George Jones | ||
| Allmusic Biography : By most accounts, George Jones was the finest vocalist in the recorded history of country music. Initially, he was a hardcore honky tonker in the tradition of Hank Williams, but over the course of his career he developed an affecting, nuanced ballad style. In the course of his career, he never left the top of the country charts, even as he suffered innumerable personal and professional difficulties. Only Eddy Arnold had more Top Ten hits, and Jones always stayed closer to the roots of hardcore country. Jones was born and raised in East Texas, near the city of Beaumont. At an early age, he displayed an affection for music. He enjoyed the gospel he heard in church and on the familys Carter Family records, but he truly became fascinated with country music when his family bought a radio when he was seven. When he was nine, his father bought him his first guitar. Soon, his father had Jones playing and singing on the streets on Beaumont, earning spare change. At 16, he ran away to Jasper, Texas, where he sang at a local radio station. Jones married Dorothy, his first wife, in 1950 when he was 19 years old. The marriage collapsed within a year and he enlisted in the Marines at the end of 1951. Though the U.S. was at war with Korea, Jones never served overseas -- he was stationed at a military camp in California, where he kept singing in bars. After he was discharged, Jones immediately began performing again. In 1953, Jones was discovered by record producer Pappy Daily, who was also the co-owner of Starday Records, a local Texas label. Impressed with Jones potential, Daily signed the singer to Starday. "No Money in This Deal," Jones first single, was released in early 1954, but it received no attention. Starday released three more singles that year, which all were ignored. Jones released "Why, Baby, Why" late in the summer of 1955 and the single became his first hit, peaking at number four. However, its momentum was halted by a cover version by Webb Pierce and Red Sovine that hit number one on the country charts. Jones was on the road to success and Daily secured the singer a spot on the Louisiana Hayride, where he was co-billed with Elvis Presley. Jones reached the Top Ten with regularity in 1956 with such singles as "What Am I Worth" and "Just One More." That same year, Jones recorded some rockabilly singles under the name Thumper Jones which were unsuccessful, both commercially and artistically. In August, he joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry and his first album appeared by the end of the year. In 1957, Starday Records signed a distribution deal with Mercury Records and Jones records began appearing under the Mercury label. Daily began recording Jones in Nashville, and his first single for the new label, "Dont Stop the Music," was another Top Ten hit. Throughout 1958, he was landing near the top of the charts, culminating with "White Lightning," which spent five weeks at number one in the spring of 1959. His next big hit arrived two years later, when the ballad "Tender Years" spent seven weeks at number one. "Tender Years" displayed a smoother production and larger arrangement than his previous hits, and it pointed the way toward Jones later success as a balladeer. In early 1962, Jones reached number five with "Achin, Breakin Heart," which would turn out to be his last hit for Mercury Records. Daily became a staff producer for United Artists Records in 1962 and Jones followed him to the label. His first single for UA, "She Thinks I Still Care," was his third number one hit. In 1963, Jones began performing and recording with Melba Montgomery. During the early 60s, mainstream country music was getting increasingly slick, but Jones and Montgomerys harmonies were raw and laden with bluegrass influences. Their first duet, "We Must Have Been out of Our Minds" (spring 1963), was their biggest hit, peaking at number three. The pair continued to record together throughout 1963 and 1964, although they never again had a Top Ten hit; they also reunited in 1966 and 1967, recording a couple of albums and singles for Musicor. Jones had a number of solo hits in 1963 and 1964 as well, peaking with the number three "The Race Is On" in the fall of 1964. Under the direction of Daily, Jones moved to the new record label Musicor in 1965. His first single for Musicor, "Things Have Gone to Pieces," was a Top Ten hit in the spring of 1965. Between 1965 and 1970, he had 17 Top Ten hits for Musicor. While at Musicor, Jones recorded almost 300 songs in five years. During that time, he cut a number of first-rate songs, including country classics like "Love Bug," "Walk Through This World With Me," and "A Good Year for the Roses." He also recorded a fair share of mediocre material, and given the sheer amount of songs he sang, that isnt surprising. Although Jones made a couple of records that were genuine tributes or experiments, he also tried to fit into contemporary country styles, such as the Bakersfield sound. Not all of the attempts resulted in hits, but he consistently charted the Top Ten with his singles, if not with his albums. Musicor wound up flooding the market with George Jones records for the rest of the 60s. Jones albums for Musicor tended to be arranged thematically, and only two, his 1965 duet George Jones & Gene Pitney and 1969s