George Jones

George Jones

George Jones first hit the charts in the l950s. In April l999, he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his first Number One record, “White Lightning.” Through the decades, Jones has transcended country music trends. Whether the times have favored honky tonk songs or lushly produced and orchestrated “pop” offerings, George Jones has continued to make his brand of country music which has produced hits in every decade of the second half of the 20 th century. In fact, George Jones has had more charted singles than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music.

Now, with his Asylum Records debut, Jones has charted his l58th single with the release of “Choices.” “Choices,” the debut single from the Keith Stegall produced CD entitled COLD HARD TRUTH is quintessential Jones but with a modern edge. No doubt, COLD HARD TRUTH will ensure Jones, and country music, a place in the new millennium.

When signed to Asylum Records in late l998, Asylum chief, Evelyn Shriver, told Jones to make the album he wanted. Jones tapped country traditionalist producer Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson, Sammy Kershaw) to keep it country but to give it the sound to take him into the next decade. For Stegall, the opportunity to produce Jones was a dream come true. An acclaimed singer/songwriter in his own right, Stegall, a Wichita Falls, Texas native, was raised on the music of George Jones.

An exhaustive song search was conducted for Jones’ Asylum project. The first song chosen was the title tune, “The Cold Hard Truth” penned by singer/songwriter Jamie O’Hara (once half of the acclaimed O’Kanes). The song originally appeared on O’Hara’s self-titled RCA CD and, upon hearing it, Jones made it the centerpiece of his new project.

“Choices,” written by Billy Yates and Mike Curtis, became the first single off the project. Upon hearing it, Jones remarked, “it could be the story of my life.”

In the middle of the recording process, Jones had a horrific car accident when he lost control of his SUV vehicle and hit a bridge just a mile from his home. It took two hours for emergency medical teams to free him from the car. Doctor feared the worse as Jones had a collapsed lung, torn liver and other internal injuries. Jones remained in critical care on a ventilator to help him breath for eleven days. He then developed pneumonia which further exasperated his recovery.

The situation looked bleak. Performers from all erasLittle Jimmy Dickens, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, George Strait, Sammy Kershaw and Billy Ray Cyrus, as well as Jones’ famed retired producer and friend Billy Sherrill, came to lend their support to Jones’ family. Phone calls from Vice President Gore to Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash poured in.

Jones rallied and was able to go home and recuperate. Still weak, he was not able to go back into the studio to continue work on COLD HARD TRUTH. Fortunately, his “live” vocals were pure “Jones” and Stegall was able to complete the project while Jones recovered but constantly calling to get copies of the work in progress.

Ironically, Jones had been listening to songs from the project when he crashed. A decision had just been made to release “Choices” as the first single and he was listening to it as he drove. Knowing that Jones was in agreement with the choice of “Choices,” Asylum moved forward to release it to coincide with the 40th anniversary of “White Lightning.”

The lyrics to “Choices” describe the decisions that each of us make in life and the results of those ‘choices.’ They zero in on a man who battles the demons of alcoholism. Jones’ mournful vocals underscore the truth that this is an artist who lives what he sings.

Confusion following the accident, coupled with intense media coverage resulted in a Grand Jury being called to determine if alcohol had been involved. Because Jones had been sober for the last l2 years, those closest to the singer denied that accusation. When he was finally able to remember what had happened, he publicly and humbly admitted he had “slipped up” that day. He was charged with Driving While Impaired and received the maximum penalties allowed by law.

This extremely close brush with death had definitely sobered Jones. Despite his prior self destructive lifestyle, Jones had never come this close to death before. Not only did the accident banish any thoughts of alcohol, it also prompted him to give up cigarettes and limit his coffee.

“Choices” began receiving airplay in Nashville before it had even been “mastered.” The demand for early airplay from radio forced Asylum to run and play catch-up. The album was completed and mastered in less than three weeks before the retail release date of June 22.

