Best of Norma Jean

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Though considered a country footnote--she's the woman Dolly Parton replaced in Porter Wagoner's show--Norma Jean was, along with Loretta Lynn, the bridge between Nashville female pioneers Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline and the late-1960s crop led by Dolly and Tammy Wynette (Norma's "Then Go Home to Her" is a Tammy template). Her voice had a creaminess that might have carried crossover potential in a later era, but it still broke, tore, and twanged in all the right places, and she had full command of both modes. She toyed with provocative titles ("Let's Go All the Way"), lived and loved in sin ("Pursuing Happiness"), endured bleak consolations ("Put Your Arms Around Her"), had a mind of her own ("Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You"), assayed one of the most bizarrely sentimental tunes in Nashville history ("The Shirt"), bared a proto-feminist streak ("Heaven Help the Poor Working Girl"), and contributed a convincing female trucker song ("Truck Drivin' Woman"). What more could you want? --John Morthland

Best of Norma Jean,Norma Jean,Collector's Choice,Country,Country & Western,Pop,Traditional Country

Average customer rating: Superlative collection Great value for the money Great for the money and a good starter on opera.... Amazing Value

100 Best Opera Classics Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias Best Classics 100 The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera The #1 Opera Album ASIN: B0007QOERC Release Date: 2007-05-14

Tracks:

1. Voi Che Sepate - Teresa Berganza
2. Porgi Amor - Heather Harper
3. Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra - Thomas Allen
4. Batti, Batti, O Bel Masetto - Elizabeth Gale
5. Der Holle Rache - Edda Moser
6. O Isis Und Osiris - Cornelius Hauptmann
7. Temerari...Come Scoglio - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
8. La Calunnia E Un Venticello - Ruggero Raimondi
9. Nei Giardin Del Bello - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
10. Casta Diva - Maria Callas
11. Se Quel Guerrier...Celeste Aida - Franco Corelli
12. Tenesta La Promessa...Addio Del Passato - Beverly Sills
13. Niun Mi Tema - Jon Vickers
14. Un Bel Di Vedremo - Renata Scotto
15. E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
16. Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi - Mirella Freni
17. In Quelle Trine Morbide - Montserrat Caballe
18. Signore, Ascolta - Kiri Te Kanawa
19. Recitar...Vesti La Giubba - Jose Carreras
20. Amor Ti Vieta Di Non Amor - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

1. Le Veau D'Or Est Toujours Debout - Boris Christoff
2. Ou Va La Jeune Hindoue? - Mady Mesple
3. L'Amour, L'Amour...Ah! Leve-Toi, Soleil - Alfredo Kraus
4. Allons! Le Faut...Adieu Notre Petite Table - Ileana Cotrubas
5. Toute Mon Ame Est La Pourquoi Me Reveiller - Nicolai Gedda
6. Quand La Flamme De L'Amour - Jose Van Dam
7. L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Victoria De Los Angeles
8. A Cette Voix...Je Crois Entendre Encore - Alain Vanzo
9. Une Puce Gentille - Gabriel Bacquier
10. Je Vais Mourir...Adieu, Fiere Cite - Regine Crespin
11. Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix - Rita Gorr
12. Wie Todesahnung...O Du Mein Holder Abenstern - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
13. Johohoe! Traft Ihr Das Schiff Im Meere An? - Anja Silja
14. In Fernem Land - Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper
15. Heil Dir, Sonne! - Siegfried Jerusalem
16. Mild Und Leise - Helga Dernesch

Tracks:

1. Che Faro Senza Euridice? - Agnes Baltsa
2. Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja - Walter Berry
3. Finch'Han Dal Vino - Nicolai Ghiaurov
4. E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono - Barbara Hendricks
5. Abscheulicher! - Christa Ludwig
6. Ne M'Abandonne Pas, Espoir De La Vengeance...Asile Hereditaire - Nicolai Gedda
7. Largo Al Factotum - Tito Gobbi
8. Ella Giammai M'Amo! - Ruggero Raimondi
9. La Donna E Mobile - Alfredo Kraus
10. Di Quella Pira - Franco Corelli
11. Esultate! - James McCracken
12. Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Placido Domingo
13. Vissi D'Arte, Vissi D'Amore - Maria Callas
14. In Questa Reggia - Ghena Dimitrova
15. Tanto Amore - Janine Micheau
16. O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
17. Ed Anche Beppe Amo - Luciano Pavarotti
18. Poveri Fiori - Maria Callas
19. Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