Ill Share My World With You, charted. That meant that while Jones was one of the most popular and acclaimed singers in country music, there was still a surplus of material. Like his discography, Jones personal life was spinning out of control. He was drinking heavily and began missing concerts. His second wife, Shirley, filed for divorce in 1968, and Jones moved to Nashville, where he met Tammy Wynette, the most popular new female singer in country music. Soon, Jones and Wynette fell in love; they married on February 16, 1969. At the same time Jones married Wynette, tensions that had been building between Jones and longtime producer Daily culminated. Jones was unhappy with the sound of his Musicor records, and he placed most of the blame on Daily. After his marriage, Jones wanted to record with Wynette, but Musicor wouldnt allow him to appear on her label, Epic, and Epic wouldnt let her sing on a Musicor album. Furthermore, Epic wanted to lure Jones away from Musicor. Jones was more than willing to leave, but he had to fulfill his contract before the company would let him go. While he continued recording material for Musicor, Epic entered contract negotiations with their rivals, and halfway through 1971, Jones severed ties with Musicor and Daily. He signed away all the rights to his Musicor recordings in the process. The label continued to release Jones albums for a couple of years, and they also licensed recordings to RCA, who released two singles and a series of budget-priced albums in the early 70s. Jones signed with Epic Records in October of 1971. It was the culmination of a busy year for Jones, one that saw him and Wynette becoming the biggest stars in country music, racking up a number of Top Ten hits as solo artists and selling out concerts across the country as a duo. Jones had successfully remade his image from a short-haired, crazed honky tonker to more relaxed, sensitive balladeer. At the end of the year, he cut his first records for Epic. Jones new record producer was Billy Sherrill, who had been responsible for Wynettes hit albums. Sherrill was known for his lush, string-laden productions and his precise, aggressive approach in the studio. Under his direction, musicians were there to obey his orders and that included the singers as well. Jones had been accustomed to the relaxed style of Daily, who was the polar opposite of Sherrill. As a result, the singer and producer were tense at first, but soon the pair developed a fruitful working relationship. With Sherrill, Jones became a full-fledged balladeer, sanding away the rough edges of his hardcore honky tonk roots. "We Can Make It," his first solo single for Epic, was a celebration of Jones marriage to Wynette, written by Sherrill and Glenn Sutton. The song was a number two hit early in 1972, kicking off a successful career at Epic. "The Ceremony," Jones and Wynettes second duet, followed "We Can Make It," and also became a Top Ten hit. "Loving You Could Never Be Better," followed its predecessors into the Top Ten at the end of 1972. By now, the couples marriage was becoming a public soap opera, with their audience following each single as if they were news reports. Even though they were proclaiming their love through their music, the couple had begun to fight frequently. Jones was sinking deep into alcoholism and drug abuse, which escalated as the couple continued to tour together. Though every single he released in 1973 went into the Top Ten, Jones personal life was getting increasingly difficult. Wynette filed for divorce in August 1973. Shortly after she filed the papers, the couple decided to reconcile and her petition was withdrawn. Following her withdrawal, the duo had a number one single with the appropriately titled "Were Gonna Hold On." In the summer of 1974, Jones had his first number one hit since "Walk Through This World with Me" with "The Grand Tour," a song that drew a deft portrait of a broken marriage. He followed it with another number one hit, "The Door." Not long after its release, he recorded "These Days (I Barely Get By)," which featured lyrics co-written by Wynette. Two days after he recorded the song, Wynette left Jones; they divorced within a year. The late 70s were plagued with trouble for Jones. Between 1975 and the beginning of 1980, he had only two Top Ten solo hits -- "These Days (I Barely Get By)" (1975) and "Her Name Is" (1976). Though they divorced, Jones and Wynette continued to record and tour together, and that is where he racked up the hits, beginning with the back-to-back 1976 number ones, "Golden Ring" and "Near You." The decrease in hits accurately reflects the downward spiral in Jones health in the late 70s, when he became addicted not only to alcohol, but to cocaine as well. Jones became notorious for his drunken, intoxicated rampages, often involving both drugs and shotguns. Jones would disappear for days at a time. He began missing a substantial amount of concerts -- in 1979 alone, he missed 54 shows -- which earned him the nickname "No-Show Jones." Jones career began to pick up in 1978, when he began flirting with rock & roll, covering Chuck Berrys "Maybellene" with Johnny Paycheck and recording a duet with James Taylor called "Bartenders Blues." The success of the singles -- both went Top Ten -- led to an album of duets, My Very Special Guests, in 1979. Though it was