Jim Reeves - widely known as Gentleman Jim - was one of the most successful and important country artists of the 1950s and early 60s, his rich, velvet voice bringing a unique sound and style, which was in the vanguard of the new Nashville sound, as the music headed away from honky-tonk fiddles and steel guitars as introduced strings and backing choruses, helping to move the genre towards the pop mainstream. Despite his tragic death in a plane crash in 1964, he was nevertheless able to rack up nearly 50 hits during his lifetime and became one of the most influential personalities in country music in the post-war era.
This great-value 80-track 3-CD set comprises the A & B sides of all his singles from his recording debut for the Macys label in 1949 through to 1962, and includes his recordings for the Abbott and RCA labels during those years, plus a duet performance with Ginny Wright released on the Fabor label. It naturally features all his 37 pop and country hits from the era, including the No. 1s Mexican Joe, Bimbo, Billy Bayou, Four Walls and the international smash hit Hell Have To Go, which provided his UK chart breakthrough in 1960.
Covering, as it does, the first 15 years or so of his career, it charts the development of his style and sound during an era when country music was becoming more consciously commercial, and experienced the impact of the rock n roll explosion in the mid-50s, following it through into the early years of a decade when he very much flew the flag for country music as the British Invasion brought about more musical changes. Its a fine showcase for one of the genres most enduring stars.
REVIEWS
“These great recordings highlight the changes that Reeves made to his repertoire and style with enough excellent performances to keep you occupied.” - Howard Cockburn (Now Dig This)
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
My Heart's Like A Welcome Mat |
Jim Reeves |
2 |
Teardrops Of Regret |
Jim Reeves |
3 |
Chicken Hearted |
Jim Reeves |
4 |
I've Never Been So Blue |
Jim Reeves |
5 |
What Were You Doing (Last Night) |
Jim Reeves |
6 |
Wagon Load Of Love |
Jim Reeves |
7 |
Mexican Joe |
Jim Reeves |
8 |
I Could Cry (Non-Album Track) |
Jim Reeves |
9 |
Butterfly Love |
Jim Reeves |
10 |
Let Me Love You Just A Little |
Jim Reeves |
11 |
El Rancho Del Rio |
Jim Reeves |
12 |
It's Hard To Love Just One |
Jim Reeves |
13 |
Bimbo |
Jim Reeves |
14 |
Gypsy Heart |
Jim Reeves |
15 |
I Love You |
Jim Reeves With Ginny Wright |
16 |
Then I'll Stop Loving You |
Jim Reeves |
17 |
Echo Bonita |
Jim Reeves |
18 |
Beatin' On The Ding Dong |
Jim Reeves |
19 |
My Rambling Heart |
Jim Reeves |
20 |
Padre Of Old San Antone |
Jim Reeves |
21 |
Mother Went A-Walking |
Jim Reeves |
22 |
Penny Candy |
Jim Reeves |
23 |
I'll Follow You |
Jim Reeves |
24 |
Where Does A Broken Heart Go? |
Jim Reeves |
25 |
The Wilder Your Heart Beats The Sweeter You Love |
Jim Reeves |
26 |
Drinking Tequila |
Jim Reeves |
|
|
|
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Red Eyed And Rowdy |
Jim Reeves |
2 |
Tahiti |
Jim Reeves |
3 |
Give Me One More Kiss |
Jim Reeves |
4 |
Yonder Comes A Sucker |
Jim Reeves |
5 |
I'm Hurtin' Inside |
Jim Reeves |
6 |
Are You The One |
Jim Reeves With Alvadean Coker |
7 |
How Many (From Bimbo) |
Jim Reeves |
8 |
Hillbilly Waltz |
Jim Reeves |
9 |
Let Me Remember (The Things I Can't Forget) |
Jim Reeves |
10 |
Jimbo Jenkins |
Jim Reeves |
11 |
I've Lived A Lot In My Time |
Jim Reeves |
12 |
If You Were Mine |
Jim Reeves |
13 |
That's A Sad Affair |
Jim Reeves |
14 |
My Lips Are Sealed |
Jim Reeves |
15 |
Pickin' A Chicken |
Jim Reeves |
16 |
According To My Heart |
Jim Reeves |
17 |
The Mother Of A Honky Tonk Girl |
Jim Reeves With Carol Johnson |
18 |
Am I Losing You |
Jim Reeves |
19 |
Waitin' For A Train |
Jim Reeves |
20 |
Four Walls |
Jim Reeves |
21 |
I Know And You Know |
Jim Reeves |
22 |
Two Shadows On Your Window |
Jim Reeves |
23 |
Young Hearts |
Jim Reeves |
24 |
Anna Marie |
Jim Reeves |
25 |
Everywhere You Go |
Jim Reeves |
26 |
Overnight |
Jim Reeves |
27 |
I Love You More |
Jim Reeves |
|
|
|
Disc 3 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Blue Boy |
Jim Reeves |
2 |
Theme Of Love |
Jim Reeves |
3 |
Billy Bayou |
Jim Reeves |
4 |
I'd Like To Be |
Jim Reeves |
5 |
Home |
Jim Reeves |
6 |
If Heartache Is The Fashion |
Jim Reeves |
7 |
Partners |
Jim Reeves |
8 |
I'm Beginning To Forget You |
Jim Reeves |
9 |
He'll Have to Go |
Jim Reeves |
10 |
In A Mansion Stands My Love |
Jim Reeves |
11 |
I'm Gettin' Better |
Jim Reeves |
12 |
I Know One |
Jim Reeves |
13 |
I Missed Me |
Jim Reeves |
14 |
Am I Losing You |
Jim Reeves |
15 |
Whispering Hope |
Jim Reeves |
16 |
The Blizzard |
Jim Reeves |
17 |
Danny Boy |
Jim Reeves |
18 |
What Would You Do? |
Jim Reeves |
19 |
Stand At Your Window |
Jim Reeves |
20 |
Losing Your Love |
Jim Reeves |
21 |
(How Can I Write On Paper) What I Feel In My Heart |
Jim Reeves |
22 |
A Letter To My Heart |
Jim Reeves |
23 |
Adios Amigo |
Jim Reeves |
24 |
I'm Gonna Change Everything |
Jim Reeves |
25 |
Pride Goes Before A Fall |
Jim Reeves |
26 |
You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me) |
Jim Reeves |
27 |
Oh, How I Miss You Tonight |
Jim Reeves |