1. Les Grands Seigneurs...Ah! Je Ris De Me Voir Si Belle - Victoria De Los Angeles
2. Marie, Avec L'Enfant Jesus - Jules Bastin
3. Heureux Petit Berger - Janine Micheau
4. Connais-Tu Le Pays - Jane Rhodes
5. Elle Ne Croyait Pas Dans Sa Candeur - Nicolai Gedda
6. Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous Le Rendre...Toreador - Victoria De Los Angeles
7. Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille - Mady Mesple
8. Maintenant, Chantons...Devant La Maison De Celui Qui D'Adore - Gerard Souzay
9. Depuis Le Jour - Beverly Sills
10. Da Geht Er Hin - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
11. Einsam In Truben Tagen - Regine Crespin
12. Dich, Teure Halle - Hildegard Behrens
13. Leb Wohl, Du Kuhnes, Herrliches Kind - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
14. Hojotoho! Hojotoho! - Ute Walther

Tracks:

1. Non Piu Andrai - Thomas Allen
2. La Ci Darem La Mano - Graziella Sciutti
3. Duo: Pa-Pa-Pa - Andreas Schmidt
4. Soave Sia Il Vento - Delores Ziegler
5. Mira, O Norma - Maria Callas
6. Il Dolce Suono - Edita Gruberova
7. Com'e Gentil - Alfredo Kraus
8. Una Voce Poco Fa - Maria Callas
9. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - Alfredo Kraus
10. Gualtier Malde!...Caro Nome - Michele Pertusi
11. Ritorna Vincitor - Birgit Nilsson
12. Ave Maria - Katia Ricciarelli
13. Nessun Dorma - Franco Corelli
14. Che Gelida Manina - Nicolai Gedda
15. Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Barbara Hendricks

Tracks:

1. Mes Amis, Ecoutez L'Histoire - Nicolai Gedda
2. Mieux Vaut Mourir...Amour Sacre De La Patrie - Alfredo Kraus
3. Ah! Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve - Mady Mesple
4. Puisqu'on Ne Peut Flechir...Vainement, Ma Bien-Aimee - Henry Legay
5. Suis-Je Gentille Ainsi?...Je Marche Sur Tous Les Chemins - June Anderson
6. Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Jessye Norman
7. La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee - Jose Carreras
8. C'est Toi!...Au Fond Du Temple Saint - John Aler
9. Werther, Werther, Qui M'Aurait Dit...Ces Lettres! - Tatiana Troyanos
10. Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
11. Ah! Je Suis Seule Enfin...Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
12. Alerte, Alerte!...Anges Purs, Anges Radieux - Nicolai Ghiaurov
13. Boris's Farewell - Boris Christoff
14. Schreckensschwur! - Gary Lakes
15. Die 'Selige Morgentraum-Deutweise'...Selig, Wie Die Sonne - Peter Schreier
16. Was Am Besten er Kann...Nothung! Nothung! - Siegfried Jerusalem

Customer Reviews:

Superlative collection.......2006-10-11

A collection of 100 individual arias and ensembles from the EMI catalogue of complete works recorded between 1955 and 2003. It includes selections from operas by Italian, Austrian, German, Russian and French composers. The French composers are especially well represented unlike most such anthologies. And there are several more obscure contributions, such as an aria from Catalani's La Wally. A well-judged balance of musical periods and styles, and the very best singers of the last half of the last century. And remarkably, the whole collection of 6 CDS, over 7 hours of music, is being sold for the cost of only 1 CD !

Great value for the money.......2006-04-23

This is simply the best collection of opera arias that I have seen. It's not 100% in that there are a few well-known arias that are not here, but what is here is simply a treasure. The organization is a bit strange, but there's some logic. For example, Disk 6 is mostly from French operas. A seemingly endless amount of glorious music. Just fabulous. You won't be disappointed.

