Who was/is George Jones ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

George Jones

12.9. 1931  Saratoga - Texas / 26. 04. 2013

Record Labels: Starday, Mercury, Longhorn, Power Pak, Hillside, United Artists, Musicor, RCA, Intercord, Ace, Rounder, Epic.
First Top Ten Hit: Why Baby, Why (1955)
First No. 1 Hit: White Lightning (1959)

In November, 1953, he was fresh out of the Marines, having joined two years earlier in the wake of an unraveling marriage. Before taking the oath, he'd been a denizen of honky tonk stages in and around Beaumont, Texas. Born in a rough-cut log house near Saratoga in East Texas' mysterious, often violent Big Thicket region on September 12, 1931, hillbilly music surrounded him as a kid; his singing voice turned heads even when he was an adolescent.

Jones wasn't back long when he heard about Starday, a new record company. Lefty Frizzell's ex-manager Jack Starnes and hard-bitten Houston area railroader-turned-juke box and slot machine impresario-turned record label owner, distributor and retailer Harold 'Pappy' Daily co-founded it in 1952. George's buddy, aspiring local singer Sonny Burns, had dealings with them, so Jones returned to playing the dives around the area, expanding his profile in 1954 as a disc jockey over KTRM. He soon found Starday interested in auditioning him.

His audition and first session took place in Jack Starnes' living room-turned-improvised recording studio. With an amateur's passion for the era's great singers, he tried to emulate the best of all of them as he sang--until Daily asked with great sincerity, "George, you've sung like Roy Acuff, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams and Bill Monroe. Can you sing like George Jones?"

No Money In This Deal, the first single, came from that session. It didn't take. Neither did the next five singles.

It was single number seven, the Hankish Why Baby Why that landed in the Top Ten in 1955. More Starday hits followed. After a brief, abortive alliance between Starday and Mercury Records, Daily, who still co-owned Starday with his partner Don Pierce, (Jack Starnes had departed earlier) fell out with Pierce in 1958. When the smoke cleared, Pierce took Starday; George wound up contracted to Pappy and remained a Mercury artist. Pappy kept his hand in the regional market. He'd formed Houston-based D and Dart Records as a regional operation aimed at finding new talent, Gabe Tucker helping him run things. Glad Music, Daily's new publishing company, would handle that end of things.

Jones came up with some landmark hits on Mercury, among them Color Of The Blues and the Chuck Berry-influenced White Lightning, from the pen of Daily discovery and Jones buddy, KTRM disc jockey-singer-composer J. P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson. He originally recorded his hard-driving rocker Chantilly Lace for D, until Mercury, who'd initially passed on it, re-released it nationally. That put it over the top and made the Bopper and fulltime rock star from later '58 until February 3, 1959, when the small private plane carrying him, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens crashed killing everyone on board.

At Mercury, Jones's vocal style began evolving, his keening, edgy nasality morphed into a more distinctive type of phrasing. Overtones of Hank and Acuff remained, but Jones's voice moved into a lower register. He could wrench emotion out of a phrase or lyric by bearing down on it as he sang. The new maturity manifested itself in his final Mercury hits: The Window Up Above and especially the #1 single Tender Years, where the formerly twangy accompaniment replaced by muted Nashville Sound backing.

 

The new Jones style quickly began influencing others, Buck Owens among them. Interviewed in 1988, Buck confirmed that point. "I thought that George was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I could not help it and later on in the last years I've tried to make a concerted effort to not get into that, but if you listen on (my records in the) early years, you're sure gonna hear George because he was a big influence on me as far as the singers go," he said. As time passed, George began singing in lower registers that combined with his distinctive phrasing his singular sound brought more admiration among fans and his peers.

Pappy came to know Mercury executive Art Talmadge, who'd left to join United Artists Records. Daily and Jones followed him there. The label was only four years old. Originally created to distribute soundtracks from UA-produced films, it branched out, becoming a hip jazz label and then broadened into other areas. Their newly-created country division consisted mainly of Daily acts with Jones as the flagship, Pappy serving as UA's de facto country producer.

Jones's relationship with Daily was business only, and fostered deep resentment that hadn't abated in his 1996 autobiography 'I Lived To Tell It All,' where he wrote bitterly, "I made a lot of money for Pappy Daily, Starday and Mercury. Basically, I was a naïve guy who was overly trusting of some people who proved to be untrustworthy. I was never paid royalties on a regular basis. It became very frustrating to hear my songs on the radio, see them listed high on the charts and not have enough money to hire a band."

 

His two-year UA contract yielded exactly 151 recordings. Some singles and albums from that period stand among his most memorable. Every album was 'produced by Pappy Daily.' Or so it seemed. In 2001, Jones clarified their 16 year studio relationship, which continued through his 1965-1970 stint with Talmadge's Musicor Records. "A lot of people think (Pappy) was the producer, but he really wasn't. He timed the songs in the studio and he wrote out the paperwork. That was about all he did. I worked with the musicians myself and we worked out the arrangements. I basically left it up to the musicians after we run through the songs. I wanted them to be more a part of the production."

