Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Capitol Recordings, 1952-1964

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Her pleasant smile on the cover notwithstanding, Jean Shepard was no polite "girl singer," and it didn't take long for her to prove it. After Hank Thompson helped her secure a contract with Capitol in 1952, Shepard, not yet 19, recorded her first single, on which she defiantly declares: "I'll go where I could get twice the lovin', baby, in half the time." The ensuing years found Shepard boldly singing about "male subjects" like cheating and drinking, going so far as to ask in "Two Whoops and a Holler": "How come a man can fight and cuss and smoke and drink and chew, step out on their wives and do the things they shouldn't do?" Though Shepard only infrequently pierced the Top 10 between 1952 and 1964--"A Dear John Letter," with Ferlin Husky's recitation, was one of the biggest country hits of 1953--she helped establish the fact that a woman could sing honestly and powerfully without becoming "the lowest thing in town." Thanks to her commitment to traditional hard country, her unwavering crystal-clear voice, and hotshot musicians behind her such as steel wiz Speedy West, Shepard carved herself an important niche in country history. --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

Twice The Lovin' (In Half The Time)
Crying Steel Guitar Waltz
A Dear John Letter
My Wedding Ring
Two Whoops And A Holler
Don't Fall In Love With A Married Man
A Satisfied Mind
Beautiful Lies
Sad Singin' And Slow Ridin'
Under Suspicion
I Want To Go Where No One Knows Me
The Other Woman
Act Like A Married Man
A Thief In The Night
He's My Baby
How Do I Tell It To A Child
Color Song (I Lost My Love)
The Root Of All Evil (Is A Man)
Under Your Spell Again
One White Rose
I've Learned To Live With You (And Be Alone)
That's What Lonesome Is
Cigarettes And Coffee Blues
Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)

Amazon.com

Her pleasant smile on the cover notwithstanding, Jean Shepard was no polite "girl singer," and it didn't take long for her to prove it. After Hank Thompson helped her secure a contract with Capitol in 1952, Shepard, not yet 19, recorded her first single, on which she defiantly declares: "I'll go where I could get twice the lovin', baby, in half the time." The ensuing years found Shepard boldly singing about "male subjects" like cheating and drinking, going so far as to ask in "Two Whoops and a Holler": "How come a man can fight and cuss and smoke and drink and chew, step out on their wives and do the things they shouldn't do?" Though Shepard only infrequently pierced the Top 10 between 1952 and 1964--"A Dear John Letter," with Ferlin Husky's recitation, was one of the biggest country hits of 1953--she helped establish the fact that a woman could sing honestly and powerfully without becoming "the lowest thing in town." Thanks to her commitment to traditional hard country, her unwavering crystal-clear voice, and hotshot musicians behind her such as steel wiz Speedy West, Shepard carved herself an important niche in country history. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Classic is right.......2003-01-05

This disk was just as I expected, no dissapoitments.

The Original Honky Tonk Woman.......2002-03-09

Jean Shepard's career as a country singer was often diminished by the long shadow cast by her peers, Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline. She proves to be thier equal in this 12 year retrospective of her early recordings. In the early 1950s,when women singers in country music were denegraded as "fern thrushes", Jean Shepard's music was a breakthrough, exploring near-taboo topic of marital infidelty. Her sweet, but full bodied alto voice counterpointed her tough minded song lyrics. This collection features Shepard in her finest stipped down traditional form with the amazing steel guitar of Speedy West. Later in her career, Shepard succumbed to producers who drowned her beautiful voice in overblown string arrangements and annoying Mitch Miller type chorus singers. This is the real Jean Shepard, the orginal honky tonk woman.

True Country, True Opry!.......2000-12-01

I've enjoyed seeing Jean Shepard several times at the Grand Ole Opry and have of course seen her on the telecasts. She used to be a regular on TNN's Ralph Emory talk show. As she nears seventy, her voice is as strong and vibrant as ever; she's one of those lucky singers who can just keep going!

Shepard's distinctive accent shines through on all of these recordings. There is an obvious progression in recording quality from the first to the last of this CD, but all the cuts sound clean and showcase her abilities.

This is a voice that will stand out from the crowd fifty years from now, one that you will either love or hate. It's a long way from Faith Hill!

For those who like their country music without rock influence, try this. You'll become a fan like so many of us!

If you like Jean Shepard this cd is a must........1999-04-07

I have this CD and it really does justice for Jean Shepard. The last song "second fiddle to an old guitar" she yodels it is great. Would like to have a cd with more yodeling on it. One of the best cd's and singer's.

Music Album:

Music Album