Great for the money and a good starter on opera...........2006-01-07

This cd is a splendid collection of songs, and the price is unbeatable; I have but a few minor complaints about the overall product. The cd would have been much more enjoyable if they had put the music in some sort of order, rather than jumping around from artist to artist sporatically. My only other complaint would be that they could have chosen some better vocalists to play some of the songs. For example, in CD 6, track 3: Romeo et Juliette, the singer was not nearly as strong and definative as she should have been and I've definately heard in various other versions that were way better than this. This disappointed me greatly. But even with these few small complaints, this collection is still great and the price is amazing. It includes MOST of the famous opera pieces, as well some great songs that are often overlooked such as the beautiful song from Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (CD 6, track 16) along with others.

Amazing Value.......2005-08-23

I am so impressed by this collection that I must share my joy at getting so many beautiful arias, duets, et al in one collection. It captures many of the great operatic voices in stellar performances spanning the last 50 years. If you are enchanted by beautiful operatic highlights, removed from their operatic storylines, this set is for you. Hours of gorgeous music for practically pennies!

Average customer rating: A gateway drug, nothing more, nothing less. Decent Selection, But... A must-have classical music set!

Best Classics 100 Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Albinoni | Albinoni, Tomaso | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Allegri | Allegri, Gregorio | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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2004-08-10

Tracks:

1. Handel: The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
2. Vivaldi: Spring (The Four Seasons)
3. J.S. Bach: Toccata in D Minor
4. Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E Flat
5. Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
6. Tchaikovsky: '1812' Overture
7. Beethoven: Ode To Joy (Symphony #9)
8. Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor
9. Sibelius: Alla Marcia (Karelia Suite)
10. Holst: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
11. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1
12. Sibelius: Finlandia
13. Verdi: Gloria All'egitto (Aida)
14. Prokofiev: Montagues And Capulets (Romeo & Juliet)
15. J. Strauss I: Radetzky March
16. Elgar: Pomp And Circumstance March No.1
17. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3
18. Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 'Organ'

Tracks:

1. J. S. Bach: Air 'On The G String'
2. Gluck: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
3. Pachelbel: Canon
4. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A
5. J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations
6. Albinoni: Adagio
7. Beethoven: Piano Sonata 'Moonlight'
8. Mozart: Flute & Harp Concerto in C
9. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor
10. Mozart: Piano Concerto 'Elivira Madigan'
11. Dvorak: Symphony No. 9
12. Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1
13. Elgar: Nimrod
14. Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuez
15. Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
16. Mahler: Symphony No. 5
17. Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme of Paganini

Tracks:

1. Bizet: Au fond du temple saint (Les Pjcheurs de perles)
2. Dvorak: Song to the Moon (Rusalka)
3. Delibes: Dtme Epais (Lakmi)
4. Bizet: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetie (Carmen)
5. Gluck: Che Farr Senza Euridice? (Orfeo & Euridice)
6. Bellini: Casta Diva (Norma)
7. Puccini: Che Gelida Manina (La Bohhme)
8. Puccini: O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianno Schicchi)
9. Trad: Baolhro
10. Puccini: Vogliatemi Bene (Madama Butterfly)
11. Verdi: Va, Pensiero (Nabucco)
12. Lehar: Es Lebt' Eine Vilja (Die Lustige Witwe)
13. Handel: Ombra Mai Fy (Serse)
14. Schubert: Ave Maria
15. Adam: Minuit, Chritiens (O Holy Night)
16. Puccini: Nessun Dorma (Turandot)

Tracks:

1. Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro
2. J.S. Bach: Jesus bleibet meine Freud
3. Beethoven: Piano Concerto 'Emperor'
4. Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
5. Gounod: Judex
6. Rossini: La scala di Seta
7. Handel: Sarabande
8. Tchaikovsky: Waltz of the Flowers
9. Prokofiev: Troika
10. Williams: Fantasia on 'Greensleeves'
11. Debussy: Clair de lune
12. Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
13. Myers: Cavatina
14. Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1
15. Horner: My Heart Will Go On
16. Quarantotto: Time to Say Goodbye
17. J. Strauss II: The Blue Danube

Tracks:

1. Mascagni: Intermezzo
2. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2
3. Grieg: Morning (Peer Gynt)
4. Shostakovich: Romance
5. Barber: Adagio For Strings
6. Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
7. Massenet: Miditation
8. Borodin: Polovtsian Dances
9. Khachaturian: Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia
10. Tchaikovsky: Romeo And Juliet Overture
11. Beethoven: Symphony No.7
12. J. S. Bach: Double Violin Concerto
13. Williams: Schindler's List Theme
14. Tchaikovsky: Dance Of The Reed Flutes
15. Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral'

