Anytime is an expanded reissue of a 1952 two-EP set of the same name that contains several of
Eddy Arnold's biggest early hits. Seven of the 12 tracks were number one hits, while "Molly Darling" and "That's How Much I Love You" made the Top Ten. Although
Arnold did not hold his early recordings in high esteem later in his career, these are some of the hits that established his reputation as a major artist, and are among the most traditional-sounding country records he made. His easygoing vocal style is the same as ever, and the spare instrumentation -- with fiddles in place of the sweet strings he would later favor -- provides an appealing backdrop. It is interesting to note that there is a sameness to
Arnold's early hits, just as there is a sameness to his big '60s hits. Even at this early stage, although he was working within the confines of straight country music,
Arnold had a well-developed middle-of-the-road sensibility.