poised to be a return to the top of the charts for Jones, he neglected to appear at the scheduled recording sessions and had to overdub his vocals after his partners recorded theirs. That same year, doctors told the singer he had to quit drinking, otherwise his life was in jeopardy. Jones checked into a rehab clinic, but left after a month, uncured. Due to his cocaine addiction, his weight had fallen from 150 pounds to a mere 100. Despite his declining health, Jones managed a comeback in 1980. It began with a Top Ten duet with Tammy Wynette, "Two Story House," early in the year, but the song that pushed him back to the top of the charts was the dramatic ballad "He Stopped Loving Her Today." The single hit number one in the spring of the year, beginning a new series of Top Ten hits and number one singles that ran through 1986. The string of hits was so successful it rivaled the peak of his popularity in the 60s. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" was followed by the Top Ten "Im Not Ready Yet" and an album, I Am What I Am, in the fall of the 1980. I Am What I Am became his most successful album, going platinum. Throughout 1981 and 1983, he had eight Top Ten hits. Although he was having hits again, he hadnt kicked his addictions. Jones was still going on crazed, intoxicated rampages, which culminated with a televised police chase of Jones, who was driving drunk, through the streets of Nashville. Following his arrest, Jones managed to shake his drug and alcohol addictions with the support of his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvada. Jones and Sepulvada married in March of 1983. Soon after their marriage, he began to detoxicate and by the end of 1983, he had completed his rehabilitation. Jones continued to have Top Ten hits regularly until 1987, when country radio became dominated by newer artists; ironically, the artists who kept him off the charts -- singers like Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, and Dwight Yoakam -- were heavily influenced by Jones himself. Jones and Sepulvada moved back to Nashville in 1987. In 1988, he recorded his final album with Billy Sherrill, One Woman Man. The title song, which was a hit for Johnny Horton in 1956, was Jones final solo Top Ten hit. One Woman Man was his last record for Epic Records. After its release, he moved to MCA, releasing his first record for the label, And Along Came Jones, in the fall of 1991. In between its release and One Woman Man arrived a duet with Randy Travis, "A Few Ole Country Boys," that was a Top Ten hit in the fall of 1990. Jones records for MCA didnt sell nearly as well as his Epic albums, but his albums usually were critically acclaimed. In 1995, he reunited with Wynette to record One. In April of 1996, Jones published his autobiography, I Lived to Tell It All. In 1998, he returned with another studio album, It Dont Get Any Better Than This. Following the release of It Dont Get Any Better Than This, Jones moved from MCA to Elektra/Asylum, who signed him on the provision that he would record hardcore country music. Jones was completing work on his debut for the label when he crashed his car into a bridge in Nashville on March 6, 1999, critically injuring himself. Amazingly, he pulled through the accident, but the investigation proved that Jones had been drinking and driving -- a troubling revelation, given his long history with alcoholism. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, DWI, and entered a rehab program. The release of his Elektra/Asylum debut, Cold Hard Truth, went on as scheduled, appearing in stores in the summer of 1999. The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001 followed in 2001. Hits I Missed...And One I Didnt from 2005 found Jones looking back over the years and picking songs that he originally declined to record, but were hits for the other artists. Burning Your Playhouse Down was released in 2008 on Vanguard Records. Jones continued to perform into the 2010s, but was hospitalized in Nashville in April 2013 for fever and irregular blood pressure and never left the hospital; he died on April 26th. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 28 Title: Grand Ole Oprys New Star George Jones Country Song Hits Released: 1956 Tracks: 14 Duration: 02:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Why Baby Why (?) 2 Seasons of My Heart (?) 3 Its OK (02:19) 4 Let Him Down (?) 5 Play It Cool (?) 6 Hold Everything (?) 7 Boat of Life (?) 8 You Gotta Be My Baby (?) 9 What Am I Worth (?) 10 Your Heart (?) 11 Ragged but Right (?) 12 Yearning (?) 13 Still Hurtin (?) 14 Taggin Along (?) |
 | Album: 2 of 28 Title: Sings 14 Top Country Favorites Released: 1957 Tracks: 14 Duration: 33:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Too Much Water (02:07) 2 Dont Stop the Music (02:10) 3 Why Baby Why (02:13) 4 You Never Thought (02:46) 5 No Money in This Deal (02:24) 6 Just One More (02:40) 7 Take the Devil Out of Me (02:44) 8 All I Want to Do (02:20) 9 Yearning (02:05) 10 Ragged but Right (02:13) 11 You Gotta Be My Baby (02:32) 12 Gonna Come Get You (02:30) 13 Uh, Uh, No (02:12) 14 Cup of Loneliness (02:39) |
