Apr 262013
No more show for the Possum. This morning came word of the passing of George Jones at 81. Not unlike Keef and Ozzy Osbourne, his death has been looming for many years but he managed to keep hanging in there. Peering through the haze of insobriety and violence was a passionate guy with a huge soul. His charm and quick wit endeared him to millions outside of the country world. His influence is staggering not solely in music but also his credibility in Nashville if he chose to make or break someones career. His era of duets with Tammy Wynette are his peak. Please sign in the comment section with your recollections of the man.
I always loved “The Race is On” — my first exposure was the Dave Edmunds version. Dave had some ol’ George coming through in his vocal stylings.
George Jones
http://youtu.be/ERW8z8Y6MHk
Dave Edmunds w/Stray Cats — Dave’s version starts about 1:50 after some Cats interviews on how great Dave is.
http://youtu.be/8BMwPmS5hR4
One day we shall discuss Dave Edmunds as a producer. Sonically, there is no middle.
I didn’t warm up to country until my late 20s but George quickly became part of my Holy Trinity of Country along with Hank and Bob Wills. I never really got into his 70s stuff like He Stopped Loving Her Today, but Mercury (I think) recordings are indispensable. I can’t imagine weepers like She Thinks I Still Care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owWNCNyEuYI and country gospel like Please take the Devil Out Of Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owWNCNyEuYI ever getting old for me.
Also, there was that time he rode to town on his lawn mower to get more liquor after Tammy hid the keys because he was too drunk to drive…
It wasn’t until I was in my late-20s that I first heard George Jones – I mean, really heard him. I probably saw him on a variety show when I was a kid and thought, “Country music…”
I was expecting a lot. He was such a legend and I knew so little about him other than the fact that he seemed like a real screw-up, which didn’t impress me. I listened to the music and thought it was SO SQUARE and tame. I didn’t get the legend AT ALL.
Since that time I’ve sat down with a few of his songs and found more to them – and to his performances. It still sounds really foreign to me, but at least it sounds better than some fake country music I may have seen on Lawrence Welk Show when I was flipping channels as a kid.
I’ll have to listen to the few songs I own by him again and see how they resonate this year. “The Race Is On” is always cool, but I’ve always thought he gets in the way of those ballads with Tammy Wynette. She’s a country artist who sounds like someone I’d like to hang with. He’s always struck me as a drag. I forgot I knew the song “White Lightning.” It’s cool, but I’d like it better if it were simply a Rockpile recording – just straight-up rock ‘n roll.
He was a great man, I’m sure, but if I knew even a little bit about country music I might have to ask for a bit of an explanation. I don’t get a relatable vibe from him the way I do Wynette or a guy like Merle Haggard.
Full disclosure: As I’ve tried to make clear, I’m a total idiot when it comes to country music.
You’re on the right path when you mention a “relatable vibe”. Jones is clearly not in the same camp as Haggard, Jennings, Nelson, Wynette though they ran the same path. To make some analogy with rock bands would be pointless. Jones was a steady middle of the road country guy. His trademark is quite simply his voice. Don’t go looking for any cool arrangements or ripping solos. The music is rigid in it’s conventions and relies on vocals and lyrics. Especially his 70’s output with Billy Sherrill. cdm mentions the weepers. “He Stopped Loving Her Today”…geez, you can hear the tear in the beer.
Cool, this is helpful.
I guess GJ recognized his place outside the pantheon but his weepers are killer. I get to play steel on ‘He stopped loving her today’ and theres just no way to not take the lead WAY over the high side.
Outside of the great imagery in ‘The Race is On’ – here’s my favorite George Jones.
I hate to speak ill of the departed, but Jesus! He must of had the worst haircut in show business ever!