Tracks:

1. Handel: Zadok The Priest
2. J. S. Bach: Zion Hvrt Die Wdchter
3. Allegri: Miserere Mei, Deus
4. Schubert: German Mass
5. Franck: Panis Angelicus
6. Berlioz: L'adieu Des Bergers
7. Gounod: St Cecilia Mass
8. Faure: In Paradisum
9. Mozart: Laudate Dominum
10. Faure: Cantique De Jean Racine
11. Verdi: Ingemisco
12. Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
13. Handel: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
14. Haydn: The Heavens Are Telling
15. Faure: Pie Jesu
16. Mozart: Lacrimosa (Requiem)
17. Handel: Hallelujah Chorus

Customer Reviews:

A gateway drug, nothing more, nothing less. .......2007-03-11

To say that this album constitutes a necessity for the classical music enthusiast would be a great big unarguable lie. It has nothing innovative to offer you as a listener, except for maybe the labelling of melodies such as "My Heart Will Go On" (that god-awful Love Theme from the gruesome film Titanic) as a worthy member of "Best Classics 100". But than again, every collection of things that does not naturally belong together, is bound to have at least one outcast where the connection clearly isn't based on anything but cost and sale-ability.

This might sound like the beginning of a CD-slaughter, or a snobbish review where only the Deutche Grammophone's recordings are meting my standards, but although I am fairly picky when it comes to musical collections, best of albums, and such horrifying destructions of the universality of the works and the intentions of the artist behind it, I am willing to give this collection another chance, since classical music is somewhere between Arabic and wine in degree of unmanageability. It also helps that all the tunes are familiar to almost every one of us, and the fact that the artists' intentions probably got killed by the hundreds of different conductors trying to convey their personal interpretation of the works.

What I am saying is that this CD can be to classical music enthusiast what 'absolute rock' can be to a rock enthusiast, or to someone slightly interested, with no conceptual frames of where to start the search for knowledge. "Best Classics 100" offers nothing except a selection of melodies where there's bound to be one for every taste, but where the album feeling, the entirety or completeness intended by the composer, or conductor, or performer is completely lost in a trade-off made with variety.

The collection is attempted organised by giving each CD a different theme, supposedly to describe the mood of the music, and the labeller succeeds only to a limited extent as we move from themes such as 'uplifting' and 'relaxing' towards 'golden'. I wonder what that golden feeling constitutes. It apparently is to be found in, amongst others, "Jesus Bleibet Meine Freunde", and in "My Heart Will Go On"?

But no matter how I try to describe this CD it will sound worse than it actually is. This because to me it works as a great reference to which I can always turn with my classical music questions. Was it Schumann or Schubert who were the sad one? Of all the -inis, which where which again? Who composed "O Mio Babbino Caro"? The starting point for finding out if you belong to the romantic or the renascence wing, lies within this assemblage, if you look with your ears.

If you feel that classical music is something you like, and you'd like to learn more about it, this is a way to get started. If used together with a book on classical music, or wikipedia, it can be a gateway drug, leading you towards the great different experiences to be found within the different genres of classical music, and within the different periods ranging from the 12th century, maybe even earlier, towards yesterdays and tomorrows spectacular compositions of melodies that conveys a feeling, a state of mind with much more precision than any other musical genre. Expect a fairly alright collection of classical prunes, and you won't be disappointed.

Decent Selection, But..........2005-04-21

...The Audio Quality is really not great. I bought this CD because I am new to classical, and the price was great! 100 songs for 25 bucks, thats like 25 cents a song, most songs are 1 dollar or more. Now I know why it's cheaper. The audio quality isn't that good. I imported the entire collection to my computer using Apple Lossless, and it sounded fuzzy, not crisp, with background noise, and sounded like compressed music, cutting off the frequency response.
I then played the CD's through my home stereo, with the same results. I plugged in my SHURE E5c headphones and the sound was soft, uninviting, lacking punch, with significant backgound noise (not just from the headphones), which was especially distracting when the music would get softer. I have heard much of the music before, and it was much more dynamic, entertaining, this recording seems too flat.
The music selection is ok, but I was hoping for some more interesting selections from the vast classical genre.
Overall, not that great of a recording, but many might not notice the difference, so if you are new to classical or aren't like an audiophile, get this album because it's a great overview of pop-culture classical, and it's pretty inexpensive.