 | Album: 3 of 28 Title: George Jones Sings White Lightning and Other Favorites Released: 1959-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 White Lightning (02:43) 2 I’m With the Wrong One (02:07) 3 That’s the Way I Feel (01:51) 4 Life to Go (02:45) 5 Don’t Do This to Me (02:11) 6 Wandering Soul (02:19) 7 Give Away Girl (02:30) 8 You’re Back Again (02:45) 9 No Use to Cry (02:08) 10 Nothing Can Stop Me (02:23) 11 Flame in My Heart (02:24) 12 Jesus Wants Me (01:58) |
 | Album: 4 of 28 Title: The Crown Prince Of Country Music Released: 1960 Tracks: 12 Duration: 26:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 One Is A Lonely Number (02:30) 2 Maybe Little Baby (02:01) 3 Run Boy (02:10) 4 One Woman Man (01:48) 5 Settle Down (02:30) 6 Heartbroken (02:39) 7 Rain Rain (02:09) 8 Frozen Heart (02:09) 9 Ive Got Five Dollars And Its Saturday Night (02:09) 10 Cause I Love You (02:02) 11 Youre In My Heart (02:23) 12 You All Good Night (02:05) |
 | Album: 5 of 28 Title: George Jones Salutes Hank Williams Released: 1960 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cold Cold Heart (03:20) 2 Nobodys Lonesome for Me (02:05) 3 Hey Good Lookin (02:19) 4 Howlin at the Moon (02:44) 5 Therell Be No Teardrops Tonight (02:47) 6 Half as Much (02:20) 7 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (02:11) 8 Why Dont You Love Me (02:06) 9 Honky Tonkin (02:03) 10 I Cant Help It (02:24) 11 Settin the Woods on Fire (02:09) 12 Windows Shopping (02:23) |
| George Jones Salutes Hank Williams : Allmusic album Review : George Jones Salutes Hank Williams was recorded at Mercury Records, toward the beginning of Jones career. At this stage, George still sounded similar to Hank Williams, but he had begun to incorporate much of Williams vocal techniques into a distinctive vocal style of his own. If Jones had recorded these songs while still at Starday, they wouldnt be as exciting as they are now -- since he had moved beyond mimicking into his own style, hes able to invest Williams songs with grit and passion, instead of just copying Hank. Its an affectionate, entertaining tribute, featuring some of the greatest songs ("Cold Cold Heart," "Hey Good Lookin," "Half As Much," "Jambalaya," "Why Dont You Love Me," "Honky Tonkin," "Settin the Woods on Fire") in country music. (The 1984 reissue is slightly shorter than the original issue and features liner notes by Elvis Costello). | ||
 | Album: 6 of 28 Title: Sings The Hits Of His Country Cousins Released: 1962 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Beggar To A King (02:39) 2 Peace In The Valley (02:39) 3 I Could Never Be Ashamed Of You (02:24) 4 Silver Dew On The Blue Grass Tonight (02:21) 5 The Precious Jewel (02:23) 6 Its A Sin (02:13) 7 Dont Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (02:28) 8 Give My Love To Rose (03:03) 9 The Same Sweet Girl (02:39) 10 Yes I Know Why (01:48) 11 Wings Of A Dove (02:04) 12 A Little Bitty Tear (01:51) |
 | Album: 7 of 28 Title: The Ballad Side Of George Jones Released: 1963 Tracks: 12 Duration: 27:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Someone Sweet To Love (02:15) 2 Tarnished Angel (02:17) 3 The Last Town I Painted (02:17) 4 Relief Is Just A Swallow Away (02:19) 5 The First One (02:20) 6 Into My Arms Again (02:05) 7 Mr Fool (02:26) 8 I Always Wind Up Loser (02:17) 9 Glad To Let Her Go (02:20) 10 Wasted Words (02:09) 11 Likes Of You (02:15) 12 One Is A Lonely Number (02:28) |
 | Album: 8 of 28 Title: I Wish Tonight Would Never End Released: 1963 Tracks: 12 Duration: 29:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Lonesome Life (02:36) 2 The Old Old House (02:26) 3 I Saw Me (02:45) 4 Every Time I Look at You (02:05) 5 I Wish Tonight Would Never End (02:18) 6 Flame in My Heart (02:27) 7 Aint It Funny What a Fool Will Do (02:22) 8 Theres No Justice (02:07) 9 We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds (02:36) 10 I Cant Change Over Night (02:29) 11 In the Shadow of a Lie (02:45) 12 Seasons of My Heart (02:50) |
 | Album: 9 of 28 Title: Famous Country Duets Released: 1965 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Baby That Aint Fine (02:24) 2 If I Were (02:26) 3 I Got a New Heartache (02:35) 4 Im a People (02:09) 5 Thats All It Took (02:24) 6 Simply Divine (02:20) 7 Feudin and Fightin (02:04) 8 King and Queen (02:32) 9 My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You (02:35) 10 Im Looking for the Man (02:09) 11 Your Old Standby (02:36) 12 Being Together (02:42) |
 | Album: 10 of 28 Title: Singing The Blues Released: 1965 Tracks: 12 Duration: 27:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Singing The Blues (01:56) 2 Ragged But Right (02:10) 3 Life To Go (02:30) 4 Half As Much (02:16) 5 Money To Burn (02:36) 6 (Ill Be There) If You Want Me (02:10) 7 Dont Do This To Me (02:13) 8 You Gotta Be My Baby (01:55) 9 Its Been So Long (02:10) 10 The Last Town I Painted (02:19) 11 Uh, Uh, No (02:16) 12 Hearts In My Dream (02:32) |
 | Album: 11 of 28 Title: King Of Broken Hearts Released: 1965 Tracks: 12 Duration: 30:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 She Once Lived Here (02:16) 2 Just Dont Like This Kind Of Living (02:32) 3 Faded Love (02:39) 4 Silver Dew On The Blue Grass (02:21) 5 Peace In The Valley (03:24) 6 I Cant Change Overnight (02:35) 7 What Am I Worth (02:07) 8 Youre Gonna Change (or Im Gonna Leave) (02:12) 9 Take Me Back To Tulsa (01:54) 10 The Same Sweet Girl (02:39) 11 Wandering Soul (02:26) 12 Seasons Of My Heart (02:51) |
