Cup Of Loneliness: The Classic Mercury Years

Amazon.com essential recording
Possum's Mercury years--1953 to 1961--are his least celebrated, but his most rewarding. Over the barest and purest of honky-tonk arrangements, Jones can be heard developing the vocal style that would eventually separate him from mere country music mortals. Only toward the end of the era, on 1961's number one original hit "Tender Years," does his unmatched balladry truly emerge, sounding light years away from the Hank Sr. tendencies and rockabilly forays of the previous decade. Still, to witness the transformation is fascinating, and the material is uniformly excellent. Fans of Jones's countrypolitan stylings will be amazed by the sheer force of these bare-wire honky-tonk classics. --Marc Greilsamer

Cup Of Loneliness: The Classic Mercury Years,George Jones,Polygram Records,Country,Country & Western,Honky Tonk,Pop,Traditional Country,United States of America

Average customer rating: I HATE doing this The start of a long and distinguished career A ten-star album Liver Blues Hardly a wasted track...

Cup Of Loneliness: The Classic Mercury Years George Jones Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: On His Way Grand Tour/Alone Again The Definitive Collection 1955-1962 The Beginning Look What Thoughts Will Do ASIN: B000001E4N Release Date: 1994-10-18

Tracks:

1. No Money In This Deal
2. Why Baby Why
3. Seasons Of My Heart
4. I'm Ragged But I'm Right
5. Just One More
6. Don't Stop The Music
7. Too Much Water
8. Flame In My Heart
9. Hearts In My Dreams
10. Tall Tall Trees
11. No Use Crying
12. Frozen Heart
13. Cup Of Loneliness
14. Take The Devil Out Of Me
15. Color Of The Blues
16. A New Baby For Christmas
17. Maybe Little Baby
18. I'm Gonna Burn Your Playhouse Down
19. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
20. If I Don't Love You (Grits Aint Groceries)
21. Treasure Of Love
22. White Lightning
23. Mr. Fool
24. Who Shot Sam

Tracks:

1. Big Harlan Taylor
2. Everthing Ain't Right
3. Relief Is Just Swallow Away
4. Talk To Me Lonesome Heart
5. Accidentally On Purpose
6. The Last Town I Painted
7. Your Old Standby
8. Whatcha Gonna Do
9. You Better Treat Your Man Right
10. Out Of Control
11. Glad To Let Her Go
12. You're Still On My Mind
13. Tarnished Angel
14. Slave Lover
15. Family Bible
16. Window Up Above
17. Nobody's Lonesome For Me
18. Heartaches By The Number
19. I Love You Because
20. (I'll Be There) If You Ever Want Me
21. If You Got The Money (I Got The Time)
22. Life To Go
23. Tender Years
24. Achin', Breakin' Heart

Amazon.com essential recording

Possum's Mercury years--1953 to 1961--are his least celebrated, but his most rewarding. Over the barest and purest of honky-tonk arrangements, Jones can be heard developing the vocal style that would eventually separate him from mere country music mortals. Only toward the end of the era, on 1961's number one original hit "Tender Years," does his unmatched balladry truly emerge, sounding light years away from the Hank Sr. tendencies and rockabilly forays of the previous decade. Still, to witness the transformation is fascinating, and the material is uniformly excellent. Fans of Jones's countrypolitan stylings will be amazed by the sheer force of these bare-wire honky-tonk classics. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

I HATE doing this.......2005-06-11

i hate writing these short reviews, but the truth is this:

jones recorded a lot of great material, and a lot of mediocre material that was only good because of him. this set is a great collection of songs that are either great or are good and rendered great by george jones.

the song "You Better Treat Your Man Right" is reason enough to pay 20+ dollars for this.

The start of a long and distinguished career.......2003-02-02

This collection begins with a rare 1953 recording that George made for Starday (No money in the bank) while the remaining 47 tracks within this collection showcase George's recordings from 1955 to 1961, during which time Mercury took over Starday. Most of George's greatest successes came later, but he made some great music for Starday and Mercury, and not just the hits.

Among the classic tracks here are Why baby why, Seasons of my heart, I'm ragged but I'm right, Tall tall trees, Color of the blues, White lightning, Who shot Sam, Accidentally on purpose, Window up above and Tender years. Many of these were hits on the American charts for George. Others have become classics via cover versions.

While George's songs have often been covered (and not just by other country singers), he recorded plenty of covers. Some are included here, including Nobody's lonesome for me (Hank Williams), Heartaches by the number (Guy Mitchell), I love you because (later covered by Jim Reeves, who had a huge British pop hit with it), I'll be there if you ever want me (Ray Price), If you've got the money (Lefty Frizzell) and Will the circle be unbroken.

This is the best collection of George's early recordings yet released. With 48 tracks, it will satisfy all but George's most fanatical devotees, remembering that this covers just the beginning of his career.

A ten-star album.......2002-12-02

Nipping fast at the heels of Lefty Frizzell came young George Jones, whose first recordings in the mid-1950s had some of the sizzle of rockabilly, but were hard country all the way. It's hard to describe just how incredibly delicious this 2-CD set of his old stuff is. Recorded between 1954-61, these are some of the rawest, livliest, and yet most soulful honkytonk tunes ever burned into vinyl. Over the years, Jones became rightly known as country's greatest heartbreak balladeer, but these early uptempo tunes are also pretty amazing. This compilation is pure gold -- a true must-have collection!

Liver Blues.......2002-05-21

George Jone's heart is like Bill Monroe's mandolin smashed into a thousand pieces and glued back together again. A voice thats never bitter just lonely and sapphire blue. Truly, the King of broken hearts. Highly recommended to the lonesome suffering few...because redemption is just a song away...better than the soundtrack to Annie!

