Search - Tommy Collins :: Best of the Capitol Years

Long-overdue best-of from a West Coast country pioneer

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 08/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another reissue gem that you don't want to miss. Tommy Collins was a founding member of the West Coast Country/Bakersfield Sound scene whose career skidded sideways for a variety of reasons... Collins is remembered primarily as a songwriter, although as these early songs show, he excelled as an uptempo, bright-toned, wickedly funny honkytonk novelty numbers (and a few heart-wrenching weepers as well...) Collins crafted bouncy, perky songs such as "You Better Not Do That," "It Tickles" and "You Gotta Have A License" that were mildly raunchy yet sounded squeaky-clean. He also dabbled in a bit of rockabilly, as on the sizzling "Black Cat," and hey, with a young Buck Owens settling the strings on fire, how could he lose? Apparently all the artists in the LA/Bakersfield hard country scene like Collins a lot -- Owens and everyone else recorded his songs, and Merle Haggard wrote the song "Leonard" in his honor -- but Collins himself was ambivalent about the steamy, sin-soaked side of country culture, and gradually dropped out of performing and recording in order to pursue a religous vocation. Well, I'm with Buck and Merle: Tommy Collins was a great musician, and this disc is a real treat for connoisseurs of good, old-fashioned guitar-and-fiddle based country music. Check it out!"

Superb

Jess | Coal Country, PA | 10/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thanks to Koch Records for putting this one out. I haven't heard these songs in a helluva long time, and they sound better today than I remember! There are 18 Tommy Collins' numbers here, and every one of them is excellent. Tommy is often credited with introducing the Bakersfield Sound, along with the likes of Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens, and the lesser known Skeets McDonald, but Tommy's unique sound is more than just a specific genre of Country Music. Tommy Collins had a wicked sense of humor and it's well reflected here; it's no wonder many of these numbers were considered to risque for mainstream radio. Besides the well known humorous songs, such as "You Better Not Do That", "It Tickles", and

"You Oughta See Pickles Now", Tommy also has some great country standards that can compare with any of his peers. Perhaps the best example is Tommy's rendition of "I Guess I'm Crazy", a number made famous by none other than Jim Reeves. The sound and quality are excellent, and a fair set of liner notes are included. Well worth your money. A+"