 | Album: 12 of 28 Title: The Race Is On Released: 1965 Tracks: 12 Duration: 29:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Race Is On (02:05) 2 Dont Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes (02:23) 3 Ill Never Let Go of You (02:20) 4 Shes Mine (02:35) 5 Threes a Crowd (02:16) 6 Theyll Never Take Her Love From Me (02:29) 7 Your Heart Turned Left (02:10) 8 Aint It Funny What a Fool Will Do (02:22) 9 It Scares Me Half to Death (02:38) 10 Worlds Worst Loser (02:34) 11 Time Changes Everything (02:50) 12 Take Me as I Am (Or Let Me Go) (02:32) |
| The Race Is On : Allmusic album Review : The title track to The Race Is On is one of George Jones biggest hits. With its galloping beat and clever, funny lyrics, the single gives the impression that the rest of the record is a return to Jones honky tonk roots. Although there are several up-tempo numbers, The Race Is On is dominated by ballads, like the majority of his UA albums. But The Race Is On boasts a stronger, more varied set of songs than most of his 60s albums, ranging from ballads like "Theyll Never Take Her Love From Me" and the Western swing of "Time Changes Everything" and the skittering honky tonk of "Dont Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes." There are a couple of weak moments -- ironically, one is "Shes Mine," which was co-written by George -- but the album remains one of his strongest from the mid-60s. ["It Scares Me Half to Death" and "Take Me as I Am (Or Let Me Go)" also appear on Sings Like the Dickens! and "Time Changes Everything" appears on Sings Bob Wills.] | ||
 | Album: 13 of 28 Title: Cup Of Loneliness Released: 1967 Tracks: 10 Duration: 25:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Cup of Loneliness (02:22) 2 The Unclouded Day (02:45) 3 Small Time Laboring Man (02:34) 4 Wandering Soul (02:30) 5 Give Me Just One Day Lord (02:10) 6 Take the World but Give Me Jesus (02:37) 7 Taggin Along (02:47) 8 The Good Old Bible (02:22) 9 Bringin It Home (02:31) 10 Family Bible (03:10) |
 | Album: 14 of 28 Title: Hits By George Released: 1967 Tracks: 10 Duration: 24:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Accidentally On Purpose (02:32) 2 Window Up Above (02:37) 3 Tender Years (02:23) 4 Time Lock (02:31) 5 Treasure Of Love (02:16) 6 She Thinks I Still Care (02:43) 7 White Lightning (02:35) 8 Talk To Me Lonesome Heart (02:37) 9 When My Heart Hurts No More (02:37) 10 Poor Mans Richer (01:57) |
 | Album: 15 of 28 Title: Walk Through This World With Me Released: 1967 Tracks: 10 Duration: 24:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Walk Through This World With Me (02:18) 2 The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight (02:33) 3 Sweet Thang (02:45) 4 Am I That Easy to Forget (02:04) 5 Apartment #9 (02:29) 6 There Goes My Everything (02:35) 7 Life Turned Her That Way (02:27) 8 Almost Persuaded (02:55) 9 Lonely Street (02:04) 10 That Heart Belongs to Me (02:02) |
| Walk Through This World With Me : Allmusic album Review : Included is the hit title song, plus Joness versions of hits by others, "Almost Persuaded" and a great version of "Lonely Street." | ||
 | Album: 16 of 28 Title: If My Heart Had Windows Released: 1968 Tracks: 10 Duration: 22:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 If My Heart Had Windows (02:24) 2 Between My House and Town (02:27) 3 On Second Thought (02:22) 4 Possum Hollow (02:15) 5 Unwanted Babies (02:22) 6 Say Its Not You (02:26) 7 Wrong Side of the World (02:25) 8 The Strangers Me (02:01) 9 Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven (02:12) 10 The Poor Chinee (01:58) |
| If My Heart Had Windows : Allmusic album Review : After some experimentation (both failed and successful) at Musicor, George returned for a more-or-less straight honky-tonk album with If My Heart Had Windows. Though the record boasts his typical overblown late-60s production, its kept in check for the most part. Two Top Ten hits -- the title track and "Say Its Not You" -- are included on the record, as well as the classic "Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven" and the quirky album closer "Poor Chinee." | ||
 | Album: 17 of 28 Title: Seasons Of My Heart Released: 1970 Tracks: 10 Duration: 23:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Seasons of My Heart (02:54) 2 No Money in This Deal (02:17) 3 Eskimo Pie (02:29) 4 Its OK (02:19) 5 Long Time to Forget (02:24) 6 Ragged but Right (02:13) 7 No Use to Cry (02:08) 8 Uh, Uh, No (02:12) 9 Theme From Danny Boy (instrumental) (02:45) 10 Don’t Do This to Me (02:11) |
| Seasons Of My Heart : Allmusic album Review : This single-disc reissue from Starday features ten tracks by George Jones including "No Money in This Deal," "Long Time to Forget," and "Seasons of My Heart." This is a decent set for listeners on a budget, but better compilations, that include his hits are available for about the same price. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 28 Title: We Go Together Released: 1971 Tracks: 11 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We Go Together (?) 2 It’s So Sweet (?) 3 Something to Brag About (?) 4 Never Grow Cold (?) 5 You’re Everything (?) 6 Take Me (?) 7 Someone I Used to Know (?) 8 Livin’ on Easy Street (?) 9 A Lifetime Left Together (?) 10 When True Love Steps In (?) 11 After Closing Time (?) |
