Reeves,Jim Complete Singles As & Bs 1949-62 CD

Jim Reeves - widely known as "Gentleman Jim" - was one of the most successful and important country artists of the 1950s and early '60s, his rich, velvet voice bringing a unique sound and style, which was in the vanguard of the "new Nashville" sound, as the music headed away from honky-tonk fiddles and steel guitars as introduced strings and backing choruses, helping to move the genre towards the pop mainstream. Despite his tragic death in a 'plane crash in 1964, he was nevertheless able to rack up nearly 50 hits during his lifetime and became one of the most influential personalities in country music in the post-war era. This great-value 80-track 3-CD set comprises the A & B sides of all his singles from his recording debut for the Macy's label in 1949 through to 1962, and includes his recordings for the Abbott and RCA labels during those years, plus a duet performance with Ginny Wright released on the Fabor label. It naturally features all his 37 pop and country hits from the era, including the No. 1s "Mexican Joe", "Bimbo", "Billy Bayou", "Four Walls" and the international smash hit "He'll Have To Go", which provided his UK chart breakthrough in 1960. Covering, as it does, the first 15 years or so of his career, it charts the development of his style and sound during an era when country music was becoming more consciously commercial, and experienced the impact of the rock 'n' roll explosion in the mid-'50s, following it through into the early years of a decade when he very much flew the flag for country music as the British Invasion brought about more musical changes. It's a fine showcase for one of the genre's most enduring stars.

1. My Heart's Like a Welcome Mat 2. Teardrops of Regret 3. Chicken Hearted 4. I've Never Been So Blue 5. What Were You Doing (Last Night) 6. Wagon Load of Love 7. Mexican Joe 8. I Could Cry (Non-Album Track) 9. Butterfly Love 10. Let Me Love You Just a Little 11. El Rancho Del Rio 12. It's Hard to Love Just One 13. Bimbo 14. Gypsy Heart 15. I Love You 16. Then I'll Stop Loving You 17. Echo Bonita 18. Beatin' on the Ding Dong 19. My Rambling Heart 20. Padre of Old San Antone 21. Mother Went A-Walking 22. Penny Candy 23. I'll Follow You 24. Where Does a Broken Heart Go' 25. The Wilder Your Heart Beats the Sweeter You Love 26. Drinking Tequila 27. Red Eyed and Rowdy 28. Tahiti 29. Give Me One More Kiss 30. Yonder Comes a Sucker 31. I'm Hurtin' Inside 32. Are You the One 33. How Many (From Bimbo) 34. Hillbilly Waltz 35. Let Me Remember (The Things I Can't Forget) 36. Jimbo Jenkins 37. I've Lived a Lot in My Time 38. If You Were Mine 39. That's a Sad Affair 40. My Lips Are Sealed 41. Pickin' a Chicken 42. According to My Heart 43. The Mother of a Honky Tonk Girl 44. Am I Losing You 45. Waitin' for a Train 46. Four Walls 47. I Know and You Know 48. Two Shadows on Your Window 49. Young Hearts 50. Anna Marie 51. Everywhere You Go 52. Overnight 53. I Love You More 54. Blue Boy 55. Theme of Love 56. Billy Bayou 57. I'd Like to Be 58. Home 59. If Heartache Is the Fashion 60. Partners 61. I'm Beginning to Forget You 62. He'll Have to Go 63. In a Mansion Stands My Love 64. I'm Gettin' Better 65. I Know One 66. I Missed Me 67. Am I Losing You 68. Whispering Hope 69. The Blizzard 70. Danny Boy 71. What Would You Do' 72. Stand at Your Window 73. Losing Your Love 74. (How Can I Write on Paper) What I Feel in My Heart 75. A Letter to My Heart 76. Adios Amigo 77. I'm Gonna Change Everything 78. Pride Goes Before a Fall 79. You're the Only Good Thing (That's Happened to Me) 80. Oh, How I Miss You Tonight