Today, I find out that country superstar George Jones passed away. I have to admit, I wasn't familiar with his body of work until I started poking around and discovered that he was the first person to have a hit with The Race is On by Don Rollins. Being a creature of a certain age, I am most familiar with the fantastic version by Welsh roots-rock revivalist Dave Edmunds. It's nice to be able to expand one's musical horizons, but I have to confess a certain feeling of melancholy that it took Mr Jones' death for me to become a fan. Anyway, here's the man himself singing The Race is On:
This marks the second time in a week that I've discovered the body of work by a talented musician by way of the obits. I have to say, I prefer learning about musicians via the radi-adi-o. Rest in peace, Mr Jones, I wish I'd met you earlier.
When I was little, my dad LOVED country and western music. Not the kind they have now, the original kind like Red River Valley. And George Jones and Tammy Wynette were sort of the king and queen of that millieux. So I didn't much care for it myself, but we heard quite a bit of it growing up.
ReplyDeleteAlso, too, you actually mentioned a band I'm not only familiar with, but one that I deeply love. Dave Edmunds, along with Nick Lowe and Billy Bremner were Rockpile, the "Greatest Unrecorded Band in History". When I was strung out at my absolute worst, "Crawling from the Wreckage" was a kind of an anthem for my life, and the way I saw it ending.
Drivin' Drinkin' hit some people runnin' for the door
Gotta make some kind of impression...
I had to go immediately to have a listen. This is from '79...
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/ed2qhaGSOXs
Also, too, you actually mentioned a band I'm not only familiar with, but one that I deeply love. Dave Edmunds, along with Nick Lowe and Billy Bremner were Rockpile, the "Greatest Unrecorded Band in History". When I was strung out at my absolute worst, "Crawling from the Wreckage" was a kind of an anthem for my life, and the way I saw it ending.
ReplyDeleteI love Rockpile, their version of Queen of Hearts is spectacular. Anything Messers Edmunds and Lowe did was pure gold. Marie Provost is one of my all-time favorite songs.
Like Mikey, I belong to the "I Grew Up Listening to George Jones Club". Mr. Jones was my Dad's favourite...still is actually...and don't let this get out, but "He Stopped Loving Her Today" was one of my very first iTune purchases...shhhh
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard news of his death on the radio, my heart squeezed a little bit thinking of how sad it would make my Dad. I was immediately compelled to call my parents to let them know. ...Kinda weird, I know, but it was like finding out a dear old family friend had passed away.
Anyhow... Thank you.
Gotta admit, when I heard ol' George had finally died it was the first time in the six mos. since medication made me stop boozing that I felt like having a couple snoots & listening to some music.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard news of his death on the radio, my heart squeezed a little bit thinking of how sad it would make my Dad. I was immediately compelled to call my parents to let them know. ...Kinda weird, I know, but it was like finding out a dear old family friend had passed away.
ReplyDeleteWow, that really is a testimony to the power of music.
Gotta admit, when I heard ol' George had finally died it was the first time in the six mos. since medication made me stop boozing that I felt like having a couple snoots & listening to some music.
An Irish wake, eh?
Bye George!
ReplyDelete