| We Go Together : Allmusic album Review : We Go Together appeared late in 1971, three years into George Jones & Tammy Wynettes marriage and just after Jones finally wrestled himself out of his constricting contract with Pappy Daily’s Musicor label. Celebrating his newfound independence, Jones dove into this project, even co-writing two songs with his wife, a virtually unheard of situation for the consummate country singer. One of the reasons George didn’t write much is because he’s not much of a writer, as “It’s So Sweet,” one of his two collaborations with Wynette, illustrates, but the rest of the record is solid, thanks in part to three re-recorded tunes -- the other Tammy co-write “Never Grow Cold,” “Take Me,” and Jack Clement’s “Someone I Used to Know” -- but drawing most of its strength from George and Tammy’s easy, natural chemistry, which is evident and ebullient despite the sometimes rocky material. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 28 Title: With Love Released: 1971 Tracks: 10 Duration: 25:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Good Year For the Roses (02:59) 2 Ill Follow You (Up to Our Cloud) (02:34) 3 Playing Possum (02:12) 4 Try (02:13) 5 Going Lifes Way (02:37) 6 I Know (02:35) 7 Divorce or Destiny (02:43) 8 Loving You Makes You Mine (02:33) 9 A Day In the Life of a Fool (02:10) 10 Never Grow Cold (02:37) |
| With Love : Allmusic album Review : By 1970, George Jones stay at Musicor had been marked by a glut of sloppy releases that would continually repackage and repeat material in different thematically based "concept" albums; initially it would seem that George Jones With Love, with its lineup of all love-based songs, would fall into this disposable category. One listen, however, shows this to be an exception to the rule. Beginning with the wonderful "A Good Year for the Roses" (one of his all-time greatest performances), Jones tackles affairs of the heart from all directions -- from the joy and excitement of newfound love to the warmth of a settled relationship to the pain and despair of separation and its aftermath. Hes clearly focused on each song, pouring the proper emotion and passion into each performance. It still may not be a "concept album" by rock & roll standards, but it does serve as a high point for Jones Musicor period as well as one of his greatest, most consistent albums. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 28 Title: George Jones Released: 1972 Tracks: 11 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 We Can Make It (?) 2 Ill Take You to My World (?) 3 Kiss an Angel Good Morning (?) 4 All the Praises (?) 5 Shes All I Got (?) 6 The Last Letter (?) 7 Loving You Could Never Be Better (?) 8 The King (?) 9 Try It, Youll Like It (?) 10 One of These Days (?) 11 Lets Make History (?) |
 | Album: 21 of 28 Title: We Love To Sing About Jesus Released: 1972 Tracks: 11 Duration: 25:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We Love to Sing About Jesus (01:54) 2 Old Fashioned Singing (02:54) 3 He Is My Everything (02:54) 4 Me and Jesus (03:13) 5 Noah and the Ark (02:20) 6 Let’s All Go Down to the River (02:35) 7 Let’s All Sing Ourselves to Glory (02:11) 8 Talkin’ About Jesus (02:23) 9 When Jesus Takes His Children Home (01:45) 10 Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (01:51) 11 Show Him That You Love Him (01:54) |
| We Love To Sing About Jesus : Allmusic album Review : George Jones and Tammy Wynette had both made fine gospel records as solo artists, but when it came time to record their first together, they failed to come up with something memorable. Over-produced, overwrought, and under-written, We Love to Sing About Jesus is largely comprised of songs by Earl Montgomery, with the rest of the album devoted to contemporary country gospel by the likes of Dallas Frazier and Tom T. Hall. Billy Sherrills trademark grandiose productions are made even bigger by the presence of the Jordanaires and the Nashville Edition on backing vocals. Though the production is overbearing, it would have been forgivable if more than a handful of songs -- namely, the single "Old Fashioned Singing," the singalong title track, and Halls "Me and Jesus" -- were memorable. Instead, the songs are almost entirely mediocre and forgettable, making the production the only noticeable thing about the album. Though the album is short, the bombastic production gets a little nerve-wracking about halfway through the album, and by the end of the record the music hasnt provided much inspiration. In all, a wasted opportunity. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 28 Title: Me and the First Lady Released: 1972 Tracks: 11 Duration: 27:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We Believe in Each Other (02:39) 2 A Lovely Place to Cry (02:43) 3 There’s Power in Our Love (02:10) 4 A Perfect Match (02:10) 5 The Great Divide (02:42) 6 To Live on Love (02:54) 7 You and Me Together (01:50) 8 Lovin’ You Is Worth It (02:26) 9 We’re Gonna Try to Get Along (02:06) 10 It’s Been a Beautiful Life (Loving You) (02:25) 11 The Ceremony (03:05) |
