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The Best of Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
The Best of Stonewall Jackson
Genres: Country, Pop
 
It is mighty, mighty hard to believe that such a monumental figure in country music as Stonewall Jackson doesn't have a bona fide collection of his hits currently available. But then, nothing ever came easy for Stonewall; ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Stonewall Jackson
Title: The Best of Stonewall Jackson
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Collector's Choice
Release Date: 6/10/2003
Genres: Country, Pop
Styles: Roadhouse Country, Classic Country
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 617742034622, 0617742034622, 061774203462

Synopsis

Album Description
It is mighty, mighty hard to believe that such a monumental figure in country music as Stonewall Jackson doesn't have a bona fide collection of his hits currently available. But then, nothing ever came easy for Stonewall; his dad died before he was born, he ran away from home when he was 14, and finally made it to Music City in 1956 at age 24, just as the Nashville Sound was taking hold with its strings and choruses. Which, of course, was 100% opposite from the kind of hardcore, honky tonk country that Stonewall played, but he stuck to his guns, and had a bunch of hits nonetheless, which is a real testament to how good this guy was. You'll find the top two dozen here, together with a revealing essay by Colin Escott containing quotes from the man himself. A proud Collectors' Choice Music exclusive!
 

CD Reviews

Love it
Jess | Coal Country, PA | 09/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like Country Music (real country music), this album is a "must-have". Noone sang a song like Stonewall; and it's doubtful anyone ever will. Not a bad song on the CD, but a few more songs would always be appreciated. It's sad that this artist isn't more appreciated today, and as with many great pioneers and stylists of Country Music, he's overlooked. If you like Stonewall, I suggest you also check out Mel Street, who seemed to be greatly influenced by Jackson and often imitated his singing approach. In any case, you owe it to yourself to purchase this one."
The One Who Didn't Sell Out
Mel C. Thompson | san francisco | 03/28/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)

"I think others are more capable than me of giving the real estimate of this man's body of work. But I shall add my two cents.



This album is astonishingly strong. (Sadly, even many "Best Of" albums are not strong.) And I, like others, attribute this to his consistent refusal to sell out. True, he had his moments of temptation and did a weak cross-over or two. But finally, he parted ways with record companies rather than leave his roots.



The record companies tried hard to, at various points, "manage" Stonewall's sound, but he resisted repeatedly. He was and is truly a man that was proud to be a hillbilly. I liken him to the proud politico who is not ashamed to bear the label conservative or liberal, even when that label is out of style.



It was never his goal to finesse hillbilly music or to try to "make it acceptable." Instead, with his unwavering work ethic, he struck to his sound and found believers where he could.



By the way, if you've never heard his version of "Waterloo," (not the Abba song, but one far deeper than that one), you really are in for a treat. It did, in fact, cross over to the pop charts, but on Stonewall's terms. And it was that song that alerted me to Stonewall Jackson, in fact.



However, the rest of the album is solid, and every other song is great. In the end, his career and his life are standing the test of time. And, additionally, the life story, which was both very horribly hard and truly wonderfully miraculous is succinctly and yet deeply covered in the slight two-page booklet/cover.



I've said it honestly before, I'm mostly a pop and rock fan, but every so often I buy a country album. But when I go country, I find I'm never attracted to "New Country," which seems to me like R & B with a twang, AND I'M SO SICK OF R & B! Stonewall has some of the sparseness of Cash and the really fun twang of Dwight Yoakam, who, by the way, is the closest thing to a "modern" country singer that ever appealed to me.



Clue: Any singer of any genre gravitating toward the on-stage headset-wireless-microphone gadgets is probably not going to work out for me. Much of the "soul singing" that seems now to have infected rock and pop is really to me, overstated singing that covers for the fact that there's no real song underneath. Stonewall had really real songs, and so he could just sing them, without being a jockish vocal athlete like the over-coached, over-managed sort of artist-by-corporate-committee folks we see today.



Stonewall lives! As an artistic culture, we are far more likely to forestall our "Waterloo" if we return to the rooty roots."
Great!
James L. Bumbalo | 10/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD based on two songs on a Columbia collection. I am so glad I did. This is one of the greatest honky tonk CDs there is. Stonewall Jackson is easily one of the greatest country singers of all time, yet he seems to have been forgotten. What a voice and what great songs. These songs are amazing. I can't recommend this CD enough. Fantastic!"