Search - Don Gibson :: A Legend in My Time

Definitive Recordings from a Great Talent

hypnovision | Long Beach, CA | 03/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don Gibson was a very popular performer in the late 50's and 60's. Curiously he has not been canonized by an industry always willing to enshrine even it's lesser stars. There is no doubt that Don Gibson is a genuine legend. His voice alone should be enough to solidify his legacy. On top of that add his abilities as a songwriter. He wrote a slew of classics including "Sweet Dreams", "Oh, Lonesome Me", "Sea of Heartbreak" & "Legend In My Time. If that's not enough to convice you, just listen to his energetically strummed Django Reinhardt-inspired rythym guitar. I've played "Sea of Heartbreak" for lots of people who said they didn't like country and they all immediately fell in love with it. While there is a little filler on here (and what country artist doesn't have some) there is plenty to fall in love with, including rarites like "Sweet, Sweet Girl" and "If You Don't Know the Sorrow".For anyone with more than a passing interest in this artist or in good country music, this Bear Family collection is the only one to consider. It's the only one I have found that includes the ORIGINAL recordings of all of his classics. Avoid those lower-priced and far inferior Curb & Hickory sets of late-career re-recordings. Don Gibson deserves better and so do you."

Superb Collection

Jess | Coal Country, PA | 11/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"And, they're original recordings. Here is an affordable, yet absolutely complete, collection of original Don Gibson recordings. Of course, we have Bear Family records to thank. I would gladly pay more for cd's if companies would release albums and compilations of the same quality as this. This CD includes all of the greats, to include: "Sea Of Heartbreak", "Oh Lonesome Me", "A Legend in My Time", "Blue, Blue, Day", and in my opinion, his finest, "Lonesome Number One". A total of 26 perfectly penned, sung, and recorded songs. You'd be foolish to pass this one up."

The best collection from one of the greatest singers

Gerardji | 04/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember listening to "Wayne Rainey on ye radio dial at WCKY Cincinatti, Ohio" through my grandmother's bedroom wall late at night as I drifted off to sleep, and these Don Gibson songs are the same sounds from my childhood. Forget the remakes and don't take any chances on other collections. The subtlety is missing from the newer stereo versions and Don Gibson's voice had become much weaker, not holding the long notes as they were on the originals. Both male and female background vocals are on the old version of Sea of Heartbreak (my favorite Don Gibson Song). Female vocals are missing on the stereo remakes. The newer Sweet Dreams is unuseful after hearing the original. The old versions are ten million million million times better (ten to the nineteenth). -- Gerard Owmby, Fairfield, Iowa"