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 Macy's 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 "He'll 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. It's a fine showcase for one of the genre's most enduring stars.
25 The Wilder Your Heart Beats the Sweeter You Love
26 Drinking Tequila
- Disc 2 -
1 Red Eyed and Rowdy
2 Tahiti
3 Give Me One More Kiss
4 Yonder Comes a Sucker
5 I'm Hurtin' Inside
6 Are You the One
7 How Many (From Bimbo)
8 Hillbilly Waltz
9 Let Me Remember (The Things I Can't Forget)
10 Jimbo Jenkins
11 I've Lived a Lot in My Time
12 If You Were Mine
13 That's a Sad Affair
14 My Lips Are Sealed
15 Pickin' a Chicken
16 According to My Heart
17 The Mother of a Honky Tonk Girl
18 Am I Losing You
19 Waitin' for a Train
20 Four Walls
21 I Know and You Know
22 Two Shadows on Your Window
23 Young Hearts
24 Anna Marie
25 Everywhere You Go
26 Overnight
27 I Love You More
- Disc 3 -
1 Blue Boy
2 Theme of Love
3 Billy Bayou
4 I'd Like to Be
5 Home
6 If Heartache Is the Fashion
7 Partners
8 I'm Beginning to Forget You
9 He'll Have to Go
10 In a Mansion Stands My Love
11 I'm Gettin' Better
12 I Know One
13 I Missed Me
14 Am I Losing You
15 Whispering Hope
16 The Blizzard
17 Danny Boy
18 What Would You Do'
19 Stand at Your Window
20 Losing Your Love
21 (How Can I Write on Paper) What I Feel in My Heart
22 A Letter to My Heart
23 Adios Amigo
24 I'm Gonna Change Everything
25 Pride Goes Before a Fall
26 You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me)
27 Oh, How I Miss You Tonight
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 Macy's 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 "He'll 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. It's a fine showcase for one of the genre's most enduring stars.