 

Jones created many great moments in the studio during his UA phase. Some were captured on tape, some not. His legendary reputation as a drinker and hellraiser already established, his stature continued to rise. Many Nashville insiders began hanging at George's sessions, both to marvel at the voice and to see what whiskey-fueled mischief he'd make this time. One frequent sideman explained that while Jones was usually well-lubed throughout a recording session, a certain sweet spot existed. Too few drinks didn't loosen him up sufficiently; too many washed out a session. An amount of alcohol in between those extremes unleashed every bit of his unrestrained, uninhibited power.

Excerpt from the book BCD16818 - George Jones - She Thinks I Sttill Care - Read more at:https://www.bear-family.com/jones-george-she-thinks-i-still-care-62-64-5-cd.html Copyright © Bear Family Records

Read more at: https://www.bear-family.com/jones-george/
Copyright © Bear Family Records

 

Copyright © Bear Family Records®. Copying, also of extracts, or any other form of reproduction, including the adaptation into electronic data bases and copying onto any data mediums, in English or in any other language is permissible only and exclusively with the written consent of Bear Family Records® GmbH.

More information about George Jones on Wikipedia.org

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Birth Of A Legend - The Truly Complete Starday And Mercury Recordings 1954-1961 (6-CD Deluxe Box Set)
George Jones: Birth Of A Legend - The Truly Complete Starday... Art-Nr.: BCD16100

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6-CD boxed set (LP-size) with 174-page hardcover book, 200 tracks. Total playing time approx. 458 minutes. His fans and country music lovers have been asking for this definite set with George Jones early Starday and Mercury recordings...
$124.43 $135.75
Country Music Jamboree (LP, 10inch, Ltd.)
George Jones: Country Music Jamboree (LP, 10inch, Ltd.) Art-Nr.: BAF11032

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BEAR FAMILY Vinyl Club Exclusive - limited collector’s edition 1-LP 10inch (limited to 500 copies - orange vinyl), 12 single tracks. 1:1 reproduction of a super rare Japanese George Jones LP in Bear Family's exclusive series of 10inch...
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Walk Through This World With Me (5-CD Deluxe Box Set)
George Jones: Walk Through This World With Me (5-CD Deluxe... Art-Nr.: BCD16928

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5-CD boxed set - LP-size with 48-page hardcover book; 142 tracks, playing time CDs: 429:26 George Jones ' classic Musicor recordings have been out of circulation for years while a lawsuit was resolved. George Jones' Musicor recordings...
$101.80 $107.45
Heartbreak Hotel - Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight
George Jones: Heartbreak Hotel - Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight Art-Nr.: BCD16858

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1-CD-Album DigiPac (4-plated) with 48-spage booklet, 35 tracks. Playing time approx. 82 mns. The greatest singer in country music history is renowned for ballads, but throughout his early career, he recorded rockin' songs... even a...
$14.21 $18.05
She Thinks I Still Care, 1962-1964 (5-CD Deluxe Box Set)
George Jones: She Thinks I Still Care, 1962-1964 (5-CD Deluxe... Art-Nr.: BCD16818

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5-CD boxed set (LP-size) with 48-page book, 150 tracks. Total playing time approx. 368 mns. The complete George Jones United Artists recordings from 1962 to '64, 150 songs compiled in one package for the first time ever. Compiles every...
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Thumper Jones - Rock It (LP)
George Jones: Thumper Jones - Rock It (LP) Art-Nr.: LPGJ20390

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(KAY) 20 tracks - rare EU custom pressing - superb quality - including his amazing 1950s Rockabilly tunes, Country Boppers and uptempo Honky Tonk jewels.
$16.92
A Good Year For The Roses (4-CD Deluxe Box Set)
George Jones: A Good Year For The Roses (4-CD Deluxe Box Set) Art-Nr.: BCD16929

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4-CD box, LP size, 52 pages book, 131 tracks, playing time 341:00. George Jones' classic Musicor recordings have been out of circulation for years while a lawsuit was resolved. George Jones' Musicor recordings were never issued...
$452.62
George Jones & Friends - 50th Anniversary Tribute Concert (CD+2-DVD)
George Jones & Friends: George Jones & Friends - 50th Anniversary... Art-Nr.: CDBMG411997

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(BMG) CD (15 tracks) plus 2 DVD (25 tracks) NTSC, Code 0, Color, complete show with 25 solo and duet recordings, hosted by Reba McEntire plus bonus interviews and two music videos (50.000 Names & The Cold Hard Truth). Captured in...
$20.31 $22.58
Sings White Lightning And Other Favorites...plus (180g Vinyl)
George Jones: Sings White Lightning And Other... Art-Nr.: LPDOY693

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(Doxy) 17 tracks. Originally released in 1959 on the Mercury label, Sings White Lightning and Other Favorites, features Possum's first #1 hit single in the title track - written by the legendary Big Bopper. A classic piece of ass kicking...
$28.24
George Jones & The Smoky Mountain Boys (CD)
George Jones: George Jones & The Smoky Mountain Boys (CD) Art-Nr.: CDROU100182