| Me and the First Lady : Allmusic album Review : The second chapter in the George and Tammy saga still finds the couple pretty happy, settling into a mostly imaginary domestic life. Not all is well though, as told in "A Lovely Place to Cry" and "The Great Divide," which contemplate fading love and the possibility of divorce. The two continue to hold on, still in love, and even go as far as to re-create their wedding ceremony in the album closer, "The Ceremony," seemingly to reaffirm their vows. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 28 Title: A Picture of Me (Without You) Released: 1972 Tracks: 11 Duration: 30:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Picture of Me (without You) (02:30) 2 The Man Worth Lovin You (02:36) 3 She Knows What Shes Crying About (02:41) 4 Second Handed Flowers (03:10) 5 That Singing Friend of Mine (03:02) 6 She Loves Me (Right Out of My Mind) (02:56) 7 Tomorrow Never Comes (02:14) 8 Another Way to Say Goodbye (02:43) 9 On the Back Row (03:00) 10 Let There Be a Woman (02:26) 11 We Found a Match (02:44) |
| A Picture of Me (Without You) : Allmusic album Review : Perhaps even George Jones doesnt know how many records hes cut over the course of his career and, given the assembly-line production methods that were the order of the day in Nashville from the 50s through the 70s, a great Jones album was often a matter of fate rather than careful design -- if Ol Possum got a batch of good songs that week and was working with a producer who wasnt an utter schlockmeister, then maybe Jones would get the great album he deserved. A Picture of Me (Without You) was one such album where Jones lucked into something sublime; it was one of his first sets with producer Billy Sherrill, and while Sherrills fondness for glossy surfaces wouldnt immediately seem compatible with Jones hard honky tonk soul, he managed to give these sessions a low-key, late-night feel that was a fine match for the bluesy tone of Jones voice. And the Music Row publishers sent a stack of really good demos while they were putting together A Picture of Me (Without You). The title cut is one of Jones best songs on his favorite theme, failed romance (as are "Another Way to Say Goodbye" and "Tomorrow Never Comes"), "Second Handed Flowers" is a fine story-song from Tom T. Hall, "That Singing Friend of Mine" is just gutsy enough to overcome its innate sentimentality, and "She Loves Me (Right Out of My Mind)" communicates the thrill and despair of a love affair with no future. And as a singer, Jones was at the top of his form when he cut this album; if you want to know why Gram Parsons called Jones "the king of broken hearts," one spin of A Picture will tell you all you need to know. While its a bit less ambitious than later albums like The Battle and The Grand Tour in terms of fine songs sung with beauty and feeling, Jones albums rarely get much better than A Picture of Me (Without You). | ||
 | Album: 24 of 28 Title: Let’s Build a World Together Released: 1973 Tracks: 11 Duration: 29:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Let’s Build a World Together (02:52) 2 The World Needs a Melody (03:21) 3 When I Stop Dreaming (03:15) 4 After the Fire Is Gone (02:24) 5 My Elusive Dreams (03:34) 6 Your Shining Face (02:47) 7 Touching Shoulders (02:21) 8 Love Is All We Need (02:05) 9 Help the People (02:08) 10 Our Way of Life (02:23) 11 This Growing Old Together Love We Share (02:24) |
| Let’s Build a World Together : Allmusic album Review : The chemistry that develops between partners in a male and female country music duo can sometimes be based on fantasy, as was obviously the case with Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb, who no country listener even imagined for a moment were romantically involved. Tammy Wynette and George Jones, on the other hand, did have a relationship. As the details of it became public knowledge, often resembling pages torn out of sleazy novels written by Jim Thompson, the inevitable result was that the music the two made started to sound somewhat dull and dreary in comparison. The reasons for this are musical, however, and were there in the tracks all along. For one thing, and it is a mighty big thing at that, the persona of Jones gets toned down for these tracks. Along with that also goes much of the rocking, honky tonk flavor that is part of the best music this artist makes. The closest Jones gets to the type of losers he normally brings to life is the joker in "My Elusive Dreams," who keeps flitting from one disaster to the next, good ol "Stand by Your Man" Tammy at his side. This is the best track in the set, despite the fact this is an overplayed number from the 60s country songbook. "After the Fire Is Gone" is also a well-done tune, the bitterness and cynicism flavored country style, which means plenty of pedal steel. It is too bad there are not more country songs here of the quality of the Louvin Brothers "When I Stop Dreaming," as much of this material seems like it was hammered out by country songwriting teams too enamored with these giant country stars to relax and come up with something that isnt just romantic tripe. And that isnt said lightly. Just as some country fans will decide to buy an album based on provocative or amusing song titles, a look at the titles here and one will want to put the record back on the shelf. The singers themselves dont do that much better when whipping out the songwriting notebooks, either. The blend of these two beautiful voices is of course a great moment in country history, but this is one of those albums where it is the songs, and not the singers, that have to provide something for the country fan to gnaw on other than distracted thoughts about what the world they built might have really been like. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 28 Title: My Favorites Of Hank Williams Released: 1973 Tracks: 12 Duration: 29:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Wedding Bells (02:57) 2 I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep (02:14) 3 I Just Dont Like This Kind of Livin (02:33) 4 You Win Again (02:29) 5 I Could Never Be Ashamed of You (02:25) 6 Youre Gonna Change (Or Im Gonna Leave) (02:14) 7 Lonesome Whistle (02:23) 8 A House Without Love (02:25) 9 Your Cheatin Heart (02:30) 10 Theyll Never Take Her Love Away From Me (02:31) 11 Mansion on the Hill (02:24) 12 Take These Chains From My Heart (02:22) |
