GEORGE JONES Birth Of A Legend: The Truly Complete Starday And Mercury Recordings 1954-1961 /
BEAR FAMILY
8/10 The Possum's formative years in one essential 6CD box
Having already rounded up Jones' recordings for United Artists and Musicor, Bear Family has now turned its attention to the critical seven-year span that marked his transition from unknown Texan hillbilly to the golden-throated prince of Nashville. Jones was still fresh from service in the Marines when he cut his first sides for Starday in the living room of the label's co-founder, jack Starnes, in 1954. These early attempts find Jones straining to sound like his idols Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell, though he eventually finds his voice with the classic "Why Baby Why". By 1956, he was cutting loose on "Rock It", billed as Thumper Jones, and proving himself a more than capable duet partner, alongside Jeanette Hicks. This exhaustive anthology offers a fascinating overview of Jones' progression as he graduated to Mercury, especially his mastery of the heart-tearing ballad ("Cup Of Loneliness"; "Colour Of The Blues"; the majestic "The Window Up Above"). Legendary names like Grady Martin, Hank Garland and Buddy Emmons are at hand to shape the music, from rockabilly to honkY-tonk, and there's alsothe first appearance of c e collaborator Donny Young, later to becom Johnny Paycheck, on the suitably fiery Who Shot Sam". Extras: None. ROB HUGHES
Press - George Jones - Birth Of A Legend - Uncut
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