Hardly a wasted track..........2000-10-06

Especially on CD 1. I think the first CD is almost perfect. I could easily have taped this CD from a friend who has it, but I'm about to buy it becasue I think it is totally worth the money!

Average customer rating: I HATE doing this The start of a long and distinguished career A ten-star album Liver Blues Hardly a wasted track...

Cup Of Loneliness: The Classic Mercury Years (incl. 24 pg. booklet) George Jones Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: On His Way Grand Tour/Alone Again The Definitive Collection 1955-1962 The Beginning Look What Thoughts Will Do ASIN: B000001E5H Release Date: 1994-10-18

Tracks:

1. No Money in This Deal
2. Why Baby Why
3. Seasons of My Heart
4. I'm Ragged But I'm Right
5. Just One More
6. Don't Stop the Music
7. Too Much Water
8. Flame in My Heart
9. Hearts in My Dreams
10. Tall Tall Trees
11. No Use Crying
12. Frozen Heart
13. Cup of Loneliness
14. Take the Devil Out of Me
15. Color of the Blues
16. New Baby for Christmas
17. Maybe Little Baby
18. I'm Gonna Burn Your Playhouse Down
19. Will the Circle Be Unbroken
20. If I Don't Love You (Grits Ain't Groceries)
21. Treasure of Love
22. White Lightning
23. Mr. Fool
24. Who Shot Sam

Tracks:

1. Big Harlan Taylor
2. Everything Ain't Right
3. Relief Is Just a Swallow Away
4. Talk to Me Lonesome Heart
5. Accidentally on Purpose
6. Last Town I Painted
7. Your Old Standby
8. What'cha Gonna Do?
9. You Better Treat Your Man Right
10. Out of Control
11. Glad to Let Her Go
12. You're Still on My Mind
13. Tarnished Angel
14. Slave Lover
15. Family Bible
16. Window up Above
17. Nobody's Lonesome for Me
18. Heartaches by the Number
19. I Love You Because
20. I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)
21. If You Got the Money (I Got the Time)
22. Life to Go
23. Tender Years
24. Achin' Breakin' Heart

Amazon.com essential recording

Possum's Mercury years--1953 to 1961--are his least celebrated, but his most rewarding. Over the barest and purest of honky-tonk arrangements, Jones can be heard developing the vocal style that would eventually separate him from mere country music mortals. Only toward the end of the era, on 1961's number one original hit "Tender Years," does his unmatched balladry truly emerge, sounding light years away from the Hank Sr. tendencies and rockabilly forays of the previous decade. Still, to witness the transformation is fascinating, and the material is uniformly excellent. Fans of Jones's countrypolitan stylings will be amazed by the sheer force of these bare-wire honky-tonk classics. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

I HATE doing this.......2005-06-11

i hate writing these short reviews, but the truth is this:

jones recorded a lot of great material, and a lot of mediocre material that was only good because of him. this set is a great collection of songs that are either great or are good and rendered great by george jones.

the song "You Better Treat Your Man Right" is reason enough to pay 20+ dollars for this.

The start of a long and distinguished career.......2003-02-02

This collection begins with a rare 1953 recording that George made for Starday (No money in the bank) while the remaining 47 tracks within this collection showcase George's recordings from 1955 to 1961, during which time Mercury took over Starday. Most of George's greatest successes came later, but he made some great music for Starday and Mercury, and not just the hits.

Among the classic tracks here are Why baby why, Seasons of my heart, I'm ragged but I'm right, Tall tall trees, Color of the blues, White lightning, Who shot Sam, Accidentally on purpose, Window up above and Tender years. Many of these were hits on the American charts for George. Others have become classics via cover versions.

While George's songs have often been covered (and not just by other country singers), he recorded plenty of covers. Some are included here, including Nobody's lonesome for me (Hank Williams), Heartaches by the number (Guy Mitchell), I love you because (later covered by Jim Reeves, who had a huge British pop hit with it), I'll be there if you ever want me (Ray Price), If you've got the money (Lefty Frizzell) and Will the circle be unbroken.

This is the best collection of George's early recordings yet released. With 48 tracks, it will satisfy all but George's most fanatical devotees, remembering that this covers just the beginning of his career.

A ten-star album.......2002-12-02

Nipping fast at the heels of Lefty Frizzell came young George Jones, whose first recordings in the mid-1950s had some of the sizzle of rockabilly, but were hard country all the way. It's hard to describe just how incredibly delicious this 2-CD set of his old stuff is. Recorded between 1954-61, these are some of the rawest, livliest, and yet most soulful honkytonk tunes ever burned into vinyl. Over the years, Jones became rightly known as country's greatest heartbreak balladeer, but these early uptempo tunes are also pretty amazing. This compilation is pure gold -- a true must-have collection!

Liver Blues.......2002-05-21

George Jone's heart is like Bill Monroe's mandolin smashed into a thousand pieces and glued back together again. A voice thats never bitter just lonely and sapphire blue. Truly, the King of broken hearts. Highly recommended to the lonesome suffering few...because redemption is just a song away...better than the soundtrack to Annie!

Hardly a wasted track..........2000-10-06

Especially on CD 1. I think the first CD is almost perfect. I could easily have taped this CD from a friend who has it, but I'm about to buy it becasue I think it is totally worth the money!

Music Album:

1. Daddy of Western Swing [Box set]
2. Dancing Under Water
3. Dust on the Bible
4. Early Tracks
5. Essentials [Import]
6. Finding The Way
7. First Ladies of Country [Import]
8. For Old Times Sake
9. From Nashville...The Hit Sound
10. Have A Heart: The Love Songs Collection

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