Search - Dwight Yoakam, George Jones, Crystal Gayle :: Caught In The Webb: Tribute To Webb Pierce

Honkytonk memories

Jerome Clark | Canby, Minnesota | 02/03/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gail Davies deserves credit and gratitude for this winning effort to revive the memory of a honkytonk pioneer. Webb Pierce's hardnosed business practices, which left him him few friends in Nashville, have had more to do with the neglect he's suffered since his death than the vibrant music he made in his prime. The latter, almost as much as Hank Williams's, helped define country, or at least the aching-heart barstool laments that today have almost vanished from the Nashville mainstream. Nobody here tries very hard to simulate Pierce's intense to over-the-top nasal yowl, and though nodding to Pierce's arrangements, the production never sounds less than modern in the best sense. With every artist clearly committed to the resurrection of Pierce's legacy, everything works, and not a false note sounds anywhere. Thus, each listener will have his or her favorite performance. To me the standouts are Emmylou Harris's "Wondering," Fulks and White's "Tupelo County Jail," and Willie Nelson's "That's Me Without You." Which is not to slight anybody or anything else. You don't have to know Pierce's originals to appreciate this fine recording. It's that rarity, a tribute album good enough to stand on its own."

These artests knew who Webb Pierce was

Janice Brooks | pleasant gap, pa USA | 01/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Today's radio could care less but back in the 50's Webb Pierce
was one of the rulers of country formats. Included here are acts that worked with him (Billy Walker)(George Jones), acts that do his songs in their shows(BR549)(Dale Watson)and acts just getting into the loop (Matt King). The session players and backup singers are no slouches either.
A great primer in honkey tonk"

Overdue tribute to fifties country star

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Webb Pierce was perhaps the most successful country singer in the fifties, but history has not been kind to his music. While many Hank Williams songs have been covered frequently, and not just by country singers, it is rare to find Webb's hits (of which there were many) covered. This album contains many of his biggest hits, but In the jailhouse now was itself a cover of a Jimmie Rodgers song, and how many of the others have you heard other than by Webb himself?Gail Davies wanted this album to redress the balance, so as to give Webb his due recognition, but I'm not sure if it really changes anything, as today's big names are largely missing. Still, there are some brilliant singers here and it will surely turn a few people on to the music of Webb Pierce.Big stars of yesteryear include Charley Pride (I'm tired), George Jones (Yes I know why), Emmylou Harris (Wondering), Crystal Gayle (More and more) and Willie Nelson (That's me without you). Willie did a duet album with Webb back in the eighties, so this is not his first tribute to the man.More recent stars include Dwight Yoakam (If you were me and I were you), Allison Moorer (Back street affair) and Pam Tillis (No love have I).There is plenty of steel guitar and other traditional country instrumentation throughout this album, which is of a consistently high quality and makes a fitting tribute to Webb. If you are already a Webb fan, you will enjoy this. If you are not a Webb fan but you enjoy traditional country, buy this then buy some of Webb's own music when you realise how good he was."