The Best of Lefty Frizzell

Amazon.com
Perhaps because his personal life so sabotaged his career, Frizzell has not always gotten his due as a country stylist. Yet he was one of the music's true originals, with a bottomless arsenal of slurs, slides, swoops, tears, moans, modulations, vibrato, glissando, and more. This covers the first two phases of his career, as an early-'50s honky-tonker and as a '60s Nashville Sound singer, with the emphasis rightly on the former. With 18 tracks, from "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time" to "Saginaw, Michigan," it's the best single-CD sampler on the market. --John Morthland

Tracks:

If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time
I Love You A Thousand Ways
Look What Thoughts Will Do
Shine, Shave, Shower
I Want To Be With You Always
Always Late (With Your Kisses)
Mom And Dad's Waltz
Travellin' Blues
Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses)
How Long Will It Take (To Stop Loving You)
Don't Stay Away (Till Love Grows Cold)
Forever (And Always)
I'm An Old, Old Man (Tryin' To Live While I Can)
Run 'Em Off
I Love You Mostly
The Long Black Veil
Saginaw, Michigan
She's Gone Gone Gone

Amazon.com

Perhaps because his personal life so sabotaged his career, Frizzell has not always gotten his due as a country stylist. Yet he was one of the music's true originals, with a bottomless arsenal of slurs, slides, swoops, tears, moans, modulations, vibrato, glissando, and more. This covers the first two phases of his career, as an early-'50s honky-tonker and as a '60s Nashville Sound singer, with the emphasis rightly on the former. With 18 tracks, from "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time" to "Saginaw, Michigan," it's the best single-CD sampler on the market. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

A true American original...there will never be another Lefty.......2004-07-10

In 1950, a young singer/songwriter from Texas exploded onto the country music scene in a way most performers could only dream of.
Lefty Frizzell possessed songwriting skills to rival those of the legendary Hank Williams and had an incredible singing voice to boot. In one week in the summer of 1951 Lefty Frizzell had four of the Top Ten country singles. Frizzell's "Always Late" was number one, "Mom and Dad Waltz" was number two (those two were back-to-back on a single release), "I Want To Be With You Always" was number seven and "Travelin' Blues", a tune written by Jimmie Rodgers was number eight. Incredible! He continued to churn out the hits for a few more years and then all but disappeared from the charts in the mid to late fifties. Yes, the advent of rock and roll certainly hit country music hard.
Then in 1959 Lefty would record a tune that many consider among the very best country songs of all-time. "The Long Black Veil" raced up the charts and Lefty Frizzell was front and center once again. It would be a few more years before Lefty would record what is perhaps his most recognized song 1964's "Saginaw, Michigan". That one went all the way to number one on the Billboard Top Country Singles chart and remained there for four weeks. Lefty Frizzell would continue to record with mixed success until his untimely death from a stroke in July 1975.
"The Best of Lefty Frizzell" is one of the best packages Rhino has ever assembled. You will find 18 of Lefty's biggest and best
hits and discover what a wonderful songwriter he really was. He wrote all but a handful of the tunes on this disc. Included is an informative 8 page booklet which includes biographical information and notes on each of the 18 tracks. When George Jones wondered aloud "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?" he was referring to the great singer-songwriters like Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and of course the great Lefty Frizzell. We may never see the likes of them again. Treat yourself to a great CD.
I would highly recommend this one.

Essential Material.......2002-11-18

I knew little of Lefty Frizzell until I saw a t.v. interview where Randy Travis praised him as one of the greatest, innovative country vocalists ever. Intrigued, I bought this album and after one listen, it was immediately elevated to the top shelf beside my early Cash, Buck Owens, Johnny Horton, Faron Young and Hank Snow CDs. The music is fresh, simple and honest, the vocals are magnificent - reaching, twisting, searching, straight from a restless tortured heart. If you're a fan of the best of country music from the 1950s & 60s, this album is a must.

The Best of Lefty Frizzell.......2002-03-06

Lefty is a classic, and this CD is too. His phrasing and music have made country music what it is and it continues to have influence today. I highly suggest this CD to any person who loves true country music.

THE BEST OF LEFTY FRIZZELL.......2001-06-03

Lefty was certainly an asset to the world of original country music. He was a great singer and his song material is something everyone can relate to. It's down home and true to life. There should be more like him today.

Sincerely, Carol Livingston

One of Country Music's Best Voices.......2000-08-02

Lefty Frizzell wasn't a giant of country music like, say, Hank Williams or Jimmie Rodgers, but he WAS one of the all-time great voices. Lefty swooped from the highs to the lows with breathless ease. Whether singing about good times or a broken heart, there was always a undeniable genuineness to his voice. "Forever (and Always)" and "Mom and Dad's Waltz" will just wring the hell out of your heart, while barnburners such as "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time" will have you up and stompin' the floor to splinters. A must-have for any serious collector of country music.

Music Album:

Music Album