The reality that Jones’ had been knocking on heaven’s door, as well as the quality and timeliness of “Choices,” resulted in a renewed interest in Jones by country radio. The thought that the “greatest living country singer” might have died prompted an outpouring of love and appreciation by fans and industry alike.

There is no doubt that COLD HARD TRUTH is among the finest recordings of Jones’ already incredible career. The songs include all the styles of music that Jones’ is noted for from the western romp of “You Never Know Just How Good You’ve Got It” penned by label mate, Mark Nesler to the achingly beautiful “Our Bed of Roses” written by producer Stegall and Zack Turner. The fun, tempo songs that Jones is famous for are included with “Sinners & Saints” (Vip Vipperman, J.B. Rudd and Darryl Worley); “Real Deal” (Keith Gattis and Jim Dowell) and “Ain’t Love A Lot Like That” written by Mark Collie and Dean Miller. But, “The Possum” is most acclaimed as the interpreter of “sloppy tearjerkers” (as he calls them) and is well represented by the title tune, the already mentioned, “Our Bed of Roses;” Emory Gordy, Jr. and Jim Rushing’s “When The Last Curtain Falls” which features background vocals by Vince Gill and Patty Loveless; Max D. Barnes’ “Day After Forever” and “This Wanting You” written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Bouton and Paul Burch.

George Glenn Jones was born in Saratoga, in east Texas. As a kid, he sang for tips on the streets of nearby Beaumont. By age 24, he had been married twice, served in the Marines and was a veteran of the Texas honky tonk circuit. On a recording session in l955 for Starday Records, producer Pappy Dailey suggested he quit singing like his idols, Lefty Frizzell, Roy Acuff and Hank Williams, and try singing like George Jones. The result was “Why Baby Why,” his first Top Five hit.

At Starday, Jones made rockabilly records as Thumper Jones and had his first country #l at Mercury Records in l959 with “White Lightning.” In l96l he hit #l again with “Tender Years” and “She Thinks I Still Care,” which held the #l spot of six weeks and led to Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association in l962 and again in l963. Later in the ’60s, on the Musicor label, his singles consistently hit the Top l0 and he hit #l again in l967 with “Walk Through This World With Me.”

Jones, the top male singer in country music, married country music’s hottest new female artist Tammy Wynette in l969. He soon joined Wynette’s label, Epic, where he enjoyed a successful 20-year association with producer Billy Sherrill. He hit #l in the ’70s with “The Grand Tour” and “The Door,” both in l974. His marriage to Wynette was stormy but in the recording studio they were the perfect duet partners, hitting #l with “We’re Gonna Hold On” in l974 and, coinciding with their l976 divorce, “Golden Ring” and “Near You.”

Jones kicked off the l980s with one of the all-time great country records, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” which won him single of the Year honors from the CMA in l980 and again in l98l. He won virtually every award available for that song including the Grammy and the song remained #l for l8 weeks. His hits continued throughout the decade and his video for “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” won the CMA’s Video of the Year award in l986.

In l99l, Jones signed with MCA Records, an event MCA Nashville president Tony Brown said was “like signing Elvis.” In l992 the CMA recognized Jones’ monumental career by inducting him into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He recorded “High-Tech Redneck” and the highly acclaimed acoustic album “The Bradley Barn Sessions” for MCA. In l995, Jones and Tammy Wynette were reunited for a new CD entitled “One” and toured together for the first time in 20 years. Thankfully, George and Tammy had found friendship and peace in their relationship before the First Lady of Country Music unexpectedly passed away in l998.

In l996, Jones told his life story in the book I LIVED TO TELL IT ALL, which went to #6 on The New York Times bestseller list. As country fans were reading about his infamous past, he drew from his musical past in putting together his last CD for MCA also entitled “I Lived To Tell It All.”

Now, with his Asylum debut, George Jones is “hotter than a $2.00 pistol” and poised to continue his amazing musical legacy.


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One response to “George Jones”

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    Anonymous

    look for the song poor china man

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