We open with the classic harmonies of Johnny and Jack on Smiles and Tears (Decca), then move into Stonewall Jackson’s heart-wrenching Torn From The Pages Of Life (Columbia). The softer side of country shows up in Bill Wesley’s dreamy While She’s Dreaming (Great) and Ira Louvin’s haunting You’re Looking For An Angel (Capitol). Rounding out the first stretch, Carl Smith keeps it steady with It’s All Right (Columbia).
The mood shifts with deep cuts like Rusty Adams’ Turn Around Heartache (Jed) and Red Sovine’s thoughtful Sittin’ And Thinkin’ (Starday). We get a fiddle showcase from Vassar Clements on There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight (Flying Fish), paired with Jimmie Skinner’s gritty Yesterday’s Wrongs (Starday) and Gene Henslee’s slice-of-life ballad A Heck Of A Life (Brownsfield).
Then it’s on to the rare finds—Rod Bain’s Holding Trouble Again (Chart), Buford Kegley’s These Are The Things (Princess), and Big Bill Johnson’s soulful Blame Loneliness (Blue Angel). Add in Tom Harvey’s social reflection It’s The Shape The World’s In (New Star), before Hank Cochran brings it home with One Night For Willie (Dot).
Finally, we close strong with heavyweights: Buck Owens delivers In The Palm Of Your Hand (Capitol), Floyd Tillman charms on Let’s Make Memories Tonight (Cimarron), Bobby Barnett digs deep with Rise And Fall Of A Man (K-Ark), Cal Smith leaves us misty with Tear Stained Pillow (Plaid), and John Eanes wraps it all up on a bluesy note with Blue Sunday (Starday).
Johnny And Jack - Smiles And Tears ( Decca )
Stonewall Jackson - Torn From The Pages Of Life ( Columbia )
Bill Wesley - While She's Dreaming ( Great )
Ira Louvin - You're Looking For An Angel ( Capitol )
Carl Smith - It's All Right ( Columbia )
Rusty Adams - Turn Around Heartache ( Jed )
Red Sovine - Sittin And Thinkin ( Starday )
Vassar Clements - There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight ( Flying Fish )
Jimmie Skinner - Yesterday's Wrongs ( Starday )
Gene Henslee - A Heck Of A Life ( Brownsfield )
Rod Bain - Holding Trouble Again ( Chart )
Buford Kegley - These Are The Things ( Princess )
Big Bill Johnson - Blame Loneliness ( Blue Angel )
Tom Harvey - It's The Shape The World's In ( New Star )
Hank Cochran - One Night For Willie ( Dot )
Buck Owens - In The Palm Of Your Hand ( Capitol )
Floyd Tillman - Let's Make Memories Tonight ( Cimarron )
Bobby Barnett - Rise And Fall Of A Man ( K Ark )
Cal Smith - Tear Stained Pillow ( Plaid )
John Eanes - Blue Sunday ( Starday )
