Search - George Jones :: Essential: Spirit of Country (Dbl Jewel Case)

A good starting point

Charles Jackson | Ellettsville, IN | 03/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are just now discovering George Jones, this two CD set will serve as a good starting point. For the truly hardcore Jones fan however, this set is found wanting. Cup of Loneliness-The Complete Mercury Recordings is a much more complete compilation though it does lack his hits from the 70's and 80's.



It's difficult to get a complete discography of George Jones due to the fact that he changed labels about as often as he changed his socks in the early to mid 60's. Not included on this set are his Musichoir hits (Love Bug, 4033, We're Watching Our Step, etc), nor the minor successes such as Where Corn Won't Grow, Burn All the Honky Tonks Down and many others. That said I am NOT damning this album with faint praise. All the selections included here are truly essential George Jones songs to have. You could spend your money on a much more incomplete set than this very easily and have half the music, but as I mentioned earlier the hardcore fan will have a little trouble with what's not included."

"Spotlights" on Target

Bonehead | Way Down South, NC | 04/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I write this the Steve Vrana and James Carragher "Spotlight Reviews" have thoroughly described this excellent compilation.



I would add that an older('94) version The Essential George Jones: The Spirit Of Country contains a 36-page booklet with writing credits, release dates and chart info for all 44 songs. Also included, a history of the at-that-time 70 year old legend, quotes from famous admirers, and many interesting photos.



For a 2 CD set this is unbeatable."

Masterful Production

08/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The folks connected to this CD - compilation producer Bob Irwin, project director Adam Block, and liner note writer - 16 pages of them folks - Rich Kienzle, to name just some - deserve a pat on the back for a masterful job.



George Jones IS Country and that was evident from his very first hit way back in 1955 - Why Baby Why [# 4 for the Starday label] - right up to and including his final charted single in 1997 - a duet with Patty Loveless on You Don't Seem To Miss Me [# 14].



Unlike some other Country stars, very few of his hits crossed over to the pop charts [the best was a # 73 in 1959 for White Lightning, written by J.P, Richardson, aka The Big Bopper]. But, rather than detract from his career, it only serves to underline the fact that he was [and still is] pure Country with no pop embellishments. As one-time wife and singing partner Tammy Wynette is quoted as saying in the notes "the greatest voice in Country music, both past and present, is that of George Jones ... never have I heard a voice packed with such emotion and feeling and I truly doubt that we'll ever hear an equal ... some of the proudest moments of my career are my recordings with George ... long live the King."



In this set you get five of those duets with the now-deceased Tammy, 2 of his 6 hits with Starday, 6 of 18 with Mercury, 2 of 17 with United Artists, 5 of 29 with Musicor, and 29 of 67 with Epic/Columbia. He also had one lone hit with RCA Victor in 1972 [A Day In The Life Of A Fool - # 30] but that is not included.



The insert contains a complete discography of the contents, many more pictures of George, album cover reproductions, and acknowledgements of his importance to the industry by some of the biggest names in the business [Clint Black, Patty Loveless, Davis Ball, Joe Diffie, and Travis Tritt].



The sound reproduction is impeccable. I cannot recommend it highly enough."