Jim Reeves - Complete Singles As & Bs 1949-62 (CD)

Details: 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.

Tracklist:

1. My Heart's Like a Welcome Mat
2. Teardrops of Regret
3. Chicken Hearted
4. I've Never Been So Blue
5. What Were You Doing (Last Night)
6. Wagon Load of Love
7. Mexican Joe
8. I Could Cry (Non-Album Track)
9. Butterfly Love
10. Let Me Love You Just a Little
11. El Rancho Del Rio
12. It's Hard to Love Just One
13. Bimbo
14. Gypsy Heart
15. I Love You
16. Then I'll Stop Loving You
17. Echo Bonita
18. Beatin' on the Ding Dong
19. My Rambling Heart
20. Padre of Old San Antone
21. Mother Went A-Walking
22. Penny Candy
23. I'll Follow You
24. Where Does a Broken Heart Go'
25. The Wilder Your Heart Beats the Sweeter You Love
26. Drinking Tequila
27. Red Eyed and Rowdy
28. Tahiti
29. Give Me One More Kiss
30. Yonder Comes a Sucker
31. I'm Hurtin' Inside
32. Are You the One
33. How Many (From Bimbo)
34. Hillbilly Waltz
35. Let Me Remember (The Things I Can't Forget)
36. Jimbo Jenkins
37. I've Lived a Lot in My Time
38. If You Were Mine
39. That's a Sad Affair
40. My Lips Are Sealed
41. Pickin' a Chicken
42. According to My Heart
43. The Mother of a Honky Tonk Girl
44. Am I Losing You
45. Waitin' for a Train
46. Four Walls
47. I Know and You Know
48. Two Shadows on Your Window
49. Young Hearts
50. Anna Marie
51. Everywhere You Go
52. Overnight
53. I Love You More
54. Blue Boy
55. Theme of Love
56. Billy Bayou
57. I'd Like to Be
58. Home
59. If Heartache Is the Fashion
60. Partners
61. I'm Beginning to Forget You
62. He'll Have to Go
63. In a Mansion Stands My Love
64. I'm Gettin' Better
65. I Know One
66. I Missed Me
67. Am I Losing You
68. Whispering Hope
69. The Blizzard
70. Danny Boy
71. What Would You Do'
72. Stand at Your Window
73. Losing Your Love
74. (How Can I Write on Paper) What I Feel in My Heart
75. A Letter to My Heart
76. Adios Amigo
77. I'm Gonna Change Everything
78. Pride Goes Before a Fall
79. You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me)
80. Oh How I Miss You Tonight