixing), Ray Hedges (Producer)
