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George Jones Jones

The Possum would have turned 90 today. 

To mark the day, I'll suggest a live album, Back in the Saddle (Live: 1979). It is an interesting LP. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information on it. George seems to be playing at Gilley's in Houston....as Mickey gets several mentions. 

It says "1979", but that may not be right. Lorrie Morgan is in the band, singing backup and the Tammy parts, but he wasn't with George until 1981-83. In 1979, however, she was married to Jones Boy Ron Gaddis, so the date could be accurate. George introduces "He Stopped Loving Her Today" as a song he always likes to play when he's in Houston, The audience responds with enthusiasm and recognition, but George cut that one in 1979 and didn't release it until 1980. 

It is not a concert, per se, because the audience fades in at the beginning of most songs and then fades out at the end. The recordings seem to be genuinely live, though. There is some feedback that creeps in on some tunes. Scars, you know....fine leather.

As for George, I don't want to speak ill of the dead, but I think he was drunk! As the first song -"Ragged But Right"- fades in, he mistakenly starts to sing "Act Naturally", but then gets in line. We get a few "yabba dabba doos" as he seems to miss a line or two throughout. At one point he apologizes for not being up to par, saying that somebody got him drunk the "night before last and the night before that" and that he now, sniff, has a cold. His voice, though, is spot on has it rollercoasters through the songs.

The band -the Jones Boys - is tight as well, they rock. The audience - although prominent - adds ambience but doesn't muddy the mix. The set list includes most of my favorites. Sadly,  we only hear part of "White Lightnin'" as the beady eyed Possum breaks into it during the fadeout of the last song.

I'm just glad he showed up, and that somebody was there to record it.

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  1. UnknownSeptember 18, 2021 at 9:04 AM

    Great. Sounds like he got his songs crossed at the start of Ragged but Right.

    ReplyDelete

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