Search - Charlie Walker :: Greatest Honky-Tonk Hits

A long overdue collection of a forgotten Texas legend

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 02/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc is long overdue, and a real godsend to fans of good, old-fashioned hard country honkytonk... Charlie Walker is a country star of years gone by who fell out of the public eye a long time ago... He's best remembered for two big hits, "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down", which was an irresistible late-'50s smash, and "Don't Squeeze My Charmin", a less-vigorous novelty song from 1967. In between were a slew of killer country tunes, with a heavy tilt towards novelty material, but plenty of Texas shuffle backbeat and traditional country arrangements to back it up. Walker was admittedly stylistically limited -- his vocal range makes Ernest Tubb seem like Pavarotti -- and even during his early-'60s aesthetic prime, most of Walker's records sounded a lot alike. Still, when he hit his mark, he was awesome, and some of his best songs, such as 1964's "Last Call For Alcohol" never even made it onto the now-scarce best-of vinyl LPs that are the only other place you can find his music these days. This is the first single-disc CD collection of his work to come out in America... and it is definitely worth snapping up a copy while it's still in print. Highly recommended."

Prime Honky Tonk

Kevin Fontenot | New Orleans, LA United States | 11/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charlie Walker recorded some of the finest honky tonk tracks ever waxed. His sound follows fast on the heels of his friend Ray Price's classic honky tonk sides, and come complete with that wonderful shuffle beat. Every side is beautiful, and Walker runs the gamut from the deeply wounded to the humorous. "Who Will Buy the Wine" and "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" are model honky tonk odes to the hard side of the life and "Please Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" makes you really wonder what Mr Whipple really meant. Plus the set has Walker's killer reading of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women." Someone needs to seriously reevaluate the Country roots of the British invasion. A beautiful CD, and a long overdue tribute to a great singer."

I Don't believe my eyes!!!!

Cory L. Schwent | Bloomsdale, MO United States | 10/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one came out of nowhere!!!A full length cd of Charlie Walker's greatest hits in their original form!!!! The sound is fantastic and the booklet features recording dates, although the essay could have been longer.You can't go wrong with this one. Although this release smells like on of those cd's that will be out of print within a year. You may want to play it safe and get this right away. A true must for your collection!!!!"