George Jones

This is a weird comp. It boasts 10 George Jones hits on the Epic, but these songs were hits while he was signed to United Artists, Starday and Mercury. Also, this album finds an older Jones rerecording hits he had as a young man. But since he has a voice that ages like a fine wine, you can hardly tell the difference (especially on the lush "She Thinks I Still Care").

Jones afficionados may well object to his re-recording his old standards, especially while some of the prototypes remain in catalogue on RCA and Musicor. But though I miss the revved-up boy-man lightness of some of the originals, these are much brighter and more passionate than most remakes, and I welcome the improved sound quality and relatively schlock-free arrangements. Likable at worst, revelatory at best, and recommended. (Grade - A-)