A Rare Gem from early Bakersfield Sound Pioneer: Must buy!
granvier | 06/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There may be other Ferlin Husky collections available, and I have a few, but if you have stumbled across this one: BUY IT. Ferlin Husky was not a Nashville boy. He was in fact, one of the first big stars to hail from Bakersfield California, that inland haven of displaced Dustbowl refugees. Over time, Bakersfield evolved into a Country Music mecca to rival Nashville, producing such talents as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. To this day, "The Bakerfield Sound" s being exploited by talented musicians such as Dwight Yoakum. Well, Ferlin Husky was one of the first Vocalists to make it big out of Bakersfield. He started out as a Movie actor and Pop Singer under another name (Terry something or other) and eventually settled on his own name. Most of you will probably be most familiar with his excellent gosepl balled contained on this CD, WINGS OF A DOVE. This song alone is worth the price of this CD. It's an old-fashioned singalong style with a delicate, lilting melody expertly sung by Ferlin. The other songs showcase his gentle but poignant delivery of love ballads and they are remarkably free of "Twang" so even somebody not accustomed to Country Music can find his songs enjoyable. Since he was not a Nashvillian, his renditions of a country standard like I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU take on a whole new meaning. I highly recommend this CD and urge you to seek out Other Ferlin Husky and Bakersfield Sound records. You will not be sorry and you will see that Nashville does not know nor did not then have the only claim to the heart of Country Music."
A Unique Sound In Country Music
Eclectic Revisited | Arizona | 11/30/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First, one of the many people calling themselves "A Music Fan" says Ferlin Husky was known as "Terry Preston" when he did "Gone". Not true; I was a young fan of many kinds of music and remember him as Ferlin Husky in 1957, I believe it was. Ferlin was known as Terry Preston in his earlier life in radio and stage performances but when Tennessee Ernie Ford's manager took him in hand and got him a contract, he went back to the name he had when he was born in Missouri. He did raise a son named Terry Preston (Husky). This package of hits covers all of the good stuff, his early "I Feel Better All Over", "Gone", "The Dear John Letter" and "Once". The only thing they might have added is "Country Music is Here to Stay" that he did under his comic alter ego name of Simon Crum. Ferlin was a favorite of Dean Martin who enjoyed country music and had Ferlin on his show. You can seek out other songs by Ferlin but this package will tell you all you need to know. No reason not to enjoy it. It's more than country music; it's Americana. That's how good he is."
Tearjerker, anyone ? This is the BEST
Eclectic Revisited | 09/27/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I cannot believe I finally found Ferlin and his "GONE". Even harder to believe is that I actually remember most of the words. This needs to be rereleased. The much younger generations might just go crazy over his wonderfully "Husky" voice."