 | Album: 26 of 28 Title: We’re Gonna Hold On Released: 1973 Tracks: 11 Duration: 28:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We’re Gonna Hold On (03:01) 2 When True Love Steps In (02:12) 3 Never Ending Song of Love (02:22) 4 Wouldn’t I? (02:10) 5 Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (02:48) 6 (We’re Not) The Jet Set (02:26) 7 Crawdad Song (02:34) 8 If Loving You Starts Hurting Me (02:59) 9 That Man of Mine (02:10) 10 The Woman Loves Me Right (02:53) 11 As Long as We Can (02:32) |
| We’re Gonna Hold On : Allmusic album Review : Only the album cover -- two separate, non-smiling photos of George and Tammy partially overlapping each other -- and a handful of the tracks attempt to directly tell the story of the dissolving marriage on this, the fourth duet album. Far more telling though is the inclusion of rather disjointed crowd-pleasers like "Roll in My Sweet Babys Arms" and the semi-novelty hit "(Were Not) The Jet Set" -- by this point, the two had become a part of the touring machine and the album seems to built around a stage show. The songs, outside of the title track (a number one hit), arent particularly memorable. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 28 Title: The Grand Tour Released: 1974 Tracks: 11 Duration: 29:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Grand Tour (03:08) 2 Darlin (02:07) 3 Pass Me By (If Youre Only Passing Through) (03:02) 4 Shell Love the One Shes With (02:47) 5 Once Youve Had the Best (02:40) 6 The Weatherman (02:18) 7 Borrowed Angel (03:07) 8 She Told Me So (02:55) 9 Mary Dont Go Round (02:09) 10 Who Will I Be Loving Now (02:34) 11 Our Private Life (02:19) |
| The Grand Tour : Allmusic album Review : 1974 was a hell of a year for George Jones creatively, with one of his finest Epic records, The Grand Tour, being issued that year. Jones partnership with producer Billy Sherrill saw some of its finest fruit here. The Grand Tour was a watershed for Jones, boasting the title track as one of the most devastating country singles ever issued that came so close to crossing over it was being played on some adult pop stations along with Sinatra, Bennett, Dionne Warwick, and Herb Alpert. Ironically, one of the co-authors of the tune was none other than Jones about-to-be-ex-wife Tammy Wynettes future husband George Richey. If ever there were a song that cut too close to home for the singer it was this one. Sherrill worked his most creative magic over it, with a string section that only revealed the size of itself when he wasnt singing and filled in between the guitars, piano, and pedal steel during the sung lines. Jones poured his heart into every syllable and its chilling quality after almost 30 years attests to this. But this cut was only the beginning. "Pass Me By (If Youre Only Passing Through)" with the Jordanaires is one of those haunting, mid-tempo honky tonk love songs that wont let go after the first chorus has been sung. As ballads go, "Shell Love the One Shes With" by Hank Cochran and Grady Martin is one of those jealous country waltzes where obsession and love continually cross each other. Shored up by a small string orchestra and a pedal steel cascading through the vocal lines, its wrenching and poetic. Johnny Paychecks classic ballad "Once Youve Had the Best" is done poetic and musical justice by Jones and Sherrill; in fact, this version blows away the authors. And in a nod to both Bakersfield and Jones "Thumper" period, "The Weatherman" is a honky tonk stomper also partially authored by Richey and it sounds as if it were written just for this session; coming in the middle of a host of broken love songs, this is an optimistic, even giddy tune with a Mickey Raphael harmonica solo and a Don Rich sound-alike guitar break in the middle. Ultimately, this is Jones country, the kind of country music that is pure yet as sophisticated as Sherrill wanted it to be. Chet Atkins and all of his countrypolitan productions never had anything on Sherrill, and with the greatest singer in the musics history as part of the team, combined with a collection of absolutely staggering songs (only I Am What I Am rivals it), this is one of the finest country records of the 70s and perhaps in the top 100 of all time. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 28 Title: George & Tammy & Tina Released: 1975 Tracks: 10 Duration: 25:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We Loved It Away (02:28) 2 Ain’t Love Be Good (02:45) 3 We’re Putting It Back Together (02:07) 4 It (02:31) 5 Telephone Call (02:28) 6 Gods Gonna Get’cha (For That) (02:38) 7 Number One (02:05) 8 Closer Than Ever (02:15) 9 Those Were the Good Times (03:10) 10 No Charge (03:09) |