Back to Countrypolitan.com


 
 
Home
Biographies
On The Fringe
Artist Profile
Archives
News Flash
Message Board
Reader's Poll
Fan Pics
Photo Album
Merchandise
Artist Websites
Related Sites
Website Resources
Contact Us  
 
 
Get the latest Countrypolitan news! Join our mailing list today!
Click Here  
 


Charley Pride Pays Tribute To The Late Jim Reeves With New Album

Thirty-seven years after the shocking death of country music mega-star Jim Reeves, we have a new collection of his great hits. They're still sang in a rich smooth baritone, but the voice now belongs to Charley Pride. Pride has garnered his own success over the last four decades with such hits as "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" and "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone." Pride's career on RCA has been phenominal. His album sales are only second to "The King" himself, Elvis Presley. In the span of his career, Pride has sold more than 35 million albums. After 36 number one hit singles of his own, Pride returns to pay tribute to his fellow Texan, Gentleman Jim Reeves.

"Jim Reeves was just so smooth. I was always a fan of his music and way back when I was singing in the clubs when I started out, I always sang Jim Reeves' tunes. When he sang, man, it was inspiring. Songs like 'Part Of Me,' 'He'll Have To Go,' 'Four Walls.' Man, I still sing those in my shows," says Pride. "This album comes from the heart, from my respect for Jim, and my love of his music."

Pride has resurrected these classics in his own style while keeping Reeves' spirit secured within the songs. There are times throughout this album that you can almost imagine Reeves' ghost is in the studio invoking that richness in Pride's voice, which is eerily suited to this project. Not only does Pride bring Jim Reeves' memory back to life, but he also breathes new life into these countrypolitan classics. Hargus "Pig" Robbins, a member of the original Nashville Sound A-team, tickles the ivories one more time on this tribute album. The countrypolitan sounds only add to the nostalgia of the album.

Some of Reeves' best-known hits are brought back to life with vibrancy. "Welcome To My World" and "He'll Have To Go" are probably Reeves' most famous hits. With this 15-track CD, Pride reminds us that there were many more than these two. He stuns us with "Blue Boy" and "There's A Heartache." Pride shines on every track.

As this tribute album comes to a close, Pride fittingly saved "Adios Amigo" for the final track. This album serves its purpose well. There is no better way for Pride to say good-bye to Jim Reeves, than to bring his music back to life and remind music fans all over the world that we lost a great musician and man in that fatal plane crash of 1964.

Now, in the 21st century, amidst all of the technological controversy of music file downloading and sharing, Pride is once again proving to be a musical pioneer. This new CD is the first commercial release to be encoded with Media CloQ copyright protection technology. While it is playable in all standard CD players, you will not be finding these songs on Napster or any of the other file sharing communities on the Internet. The owner of the CD will still be able to obtain MP3's for their portable players, but they are only available through SunnComm's website. The disc will direct PC users to SunnComm's website where they will then be offered free downloadable Windows Media versions of the songs.

Written by Sherry Anderson, Countrypolitan.com. June 2001.




 
 
Home | Biographies | On The Fringe | Artist Profile | Archives | News Flash | Message Board | Reader's Poll
Fan Pics | Photo Album | Artist Websites | Merchandise | Related Sites | Resources | Contact Us

© countrypolitan.com 2001-2008

Web Design and Hosting provided by .