Giveaway: George Jones Starter Kit

Congratulations to Andrew.  He’s our winner this month.  We’ll be in touch, Andrew.  Keep reading for coverage of this month’s Spotlight Artist, Joe Diffie, and for your chance to win new music from Joe.

When I think of George Jones, I tend to think of the sad songs which form the core of his repertoire. From ‘The Door’ to ‘A Good Year for The Roses’, ‘A Picture Of Me (Without You)’ to ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ (voted greatest country song of all time), and a host of other classic hits. He is almost unparalleled at distilling heartbreak within the three minutes of a country song. Sad songs have always been the heartblood of country music, but they have become less prevalent particularly on country radio, which seems to prefer a cheery diet of positive sentiments to the songs of broken hearts. Apparently it’s also almost a kiss of death to release a slow-tempo’d song as a summertime single these days.

Despite the fact that his sad songs are the ones on which his reputation rests, George Jones can also turn his hand to fun up-tempo and novelty songs from ‘White Lightning’ (one of his biggest hits) and ‘Love Bug’ early in his career to later efforts like 1988’s ‘The King Is Gone (So Are You)’ and the 90s hit ‘I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair’. He also has some classic love songs in his repertoire, ranging from ‘Walk Through This World With Me’.

If you’re a country fan and you have only heard a few of George’s biggest hits, you’re missing out on arguably the greatest country singer of all time. We hope our coverage of George’s music this month is whetting your appetite to explore his catalog.

Just tell us if you prefer to listen to sad songs or happy ones before midnight on 31 July, and one lucky reader will win a copy of The Great Lost Hits, the new compilation showcasing the best of George’s years on Musicor, plus The Essential George Jones, which includes most of his biggest Epic hits and a sprinkling of other classics from his debut hit ‘Why Baby Why’ to 1999’s ‘Choices’.

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