Remastered Twofer Reissue of Two Classic Albums on RCA from 1967 and 1969.
CD Reviews
Stereotypical traditional country
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Porter Wagoner was a major country star of the sixties with a popular American TV show. To those who can't stand country music, he represents all that is wrong with it - gaudy outfits, songs (and narrations) about prison, murder and every other kind of tragedy, a musical backing featuring steel guitar, and so the list goes on. This kind of country music just isn't recorded any more. Some artists record in a traditional style while others explore life's darker side the way that Porter did - but nobody does both.
Porter had many hit records on the country charts including the original version of Green green grass of home (later to become an international pop hit when Tom Jones covered it). Yet these days, Porter is largely forgotten. His name sometimes appears on Dolly Parton compilations as her duet partner. Most people who come across his name don't realize that Porter was responsible for giving Dolly her big break - first on his TV show, then by getting her a recording contract, for which he had to agree to stand any losses out of his own royalties. Of course, there were no losses although real success was slow to come to Dolly.
During his career, Porter recorded many albums, both solo and with Dolly. Two of his finest solo albums are presented in this twofer. The first album, The cold hard facts of life, is a very dark album, full of tragic songs often involving murder although there is some relief in I'll get ahead someday (which Porter also recorded with Dolly as We'll get ahead someday). Another song that some Dolly fans will recognize is Try being lonely - Dolly included her version on her first RCA album, Just because I'm a woman. The opening song (The first Mrs Jones) is about a man whose first wife left him and is eventually murdered by him, so the man warns the second Mrs Jones not to leave him. It sets the tone of the album.
The second album is somewhat lighter although the two big hits are both tragic. The title track (which Dolly also recorded) is about a road accident in which two people die but it has a twist in the tale. Banks of the Ohio, a traditional folk song that suits Porter well, later became a British top ten pop hit for Olivia Newton-John. The album also includes covers of Rocky Top (Lynn Anderson) and Sing me back home (Merle Haggard) as well as a song written by Dolly (I lived so fast and hard) but not recorded by her, unless it's hiding in some record company vaults un-released.
There are many fine songs here for those who love traditional country music.If you're new to Porter's music, try a hits package first but remember that there are separate compilations for Porter's solo music and for his duets with Dolly. So maybe you need one of each before worrying about this."
The thin man from the West Plains
ecips | Miller Park - Milwaukee, WI | 12/16/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"
Two of Porter Wagoner's classic RCA lp's
together on one compact disc (24 tracks).
~ THE COLD HARD FACTS OF LIFE (1967) ~
The First Mrs. Jones, Words and Music, The Cold Hard Facts of Life, Sleep, Hundred Dollar Funeral, If I Could Only Start Over, Tragic Romance, Try Being Lonely, I'll Get Ahead Someday, I Just Can't Let You Say Goodbye, Shopworn, Julie.
~ THE CARROLL COUNTY ACCIDENT (1969) ~
The World Needs a Washin', The Banks of the Ohio, Sing Me Back Home, Barefoot Nellie, Sorrow Overtakes the Wine, Black Jack's Bar, The Carroll County Accident, Rocky Top, Your Mother's Eyes, The King of the Cannon County Hills, I Lived So Fast and Hard, Fallen Leaves.
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1