Rock Bands & Pop Stars
George Jones Pictures
Artist:
George Jones
Origin:
United States, Beaumont - TexasUnited States
Born date:
September 12, 1931
Death date:
April 26, 2013
George Jones Album: «Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones: Kickin' Out the Footlights... Again»
George Jones Album: «Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones: Kickin' Out the Footlights... Again» (Front side)
    Album information
  • Customers rating: (4.7 of 5)
  • Title:Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones: Kickin' Out the Footlights... Again
  • Release date:
  • Type:Audio CD
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Customers rating
Track listing
Review - Product Description
Nashville, TN (Bandit Records) - Iconic legends and superstars George Jones and Merle Haggard recorded an album together for the first time in almost 25 years. The old friends and touring buddies are planning to go into the studio this summer to pay tribute to each other. Jones recorded five of his favorite Haggard songs and Haggard recorded five of his favorite Jones songs. In addition to harmonizing on each other's songs, they also recorded several duets, including the title song of the album, Kicking Out The Footlights...Again, which Haggard penned. Produced by KEITH STEGALL (Alan Jackson and George Jones) the contains many of the two music industry legends' most well loved tunes including ''She Thinks I Still Care,'' ''Silver Wings,'' ''The Window Up Above'' and ''The Way I Am.'' The last time we recorded together was 25 years ago, and though we've both changed a lot over the years, our love for real country music and respect for each other has only gotten stronger, ' Jones said from his Franklin, TN. house. ''The fans want to hear Hag sing a Jones song and me sing one of Hag's.'' Recognized as two of the only authentic country interpreters left today, Jones Haggard have a long history of occupying iconic positions not only in country music's legacy, but pop's as well. They have influenced virtually every country music artist who has come along in the last 50 years and every bar band in America sings Haggard and Jones nightly. Haggard just completed several dates opening for The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, and Jones has been celebrated by everyone from Keith Richards to Harry Connick, JR.
Review - Amazon.com
Nearly 25 years after their last album together (1982's A Taste of Yesterday's Wine), the Possum and the Hag reunite... with a twist. This time, they sing each other's songs. The conceit can be dangerous unless you're playing it for laughs, e.g., Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley on the former's 1960 television special. But though Jones puts more emotion into interpreting Haggard's songs than Hag reciprocates, these two old legends manage to pull it off. And with the help of producer Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson), they keep the music solid, too, spotlighting steel guitar great Norm Hamlet and celebrated piano sideman Pigg Robbins, who played on many of their original recordings. Jones particularly shines on "The Way I Am," and Haggard proves sublime on "I Always Get Lucky with You." Where the album really lights up, however, is on the duo's pocketful of duets, starting with a poignant and intensely resonant rendition of Haggard's classic aging-musician ballad, "Footlights." Surprisingly, the repertoire never seems tired, and there's a surprise around every corner: Rhonda Vincent adding splendid harmonies on Haggard's new "Born to the Blues" and Jones turning transcendent on a confessional line about being "crazy and lonely." Just as these ragged masters take their leave, they put a little more Western in Duke Ellington's swing ("Don't Get Around Much Anymore"), filling in the middle with a warm, nostalgic banter that reminds listeners just how much these two have seen and done. Who knew hard-luck autobiography could sound so exquisite? --Alanna Nash
Customer review
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
- Put the two greatest country singers together...

George Jones. Merle Haggard. Singing each others' songs, plus an occasional spirited duet. I mean, really, what's the point of reading this review--you know you're gonna buy the damn album anyways.

Needless to say, this is probably one of the best records to come out this year. The Possum and the Hag are good friends--their friendship being one of mutual respect and recognition. Both are talented individuals (the word "talent" really isn't powerful enough), and both have seen some hard times in their hard lives. You can hear it in their songs--and on this album, they get to sing songs the other made a hit. I'd give you a list of highlites, but the entire album is worth repeated listening, so it's kind of pointless. From the opening (and somewhat depressing) "Footlights" to the closing "Don't Get Aroud Much anymore" (with Haggard and Jones breaking into fits of bemused friendly laughter, plus the wry joke here and there), this album is a classic. Buy it; just buy it. If you love country music, then by God buy this album. THIS is what country music really is--THIS is what God intended country music to be. Or maybe the devil...Whoever it was, they had damn good taste in music.

Customer review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
- The Best CD in Years

Got my hands on this CD the day it was released and have played it over and over and...It's been about 25 years since George and Merle did a CD together. Their last one was good, this one is great.

I've listened to George and Merle and been to their shows for about 40 years so I know their songs very well. It takes a little getting used to when you hear Merle sing The Race Is On and George sing I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink.The first couple of times I played the Cd I would know which song it was after a couple of chords but the wrong guy was singing. It was great hearing the subtle differences in how they do songs made hits by each other. The duets are great too. You can tell they are having fun. I'd love to see a DVD of the recording sessions.

I have a lot of country music, real country music, and this CD goes in to the top tier of my collection. Any fan of real country will love this Cd.

In the last song Merle says "George we gotta get back on the radio". I hope some of the idiots running so called country stations have sense enough to play the songs from this CD.

I saw George at a show a few months ago and he told the audience that he and Merle are trying to put a tour together for 2007-I sure hope they get it done.

Customer review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
- Still Kickin' Out The Footlights

This is the best CD issued this year, a romp through some of the great songs associated with George Jones and Merle Haggard. On this collection, Hag sings five songs that were hits for the Possum ("The Race Is On","She Thinks I Still Care", "Things Have Gone To Pieces", "I Always Get Lucky With You" and "Window Up Above"), while Jones tackles five Haggard classics ("The Way I Am", "Strangers", "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink", "Sing Me Back Home" and "You Take Me For Granted") . There are also four duets in "Footlights" (a Haggard album cut that should ring true for every veteran musician), "Born With The Blues", "Sick, Sorry and Sober" (an uptempo western swing number often associated with Gene Autry pal Johnny Bond)and a light-hearted and amusing take on the Duke Ellington number "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". This latter song features Haggard's band The Strangers; the rest of the recordings are with a very inspired group of session musicians

The arrangements are fairly true to the spirit of the original hit recordings. Curiously enough, when Jones sings the songs associated with Haggard, there is never any doubt that Jones is doing the vocalizing; however, when Haggard sings the Jones songs, you sometimes feel that you're listening to a younger George Jones at work, so accurate and subconscious a mimic is Haggard. I suppose I ought to pick out a few highlights but the truth is I love every, repeat, every track on this album. This is country music at its best

Customer review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
- This may be the best album this decade.

The only way I can describe this album is by saying "its the best." This is true country music, the way it should be. Hag at age 70, and Jones at 75 prove again that even at their ages, they have way more talent than any of these "so called" young country artists. This is a must for any *real* country music fan.

Customer review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
- DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME !!!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong! I didn't mean don't waste your time listenning to this album because it is not good. I just want to tell all of you to run out and get this piece of gem right now, by all mean neccessary. There's no need to read the reviews....just believe me.