Search - Charley Pride :: Essential Charley Pride

Solid look at Pride's hit-making RCA years

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 11/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This double-disc set is a straight up reissue of 2003's "Anthology," featuring the same 40 tracks, and the same liner notes. That said, it's still the best introduction to Pride's great career at RCA, whatever RCA wants to use as a title. The material spans Pride's entire twenty year run at RCA, from his second single, 1966's "Before I Met You," through his final year's "Down on the Farm" in 1985. In between, the collection does an excellent job of cherry-picking from Pride's extensive catalog and eye-popping chart success. Out of 54 singles issued for RCA, 51 hit the country Top-10, and many of his chart-toppers crossed over to minor pop success.



Pride's commercial success began with the Grammy® winning top-10 "Just You and Me" from 1966. Written by Jack Clement and produced by Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson and Clement, Pride's masterful baritone is set between twangy pedal steel and a countrypolitan background chorus. For all the recognition Pride has received as country music's first (and really only) African American superstar, his music, particularly as produced by Clement, is completely colorblind. His song choices speak to country music's universal experiences of love and loss, and his voice, while quite unique, is marked mostly by his Southern raising.



Taking off from his first chart success, Pride minted an amazing streak of top-10s, including a run of #1s from 1969 through 1971. Of the six ("All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)," "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again," "(Is Anybody Going To) San Antone," "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore," "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me," and "I'd Rather Love You), only the last is missing from this set. Clement's use of chorus backings adds an element of resolve and strength to Pride's laments, creating the sense of a man who still has friends to help pick him up after various emotional devastations. His carefree whistling outro to "San Antone" suggests a happier future, and a cover of Merle Haggard's "A Shoulder to Cry On" is more apologetic than Haggard's desolate original.



Pride could also sing happy songs, like his signature "Kiss an Angel Good Morning," topping the country chart and nearly edging into the pop Top-20. The faith-inspired follow-up, "All His Children" (from the film "Sometimes a Great Notion"), adds a sweeping chorus and a Henry Mancini string arrangement. Even more lush are the strings and harmonies for 1978's "Someone Loves You Honey." Pride continued to sound country in voice, even as the productions crossed over to the pop music featured on disc two. The early '80s brought the disco-fied #1 "Night Games" a twangy live cover of George Jones' "Why Baby Why," and the collection closing homage to small farms, "Down on the Farm."



A recording career as deep as Pride's can't be fully covered in only two discs, and so there are missing hits (e.g., 1980's #1 "Honky Tonk Blues") and favorite album cuts that still await reissue. But with the bulk of Pride's catalog still in the vault, these forty tracks will need to sate those new to Pride's catalog, and whet the appetite of those who still hanging on to their original vinyl. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]"

Nice Collection from Country Charley Pride

R. Williams | Missouri, USA | 07/28/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I will echo the sentiments of several of the other reviewers here, some of Charley Pride's biggest songs like Burgers and Fries and Snakes Crawl at Night are not on this collection. What makes these manufacturers think they have to stop at 20 tracks on each disc? It is a problem common to many organizations. People who are incompetent making decisions they think will increase their profits. When will they realize that when you give people what they want the profits will be even more? That's the negative, now to some positive things about the collection.



If you grew up with Charley Pride singing his songs on the radio, then Just Between You and Me and I Know One will bring back memories of real country music sung by real country singers. Charley Pride's distinctive voice made him a hit around the world. Have you noticed the current crop of country (?) singers sound the same? There is no tune, no melody, just the same unsuccessful attempt to put out another recording and repackage to the masses. If the music executives are listening, you should try to pick up a few points here.



I would recommend this because it is a collection of ORIGINAL recordings. I really detest compilations that are re-recordings. They aren't the same, and they aren't as good. You will get many hours of pleasure from Country Charley Pride, as he was called. The younger generation is in for a treat because they will learn what real country music is. Who knows, maybe someday we will see a revival."