Jimmy Wakely was one of the last of the singing cowboys, personalities who combined their appearances in western movies with recording country and western records and appearing on radio and TV on shows like the Grand Ole Opry. His career in both media started in the late 30s, introduced to the big-time by Gene Autry and from 1939 to 59 he appeared in around 60 films. He was equally prolific on record, making his first records for Decca in the early 40s, and having moved to Capitol in the Mid-40s recording for them through into the 60s. This great-value 84-track 3-CD set comprises selected A & B sides from the most successful era of his career, which encompassed all his fifteen country and pop hits as a solo artists and also the nine pop and country hits he had recording duets with the pop artist Margaret Whiting at the start of the 1950s, all of which made the Top 10 we feature at least one side from the majority of his releases during these years. His thirteen Top 10 country hits featured here include the No. 1s One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart), I Love You So Much It Hurts as well as his No. 1 with Margaret Whiting Slippin Around. He was a versatile artist, his style enabling him to transcend the genres with ease, and this is a fine showcase for a major contributor to this particular genre.

REVIEWS

“This vast, budget-priced three-CD set with no less than 84 tracks, has strong material throughout...” 4/5  – John Howard (Vintage Rock Issue 44)

CD1:
1    Cimarron Roll On
2    Too Late
3    I'll Never Let You Go
4    Gone & Left Me Blues
5    There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
6    Standing Outside Of Heaven
7    I'm Sending You Red Roses
8    You Can't Break The Chains Of Love
9    Somebody's Rose
10    Everybody Knew It But Me
11    Too Many Sweethearts
12    Song Of The Sierras
13    Where The Moon Plays Peek-A-Boo
14    Oklahoma Blues
15    Signed, Sealed And Delivered
16    Milk Cow Blues
17    For The Sake Of Days Gone By
18    One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)
19    Walkin' The Sidewalks Of Shame
20    Mine All Mine
21    I Love You So Much It Hurts
22    Forever More
23    Moon Over Montana
24    Till The End Of The World
25    Oklahoma Hills
26    Someday You’ll Call My Name
27    I Wish I Had A Nickel

CD2:
1    Tellin’ My Troubles To My Old Guitar
2    Slippin' Around
3    Wedding Bells
4    I‘ll Never Slip Around Again
5    Six Times A Week And Twice On Sunday
6    You're Only In My Arms
7    I Don’t Know Why I Love You (But I Do Do Do)
8    The Touch Of God's Hand
9    Broken Down Merry-Go-Round
10    The Gods Were Angry With Me
11    Peter Cottontail
12    Mr Easter Bunny
13    Let's Go To Church
14    Why Do You Say Those Things?
15    Home Town Rag
16    Fool's Paradise
17    Mona Lisa
18    Steppin' Out
19    A Bushel And A Peck
20    Beyond The Reef
21    Bandera Waltz
22    Pot Of Gold
23    Silver Bells
24    My Heart Cries For You
25    Music By The Angels
26    Easter Parade
27    At The Close Of A Long, Long Day
28    Beautiful Brown Eyes

CD3:
1    Do Ya Write A Letter To Your Sweetheart?
2    Till We Meet Again
3    When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues
4    Old Soldiers Never Die
5    I Like The Wide Open Spaces
6    Don't Be Lonely
7    Star Of Hope
8    Another Fool Steps In
9    The Solid South
10    I Don't Want To Be Free
11    Each Step Of The Way
12    Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon
13    Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight
14    Give Me More, More, More
15    Goodbye, Little Girl
16    Just Because
17    If You Would Only Be Mine
18    There's A Cloud In My Valley Of Sunshine
19    The Same Old Lovelight In Your Eyes
20    I Went To Your Wedding
21    Rainbow At Midnight
22    Lorelei
23    If You Knew What It Meant To Be Lonesome
24    Gomen-Nasai
25    Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
26    When Love Goes Wrong
27    Too Late
28    Thanks