Search - Jimmie Rodgers :: Best of

MUSIC SWEETER THAN WINE...

Lawyeraau | Balmoral Castle | 01/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the very late fifties, early sixties my mother used to play Jimmie Rodgers' music on our record player all the time. Consequently, I grew up listening to his folksy, warm voice singing "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", "Secretly", "Waltzing Matilda", "Ring-A-Ling-A-Lario", "Honeycomb", and "Woman From Liberia". I always loved it when my mother played his album, and over the years it stayed with me until I, too, decided I would listen to his music and bought this outstanding CD.Jimmie Rodgers always thought of himself primarily as a folk singer, yet most of the songs he sang were country flavored pop tunes because that was where the market was. His lilting, mellow voice was able to cross over easily to another genre of music, making him one of the most popular entertainers of the time. Unfortunately, in late 1967, his career was derailed by an off-duty policeman in California who stopped him, ostensibly for driving erratically. What happened next was never made clear. Suffice to say, Jimmie Rodgers spent the better part of a year in a hospital with traumatic head injuries, a turn of events which impacted substantially on his career, as it took him several years to recuperate. Yet, notwithstanding this tragic turn of events, his was once one of the brightest stars on the horizon, and this eighteen track compiliation of songs for which he was noted is terrific and well worth having!"

Wonderful country-flavored pop. . . .

John A. Kuczma | Marietta, GA USA | 05/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jimmie Rodgers was one of the most successful artists of the late fifties; however, in any discussion of the music of that period, he remains unthought of by most until one of his songs is mentioned. Then, there is an almost unanimous "Oh, Yeah!" from everyone, quickly followed by "Do You Remember. . . .?"The answer is "Yes," most folks do remember, and this excellent Rhino collection will bring all of those memories flooding back. The biggest hits are all here, highlighted by "Honeycomb", "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", "Uh,Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again" and "Secretly". But the strength of this compilation lies in what follows. There is the fairly well known "Make Me a Miracle" and the whimsical "Bimbombey", both of which are usually recognized the moment they start playing. The disc includes five lesser known cuts that would make the album worth having even if none of the previously mentioned tracks were there. Rodgers' beautiful second tenor soars with the ballads "Wonderful You" and "Child of Clay". As a bonus, there are excellent versions of "Waltzing Matilda" and "It's Over".Rhino put eighteen tracks on this disc and not one of them is out of place. Anytime you combine excellent material and an excellent voice you get a remarkable product. The Best of Jimmie Rodgers is just that, a remarkable compilation that belongs in any good collection of the formative days of pop/rock. Highly recommended."

A Great Talent

Bluesy200 | USA | 03/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was pleasantly surprised with this album. Jimmie Rogers is indeed a great singer: clear as a bell vocals. All of his familiar songs are here, along with the not-so-familiar. I don't know if "Waltzing Matilda" was a big hit in the past, but it sure sounds good nowadays.As usual, Rhino created a splendid album here. I buy Rhino because I can always expect superb audio quality. That is what I got...again.Great music, for sure!"