A must-have classical music set!.......2005-01-06

Classical music is, by far, my favorite type of music. It can make you happy or sad, it can make you laugh or cry, and it can make you want to fall asleep or get up and dance. This 6-disc set is a must-have for and classical music-lover! It has all the great composers like Handel, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Bach, and Pachelbel. Some great songs include: Canon In D(Pachelbel), Morning: Peergynt(Grieg), Adagio For Strings(Barber), Cavatina(Myers), and much, much more. Every classical song you can think of is on here and the sound quality is great. So if you're looking for a good classical music CD, this set is all you need. Be prepared to be blown away!

Average customer rating: Worth Every Penny The forgotten Wagonner Best hardcore band. Traditional sixties country queen - almost forgotten NORMA JEAN IS A TRUE COUNTRY QUEEN!!

The Best of Norma Jean Norma Jean Manufacturer: Collector's Choice ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: First Ladies of Country George Jones & Melba Montgomery ASIN: B00003W0XD Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

1. Let's Go All The Way
2. I'm A Walking Advertisement (For The Blues)
3. Put Your Arms Around Her
4. Go Cat Go
5. I Cried All The Way To The Bank
6. I Wouldn't Buy A Used Car From Him
7. You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind
8. Then Go Home To Her
9. The Shirt
10. Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You
11. Pursuing Happiness
12. The Game Of Triangles
13. Conscience Keep An Eye On Me
14. Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town
15. Heaven Help The Working Girl
16. Truck Drivin' Woman
17. You Changed Everything About Me But My Name
18. One Man Band
19. Dusty Road
20. Whiskey-Six Years Old
21. The Kind Of Needin' I Need

Amazon.com

Though considered a country footnote--she's the woman Dolly Parton replaced in Porter Wagoner's show--Norma Jean was, along with Loretta Lynn, the bridge between Nashville female pioneers Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline and the late-1960s crop led by Dolly and Tammy Wynette (Norma's "Then Go Home to Her" is a Tammy template). Her voice had a creaminess that might have carried crossover potential in a later era, but it still broke, tore, and twanged in all the right places, and she had full command of both modes. She toyed with provocative titles ("Let's Go All the Way"), lived and loved in sin ("Pursuing Happiness"), endured bleak consolations ("Put Your Arms Around Her"), had a mind of her own ("Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You"), assayed one of the most bizarrely sentimental tunes in Nashville history ("The Shirt"), bared a proto-feminist streak ("Heaven Help the Poor Working Girl"), and contributed a convincing female trucker song ("Truck Drivin' Woman"). What more could you want? --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

Worth Every Penny.......2007-01-30

This Collector's Choice Release is absolutely superb. Unless you have a few original 33rpm LP's, this is the only source for one of the finest voices in Country Music. Norma Jean began her career alongside the great Porter Wagoner, being his first/original female for his long-running show; she was pre-Dolly Parton, and in my opinion, by far the better singer. Her voice has the vulnerability of Tammy Wynette, the strength of a Heather Myles, and the gentleness of Leona Williams...most importantly, she predates them all! Norma's music, is not entirely unlike Buck Owen's-influenced Bakersfield sound. There are 21 songs here, inlcuing the well-known collaboration with Bobby Bare on "The Game of Triangles". Other notable standouts are, "The Shirt", "Whiskey 6 Years Old", and "Go Cat Go". There is not a bad song on this CD. The Liner Notes are excellent and its doubtful that the sound could be improved upon. Yes, it's a little pricy, but considering the limited production run, it is well worth your money and ear. (...)

The forgotten Wagonner.......2006-10-25

Norma Jean made an indelible impression on me as a VERY young man in the early to mid sixties with her no-nonsense delivery and hard edged sound. Where Bakersfield catered more to the men on Capitol, RCA tried to compete with female singers like Norma Jean. Porter was greatly influential in getting her the RCA contract and then worked like a mine mule to get and keep her front and center both in the TV studio and on the road. That she was only able to score minor chart success was not indicitave of what she was capable of. Her range, subject matter and lessons learned under one of the most masterful band leaders in the business made her a consumate touring professional who knew how to do much more than just sing. The woman could ENTERTAIN.

