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From the Vault...
06/26/2016
#1522 |
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info
Ernest Tubb
"The Definitive Collection"
© MCA/Decca < Records
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track listing
Walkin' The Floor
Over You
Mean Mama Blues
Our Baby's Book
You Nearly Lose
Your Mind
Soldier's Last Letter
It's Been So Long Darling
Rainbow At Midnight
Filipino Baby
Drivin' Nails In My Coffin
Have You Ever
Been Lonely
(Have You Ever
Been Blue)
Let's Say Goodbye
Like We Said Hello
Slipping Around
Blue Christmas
Letters Have No Arms
I Love You Because
Goodnight Irene
You Don't Have To Be
A Baby To Cry
Two Glasses Joe
The Yellow Rose Of Texas
Half A Mind
Thanks A Lot
Mr. And Mrs. Used To Be
Waltz Across Texas
Sweet Thang
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Ernest Tubb
"The Definitive Collection"
Who was better -- Hank Williams Sr, or Ernest Tubb? I would have to say Hank Williams Sr. on this one, since I pretty much grew up listening to
Hank Sr.'s music, than that of Tubb. Yet both of these (old-fashioned) Country artists were outstanding in the time, they were considered "pioneers"
of early Country. This week, we look at The Definite Collection from Ernest Tubb. Sure, there were more #1 Country songs from Hank Sr. than
Tubb. Then there was another popular Country singer back in that time, Webb Pierce, and now that I mentioned it, another artist, Red Foley. All of
these names mentioned are Country Hall of Famers. (And of course, there were other early pioneer Country singers back then to mention: Hank Snow,
Tex Ritter, the list goes on...) And if you like any of these artists (minus Tubb), you will enjoy Ernest Tubb's music.
What made early Country music, were the song titles, and their appropriate stories. Drinkin' and cheatin' songs. Love lost songs. All sad songs.
These types of songs would carry on to the next decades after Tubb and company. Song titles from Tubb here as easily fits what early Country was, and what should always be.
Yet the stories are sad, it's still that Country sound that makes Country what it stood (and sounded) for.
(From the liner notes of The Definite Collection by Ernest Tubb:
Honky Tonk, that Country style that emerged from Texas in the late 1930s, remains alive and well in the 21st Century. Those songs filled with love
lost and found, sorrow, barrooms, booze and rowdiness still premeate the music of today's stars like Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Toby
Keith and Trace Adkins, among others.
They are the keepers of a flame that Ernest Tubb, one of Honky Tonk's true pioneers, helped light.
Honky Tonk has been shaped in upbeat sounding tunes by Brooks & Dunn, as I feel they have the best sound in "Honky Tonk Country." John Michael
Montgomery also has some great Honky Tonk sounding songs in this style. Of course, there are others to mention, yet these upbeat, toe-tapping songs
have enough energy to wake up anyone in a foul mood. The stories of drinkin' and cheatin' and rowdiness may or may not be the story to tell, or maybe
it is, it's the sound of the upbeat twanging Honky Tonk style that makes this particular Country style of Honky Tonk. Two examples are Brooks & Dunn's
"Little Miss Honky Tonk" and John Michael Montgomery's "Be My Baby Tonight."
Getting back to Ernest Tubb, he started in 1936 , singing on a local radio station, away from his day job. Country singer Jimmie Rodgers' widow,
Carrie arranged for Tubb to sing in honor of her husband's memory. Although many other singers were incorporating Rodgers' style as Tubb, Tubb would
become lost in the shuffle.
In 1939, a tonsillectomy damaged his throat. He could no longer sing like he used to, forcing him to develop a new singing style. No longer singing
like Rodgers, he would write his own songs, as he still kept his day job in Texas. In 1940, he was signed to Decca Records, and became a full time performer
on Fort Worth's KGKO radio. His songs didn't achieve any popularity from jukeboxes, only accompaning him with acoustic guitar. In 1941, technology would
change this, as electric guitar would be part of Country songs. His first hit would become "Walkin' The Floor Over You." He would soon appear
at Nashville's Grand Ol Opry in 1943. Ernest Tubb had arrived. He would be named as "The Texas Troubabdour." Ernest Tubb would become a Country household
name for the next four decades.
This collection of Tubb's hits covers the years 1941 to 1967. He would still continue to perform until 1982, when he retired. He had quit smoking in
1966, but he would contract emphysema. He still performed up to his retirement, using oxygen machines in between shows. He would pass away from this in
1984. He was 70 years old.
Take a look at all the song titles, and you admit, this is great, true Country music. Ernest Tubb would be one of the founding fathers of popular and
old traditional Country, and how it should be. Many future artists would become influenced by Tubb's music. There are two duets tracks here, both with
Loretta Lynn: "Mr. & Mrs. Used To Be"" (1964) and "Sweet Thang" (1967). He would only have four #1 Country songs: "Soldier's Last
Letter" (1944) "It's Been So Long Darling" (1945) "Rainbow At Midnight" (1946) and "Goodnight Irene" (duet with Red Foley; 1950).
And speaking of #1, he would record his own version of a song that was a #1 Country hit for Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely, "Slipping Around."
This would be the "ultimate cheating song" -- just listen to the lyrics, and understand them, and the fact that saying cheating back then was really taboo.
Another song to mention, is "I Love You Because" -- this song would be recorded by Elvis Presley, when he was at Sun Records, before he became
famous. "Blue Christmas" is also here by Tubb; another song that would be later recorded by Elvis.
These #1 songs may not be best remembered as other artists tunes from this early era, (like in Hank Sr.), yet these are songs by Tubb that truly
stand out as great, traditional Country music songs. Ernest Tubb has opened the doors to many influences. And listening to this collection of his
music, there is no mistake on understanding why he is one of the great artists of Country. Listen to this collection again, as you'll discover how
this is what Country so great. Ernest Tubb is a Country Hall of Famer, and many influences on him has emerged, and in the 21st Century other future
Country stars have and will list him as an influence. This collection proves this. This is Country music, Ernest Tubb is Country music.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
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MCA/Decca < Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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