i want to tell all of you to try and ignore the callous review of John Morthland, who has always been overly critical of nearly everything issued on George. He used to be a music critic for a magazine called "Country Music" and i've read his reviews over the years and so i'm not being mean, just honest. well, i'm listening to the CD as i write this review and i simply can't hear anything remotely close to "atrocious", as Morthland indicates. i can hear the guitar, fiddle, and the other instruments in the style George performed in back then and if THAT'S what Morthland calls atrocious then we all know he hates bare-bones production. some songs contain an intro by whoever was hosting the show in a given week. George talks, too, and you can tell he's a little drunk but that's old news, nothing surprising there. i also realize that these recordings are 45 to 50 years old and i'll allow for any bad spots but there isn't any that'll distract you too much! "Don't Stop the Music" is perhaps the song that'll seem disappointing because of it's low playback. this CD is a MAJOR treasure for anyone seeking out Jones in his primitive years and throughout the late '60s. the audiences are wild and appreciative, as expected. tracks 1 through 9 are from the '50s. with track 10 onward, George starts to sound the way everyone knows him to sound. He introduces the band and his voice and stage patter makes you think of today...it's the same but only the band-members have changed! Unbelievable! Like George Strait, the motto for Jones must be "if it ain't broke don't fix it" when it comes to his concerts and mannerisms. "Things Have Gone to Pieces" turns into a near laugh-riot as the drummer slams on the drums when Jones sings "somebody threw a baseball through my window..." and it messes him up and he starts laughing. all in all a good CD. i give it 5 stars because it's great as a whole, with only the slightest rough spots {as earlier mentioned, "Don't Stop the Music"}.

I wouldn't recommend this as an intro to the Possum's work, but for knowledgeable Jones fans, it's a must-have. Hearing the evolution of the deeper, distinct Jones sound is something the true fan will fully appreciate. My favorite is Walk Through This World, but like others have said, all of them past track No. 10 or so suggest the giant voice that is to emerge!

This is a great CD. George Jones in his earlier years is an outstanding live performer. It's great to hear his best Starday/Mercury songs live; he puts so much feeling into his singing. There are times on this CD when the recording quality is not quite up to par, or when the guitarist is not on quite the right chord, but the energy and emotional pull of the songs and singing easily outweigh this. The introductions and sometimes-inebriated stage patter are also entertaining. If you already like Jones' early Starday/Mercury work, when he had a rawer, more honky-tonk sound, you will especially like this recording.

This CD is an honest Treasure! Featuring George in his very early recording years, to 1969 as a seasoned Country Performer! On this CD you will hear how George has developed his style, the standard which performers are judged today! These live radio recordings are part of history, the history of the man known to be the Greatest Country Singer! As a George Jones fan, I am very glad I bought this CD! Give it a listen and you will be too!

Of several George Jones live recordings, this is my favorite. Jones is in great voice throughout, despite a couple of surprises from his band, which actually (through several versions beginning in the 50's) is pretty tight. It is interesting to note the evolution of Jones' voice through these appearances on the Hayride. Although these are all songs he's recorded more than once, the subtle variations in his interpretations make this CD worth having for even casual Jones fans. I've collected and listened to lots of country over the years and to me Jones is the best country singer and one of the best of any genre. Now for a desperate sincere plea, however -- Jones is woefully under-represented on CD, and now that the Red Sox have won, my next greatest hope and wish is that Bear Family (or whoever might be able to do as good a job, is there anyone else?) will anthologize Jones in the way he deserves to be. There is a huge trove of great Jones songs on Starday, Mercury, Musicor, UA etc which have never been released on CD. Way way overdue.