One of the things that hasn't been mentioned about Norma and her recorded work was that for the majority of her early stuff she "danced with the one that brought her" and used The Wagonmasters as her back-up band. The musicianship of that group is nothing to be sneezed at either as ensemble or individualy. All in all this is an AWESOME disc and worth the money.

Best hardcore band........2003-12-15

Norma Jean are one of the greatest hardcore/metalcore bands of our time. Especially for christians.

Traditional sixties country queen - almost forgotten.......2002-10-10

Norma Jean was one of those wonderful singers who never had the hits that she deserved. Maybe it had something to do with rivalry between TV and radio, as another reviewer suggested, but I suspect it had a lot to do with the male domination of sixties country. The same reviewer nominated his favorite hard country female singers, but missed out Jean Shepard, Dottie West, Rose Maddox and Melba Montgomery as well as anybody who came later (like Dolly in her early years). Norma was a fine singer, but there have been too many greats for her to get in my top five.

Norma's biggest (and only top twenty) solo country hits were Let's go all the way, Go cat go, I wouldn't buy a used car from him and Heaven help the poor working girl. Several other songs included here just failed to make the top twenty. However, Norma's most successful record was The game of triangles in which Norma joins Bobby Bare and Liz Anderson for an amusing but sad story of a married man, his wife and his mistress.

All Norma's country hits (however small) are here, but (like other reviewers) I'd like to see some of her albums released on CD. I would choose I guess that comes of being poor, a seventies concept album about poverty. I doubt if that will ever happen, especially as some far bigger country stars are still poorly represented on CD.

This is a brilliant collection, well worth buying if you're a fan of traditional country music.

NORMA JEAN IS A TRUE COUNTRY QUEEN!!.......2002-08-19

I love this lady!! She is without question one of the top five most outstanding "hard country" female singers of alltime - with Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Sara Carter of the Carter Family and I'll let you pick the fifth slot. Norma Jean does not get the credit she deserves in country music history possibly because like most country stars who were regulars on syndicated TV Shows during the 1960's ("The Porter Wagoner Show", of course) she didn't get as much radio airplay (old rivals, TV vs. radio, I guess) as she deserved and only five of her songs were top twenty hits. But the public loved her and bought her albums which always did much better on the Billboard charts than the singles (the album charts were based on sales, singles based on radio airplay) including her 1966 "Pretty Miss Norma Jean" LP which went to #3 - very rare for a woman to hit the album chart that high at the time. This album contains all 21 of Norma Jean's Billboard-charted singles, 1964-1971. She remained on RCA until 1973 but was too hard country during the early 70's "countrypolitan" era for big hits although she released fine music to the end of her RCA contract. I would have loved to heard some of her "flop" RCA singles on this disc from that period like "That Songwritin' Man", "Hundred Dollar Funeral", and "I Know An Ending" as they were outstanding performances. But the hits here are great. Another thing that probably scared off country radio from playing too much Norma Jean she was one of the very few women singers at the time unafraid to record songs that cast her in an adulterous light, ie: "Conscience Keep an Eye on Me", "The Game of Triangles", "Then Go Home to Her", and "You Changed Everything About Me But My Name". Those outstanding tracks are here plus her signature song "Let's Go All the Way" (despite it's title, not really a risque' song) and other NJ favorites like "Put Your Arms Around Her", "I'm A Walking Advertisement for the Blues", "Heaven Help the Working Girl", etc. Norma Jean is so great she had other country stars writing her songs to record (ie: Liz Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson) and those hits are included here. Much as I loved this CD the packaging could have been better, the liner notes were clearly written by someone unfamiliar with her and probably with country music. (Also that writer errs stating Norma Jean recorded a 1978 album for Bearsville when that was a soul music artist who also went by the name Norma Jean). Still, I am thrilled to have this pretty miss singing away on my car CD and I sure wish her great old RCA albums would find their way to this format as well!!

Music Album:

1. Bluegrass from the Gold Country
2. Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys: The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol.3 - Basin Street Blues
3. Classic Country: Great Country Gospel
4. Classic Country Somebody Done Me Wrong Songs
5. Claudia Church
6. Come On, People
7. Country Countdown: Country Family
8. Country Legend
9. Del Reeves - Greatest Hits and More!
10. Delta Dreamland

Music Album