The Essential Jim Reeves

 (14 customer reviews)

Reeves was a consistent presence in the country charts throughout the late 50s and early 60s, landing single after single in the upper reaches of the country charts, and often finding crossover success in the pop world. So unquenchable was the public's thirst for his work, that even his untimely death in a 1964 plane crash couldn't quell his commercial success; his posthumous releases continued to land at the top of the country chart throughout the rest of the '60s, and albums that mixed these hits with previously released material continued to sell briskly.

Reeves' earliest successes, recorded for Fabor Robison's Abbott label, hardly predicted the soft Nashville Sound he'd spearhead just a few years later. 1953's "Mexican Joe" and "Bimbo," are chock full of twang, and though the playful lyrics are more Arthur Godfrey than Hank Williams, the barrelhouse piano, fiddle and steel are miles from the pop-influenced material Reeves would record at RCA. It was that 1955...Read more

Please note this is a re-issue of the earlier Anthology double CD with different title and packaging but an identical track listing. Unlike, the original set, this one has been given a British release although (as I'll explain later), Brits may notice that some of Jim's biggest UK hits are missing.

Jim's hit career was more complicated than most, because he had different hits in different countries. So, depending on which country you live in, the tracks you regard as essential will vary. This particular collection appears to be the definitive American hits collection, beginning with his earliest hillbilly music (the first eight tracks) and ending with the pop crossover music that everybody remembers him for (the remaining thirty two tracks). Of course, Jim had far more than forty hits so plenty of minor hits are missing but all of Jim's big American country and pop hits are here.

Everybody has their own favorites, but here you will find Distant drums, He'll have...Read more

Oh my. I have never owned a Jim Reeves recording before and this tops all my other music. What an absolutely beautiful, smooth voice. Every song he sings is wonderful. This collection is perfect and I can't believe I lived 55 years without him in my house! I will spend the next 55 listening to this CD! Wonderful!