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From the Vault...
11/11/2001
#759 |
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info
Jerry Reed
"The Best Of Jerry Reed"
© RCA/BMG Records
Year of Release: 1992
Rating:
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track listing
Guitar Man
Georgia On My Mind
A Thing Called Love
Tupelo Mississippi
Flash
Today Is Mine
Amos Moses
Georgia Sunshine
The Claw
When You're Hot,
You're Hot
Ko-Ko Joe
U.S. Male
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Jerry Reed
"The Best Of Jerry Reed"
Jerry Reed brings back memories where Country music was (and still is)
defined as TRUE Country. Yet, he added a novelty twist to his songs, where
instead of the usual "lovin', leavin', and cheatin'" themes in Country music,
Jerry Reed wrote some incredible songs with lyrics of a more comedical nature.
Most importantly, his songs were based on the "storyteller" theme, where each
song tells a story, and we could all understand it, and appreciate the humor
with a good laugh.
The Best Of Jerry Reed was one of the beginning "best-of" collections
(1992), where in later years RCA released many Essential best-of collections
by many well-known country artists. Yet this best-of for this week's review
features two of Reed's most famous and signature songs he wrote: "Amos
Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot." Two great funny storytelling
songs that can easily make anyone laugh out loud at Reed's unique and hilarious
lyrics.
What made Jerry Reed's songs great was the fact that he wrote the music and
lyrics. "Guitar Man" opens this best-of, and this song was covered by
many other artists, including Elvis Presley. Many people have heard this song
by these other artists, but probably never knew who the composer was, and yet,
never heard the original composer's version.
10 of the 11 songs on The Best Of Jerry Reed were written by Jerry
Reed himself. The only non-Reed song was his version of Hoagy Carmichael's
"Georgia On My Mind." Reed's version is definitely blusey, with
accoustic guitar and bass supplying the music. We could add this version to
other great versions, such by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson.
True Country best defines "A Thing Called Love," and "Today Is
Mine." They may not have novelty lyrics as other well-known hits by Reed,
but the music style has a great country sound, compared to the likes of other
early Country artists, such as Tom T. Hall, and this kind of country musical
style is so different than today's Country sound. It also shows how Jerry
Reed's vocal capabilities are truly enjoyable, and to categorize him as a
favorite country singer.
Arguably looking at the Essential release, there will be songs that
you may like, but not included on a best-of collection. "Tupelo Mississippi
Flash" is one of my favorite songs. And I best remember this song as the
flip side of a Tom Jones 45 single. But what I didn't know about this song
was that Jerry Reed wrote it. Reed's version is just as good as Tom Jones'
and the lyrics are of a novelty nature. And I often wondered if this song
was about Elvis Presley, being the fact that Elvis was originally born in
Tupelo, Mississippi. And like "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot,
You're Hot," it's another great storytelling song.
"Georgia Sunshine" has a more hillbilly country style, and again,
it truly defines the Country sound, as compared to today's Country style.
Another true country styled song is "The Claw," that has some fine
fancy accoustic guitar-picking. (By the way: Jerry Reed is an accomplished
guitar player, as he was nicknamed "the Guitar Man.") "The Claw" is
an instrumental, and it's great music for background music. It also reminds
me of the soundtrack to the Burt Reynolds movie, W.W. & The Dixie
Dancekings which Reed starred in, as well as many other Burt Reynolds movies.
In the same style of "When You're Hot, You're Hot," musically and
lyrically, "Ko-Ko Joe" is another novelty-type storytelling tune.
Likewise, "U.S. Male" is another comedical "don't mess around with...";
this one being the U.S. Male.
For the true old-fashioned Country fan, the storyteller Jerry Reed's
The Best Of Jerry Reed is a great listen for what Country music sounded
like in the era where Country music was king. Comparing to today's Country,
it is so different, where today's Country has been having a more pop-rock mix
with the Country style, the early pioneers of Country like Jerry Reed proved
that Country music had its own style, and definitely could not be compared to
rock 'n' roll or even the pop-rock style.
And... Jerry Reed always brought a good chuckle with his lyrics and hillbilly
vocal and musical sound. Where half the time in today's music, (no matter what
musical style), it is awfully hard to just listen to the lyrics and easily
understand them.
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RCA/BMG Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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