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"George Jones & Gene Pitney" has clarity and class

03/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

""George Jones & Gene Pitney" is nearly everything you'd expect from a high-end compilation of the country duet albums recorded by the artists in 1965, plus selections from an additional Pitney country album. Having listened many times to the original LPs, I can vouch for the superior sound on this CD. Bear Family Records delivers the kind of clarity that record collectors hope for-but don't always get-from remastering LPs to CDs. For example, you can hear the melody move through each guitar string on "For Me This Is Happy." The contributions of the Jordannaires are far more noteworthy in their increased "presence." Furthermore, the CD's liner notes will also meet with collectors' approval. Perhaps because the producer of the original sessions (Pappy Daily) is the producer of this CD, the information on the Jones-Pitney pairing is relevant to the recordings, as well as interesting. Most critically, the booklet provides a detailed session discography for the included tracks. Pitney fans should be pleased by the preferential treatment given their favorite, both in sight as well as sound. In the booklet's fourteen photographs (including one page of the three album covers), Jones appears in nine, while Pitney appears in all (plus an ad for another Bear CD on the back cover). Of the 31 tracks, there are 13 Pitney solos, but only one Jones solo-this is a regrettable omission, since two of the best songs from the duet albums, "Things Have Gone To Pieces" and "My Favorite Lies," are not included. Overall, this CD is a class production. If you've ever enjoyed either singer, or are a Pitney fan who has not yet listened to his excellent country recordings (yes, a Yankee can twang with conviction), "George Jones & Gene Pitney" will surprise and impress you. Track Listings 1. Why Baby Why 2. Someday You'll Want Me To Want You 3. For Me This Is Happy 4. That's All It Took 5. I'm Gonna Listen To Me 6. I'm A Fool To Care 7. She Thinks I Still Care 8. Big Job 9. I'm Up To My Neck In I.O.U.'s 10. Sweeter Than The Flowers 11. Wreck On The Highway 12. The More I Saw Of Her 13. A Thousand Arms (Five Hundred Hearts) 14. I've Got Five Dollars And It's Saturday Night 15. Louisiana Man 16. Drinking From The Well Of Your Love 17. Life To Go 18. One Has My Name 19. Mockin' Bird Hill 20. I'd Like To See Me Stop You 21. I Can't Stop Loving You 22. Your Old Standby 23. Won't Take Long 24. I've Got A New Heartache 25. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You 26. I Really Don't Want To Know 27. As Long As I Live 28. Born To Lose 29. Don't Rob Another Man's Castle 30. Love Bug 31. Y'All Come"

Give Bear Family 2 thumbs up!!!

Ronald George Reagan | Steele, MO | 08/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's stand up & applaud Bear Family for another excellent release! Everything about this is superb right down to the sound & the liner notes. As far as sound quality, I've heard companies make the claim on old recordings that now that they are on CD that it "sounds as if recorded yesterday"! Well, a lot of times it might sound like it was recorded yesterday in somebody's garage with amateur equipment, but not on this one. Bear does it's normally fantastic work for two of the greatest singers to step out of the 1960's! Apart from a bit of stray noise here that was inherent in the original master tapes, this thing sounds better than some new releases!The liner notes & pictures are excellent! To see the covers of the three original LP's presented here is just awesome! In short, if you're a fan of either Jones or Pitney, this is a must have! Pitney could rock with the best, but he can down & gritty with some country when he wants! I simply wish Bear Family would do this for the rest of George's Musicor recordings (which are the most mishandled set of essential recordings out there). rgreagan53@go.com"

A real diamond in the rough.

Donald N. Hilton | 06/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard a few of these songs in the mid 60s' when I was wavering between country music and rock and roll and immediately fell in love with the sound that George and Gene produced. Most of us are familiar with George and Tammy's and George and Melba Montgomery's recordings but in my humble opinion, this CD is as good of any of those.This is the first "bear family" CD that I have bought and the quality is unsurpassed and a great value, also."