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(2017/Rounder/CB) 12 tracks - previously unreleased session from the early 1970s - newly mixed and mastered from the original master tapes. - A long lost George Jones album returns in 2017. George Jones & The Smoky Mountain Boys, an...
$24.84
Along Came You - Feeling Single, Seeing Double (7inch, 45rpm, PS)
George Jones: Along Came You - Feeling Single, Seeing Double... Art-Nr.: 45SR125

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(2017/Sleazy Records) 2-Track Single, 45rpm, with Hard Cover Picture Sleeve and big center hole! Two great Songs originally recorded for Musicor in 1965!
$13.52
Me & The First Lady - We're Gonna Hold On - Golden Ring (2-CD)
George Jones & Tammy Wynette: Me & The First Lady - We're Gonna Hold On -... Art-Nr.: CDBGO1183

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(Beat Goes On) 32 Tracks - Digitally remastered two CD set containing a trio of duet albums from country legends George Jones and Tammy Wynette originally released in 1972, 1973 and 1976. All three made the Top 5 US Country charts, with...
$20.31
Hank, Bob And Me (CD)
George Jones: Hank, Bob And Me (CD) Art-Nr.: CD0612822

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(Fuel 2000/EMI Music Special Market)) 14 Tracks (33:36) Original 1962 United Artists recordings. A tribute to Hank Williams and Bob Wills with liner notes by Bill Dahl. Sealed new copy from US stock. (Bear Family Records)
$20.31
George Jones - In A Gospel Way - Memories Of US - The Battle (2-CD)
George Jones: George Jones - In A Gospel Way - Memories Of US... Art-Nr.: CDBGO1398

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(BGO Records) 44 tracks, 4 George Jones albums on 2 CDs Digitally remastered two CD sets with four George Jones albums from 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1976 that were originally recorded for Columbia. George Jones was his first for Epic Records...
$20.31
We Can Make It - I Wanta Sing'...plus
George Jones: We Can Make It - I Wanta Sing'...plus Art-Nr.: CDRV343

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(2011/RAVEN) 28 tracks 1972-78 with 8 page booklet.
$25.97
Root Beer - Slave Lover (7inch, 45rpm, PS)
George Jones: Root Beer - Slave Lover (7inch, 45rpm, PS) Art-Nr.: 45SR152

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1962 marked a new Era for George Jones, it was a time for change not at least in his singing style , which wo I pr ve to be an influence on many others, He began to sing in lower registers and together with his distinctive phrasing, it...
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When My Heart Hurts No More (LP)
George Jones: When My Heart Hurts No More (LP) Art-Nr.: LPSR4001

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(Southern Routes) 14 Tracks - Great compilation of George Jones classics, incl. duets with Melba Montgomery and Margie Singleton!
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Four George Jones Albums (2-CD)
George Jones: Four George Jones Albums (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDBGO1403

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(BGO Records) 40 tracks, 4 George Jones albums on 2 CDs Four albums from the years 1981, 1985, 1989 and 1991. "Still The Same Ole Me" was the top 3 US country chart album, while "Still Doin Time" (from this album) reached No. 1 in the...
$19.18
I've Got Five Dollars - A Good Year For The Roses (7inch, 45rpm)
George Jones: I've Got Five Dollars - A Good Year For The... Art-Nr.: 45GUS2190

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(Gusto Records) 2 tracks
$11.26
Grand Ole Opry's New Star - Country Song Hits (LP)
George Jones: Grand Ole Opry's New Star - Country Song Hits (LP) Art-Nr.: LPRSV101

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(2013/Reserve) 14 tracks - Official reproduction of the 1957 'Starday' album!
$29.37
The Tour De Force 1972 - 1980 (2-CD)
George Jones: The Tour De Force 1972 - 1980 (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDRV395

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(2016/Raven) 56 tracks. 5 classic albums on 2 CDs with 3 bonus tracks. A Picture Of You (1972), Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half As Bad As Losing You (1973), The Grand Tour (1974), Memories Of Us (1975, I Am What I Am (1980).
$39.55
A Picture Of Me - Nothing Ever Hurt Me (CD)
George Jones: A Picture Of Me - Nothing Ever Hurt Me (CD) Art-Nr.: CDMRLL57

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(2016/Morello Records) 22 Tracks - Two classic Epic albums originally issued in 1972 and 1973!
$16.92
Hits (2-CD) (2011)
George Jones: Hits (2-CD) (2011) Art-Nr.: CD78165

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(2011/BANDIT) 24 tracks (2 unreleased) multi label collection 1957- 2011.
$18.05
The Grand Tour - Alone Again (CD)
George Jones: The Grand Tour - Alone Again (CD) Art-Nr.: CDMRLL1

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​(2012/Morello Records) 21 tracks - 2 Classic Albums on 1 CD
$16.92
Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes - Wine Colored R
George Jones: Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes - Wine Colored R Art-Nr.: CDTBIRDAM006

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