Stuart Hamblen - I Gotta Feeling (28 tracks) +Album Reviews

Missing some of the greats

02/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Really enjoyed the songs that I was unaware of. I grew up listening to Stuart's Spell of the Yukon album and was diappointed that not a single one of those is on this release. I hope that more of his work will be released in the future."

Great sampling of Stuart Hamblin's career.

Robert R. LaMeer | CA United States | 12/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great two CD sampling of the many and varied songs that this great singer made popular over his long career. Many of his great gospel songs are included, along with many of his earlier hits that my Mother remembered growing up with. Unfortunately, Stuart has many, many more great songs that have been released on vinyl that do not appear in this set. However, this is a great beginning for those who want to re-discover one of the real greats of early country/western music. This set includes many jems, such as "Remember Me" and "I'll Find You." It also includes the gospel greats "Blood On Your Hands" and Beyond The Sun." A special treat is the WWII era hit "Oklamhoma Bill" and the classic "Don't Fool Around With Calico When You Have Silk At Home." It's great to see some of Stuart's work being reissued, but it's too bad that his mega hits "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" and "This Old House" are not included."

Country Great reissued

Kevin Fontenot | New Orleans, LA United States | 03/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stuart Hamblen ranks among the finest country songwriters and singers of the 1930s. Unfortunately, he has been largely ignored by reissues. This double CD is most welcome as it is a nice introduction to the man and his work. The sound is rough in places, but the music is too important to let that get in the way. This collection should be added to any country music library."

A Better Stuart Hamblen Compilation IS Needed

Kevin Fontenot | 08/30/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Like Hank Williams, Stuart Hamblen's songs were often picked up by pop artists and turned into huge hits, the best examples being It's No Secret, which Jo Stafford and Bill Kenny & The Song Spinners took to #'s 15 and 18 respectively in 1951 as "It Is No Secret", This Ole House which became a # 1 for Rosemary Clooney in 1954, and (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You, a # 32 for Dean Martin in 1965.

But, as other reviewers point out, Stuart's own renditions have been sadly ignored since the advent of the CD and the ability of today's technology to clean up the hiss and pop. This Roots of Country offering retains the scratchy sound on too many selections for a 2001 release and, in addition, reflects a somewhat curious approach to the actual selections offered.

In terms of singles chart success, Stuart only had four himself, the first being (I Won't Go Huntin', Jake) But I'll Go Chasin' Women, which made it to # 3 Country in late 1949 b/w Let's See You Fix It on the Columbia label. Both are in this 2-CD compilation. The hit would later be included by Jimmy Dean as the B-side to his monster 1961 hit Big Bad John.

But then they ignore his next two hits, (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You [# 2 Country in the summer of 1950 for nine weeks, and kept from the top slot only by Hank Snow's smash I'm Movin' On], and It's No Secret [# 8 Country in January 1951] while at the same time including the B-sides, I'll Find You and Blood On Your Hands!! Why?

Also omitted is This Ole House [# 2 Country and # 26 pop for his only crossover hit] and its flipside, When My Lord Picks Up The Phone - done for RCA Victor in 1954.

An Ace of London treatment is called for in his case, one that would include all four of his hit singles plus the 1955 hit Open Up Your Heart (And Let The Sunshine In), a # 8 Billboard Pop Top 100 early in 1955 on Decca and billed to The Cowboy Church Sunday School. In reality that was Stuart's wife Suzy and their daughters Veeva Suzanne and Obee Jane (Lisa), ages 18 and 16, and two of the girls' friends, recorded at 33 1/3 and released as a 45 rpm to make it sound like a children's chorus. The flip was The Lord Is Counting On You, and both sides are simply not available anywhere, it seems. in CD format.

Surely a better CD is on the way, but until then this is about the best you're going to find."

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