Customer Reviews

Essential

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Jim Ed Brown's recording career spanned a quarter of a century, during which time he had plenty of success. Even after his recording career was over, he remained an active performer for many years after - indeed, he may still be performing. His early recordings were made with one or both of his sisters. He then spent some years as a solo singer before teaming up with Helen Cornelius for some duets in the seventies.

The early recordings with his sisters include The three bells (a translated version of a French song), which provided the Browns with an international pop hit - by far the biggest success of Jim Ed's career.

Jim was an excellent singer, but he sounded a lot like Jim Reeves, an even better singer, so while Jim Ed Brown could (and did) sing love songs superbly, it is difficult to avoid thinking of Jim Reeves when listening to him sing those songs. For that reason alone, I prefer (when he's on his own) listening to him singing more upbeat songs, like Pop a top (revived by Alan Jackson on his covers album, Under the influence), You can have her, Southern loving and (best of all) Barroom pals and goodtime gals.

When he teamed up with Helen, the comparison with Jim Reeves (who rarely recorded any duets) is forgotten, but those recordings are outside the scope of this collection. To me, those recordings (including the brilliant Christmas song Fall softly snow, mentioned by earlier reviewers) are the most enjoyable of Jim Ed's career, but as I write this, they are all out of print.

If you enjoy the music of Jim Reeves, you will probably enjoy this collection. If you don't like Jim Reeves, pass this by.

Jim Ed Brown from Sparkman, Arkansas had 52 Billboard hits from 1954 to 1981. The 27 year sequence is unique: 16 were performed as `The Browns' with his sisters Bonnie and Maxine, 10 were duets with Helen Cornelius (of Hanibal, Missouri) and the balance were his own singles. "The Essential Jim Ed Brown" has none of his duets with Helen. Those are available on their "Anthology" CD. Keep scrolling down! Some of my amazon friends may be unaware. This particular 20 track CD does feature a good solid sampling of Jim Ed's solos as well as his duets with his siblings. The latter are the strongest tracks, especially "I Take the Chance (1956), "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" (1955), and their first chart hit, "Looking back to See" (1954). There is also a wonderful 1960 rendition of "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On", which also made the charts via Hank Locklin and Johnny Tillotson. Jim Ed does quite well on his own with "Sometime Sunshine" (1974) and "Gently Comes Love" which somehow failed to make the charts. There are two classic country drinking songs "Pop A Top" (1967) and "Bottle, Bottle" (also '67). Jim Ed was a versatile guy but this reviewer prefers his more mellow "Nashville Sound" releases and not the more upbeat tracks like "Southern Lovin'. Other amazon friends have written that Jim Ed is very similar to the great Jim Reeves. This reviewer disagrees. Both are country greats from the old school. Listeners can enjoy Gentleman Jim, Jim Ed -and his talented sisters-without comparisons. The "Essential" group appears to have done it again. This series does a consistently good job of providing solid compilations of country music from the good old days long since gone. Pardon the pun but one may safely "take a chance' on the "Essential Jim Ed Brown" or most compilations from the "Essentials" series.

I have seen and heard him sing so many times.
He has a voice like an angel, when he starts to sing you have to listen, his smooth soft voice steals your soul.
It is a know fact that Jim Ed will stay to the end when he is greeting fans until he has talked with the last one, I have seen this many many times.
His voice will always be the same ( great)
I have many of his albums and cd's.
I never get tired of listing to him sing.

Jim Ed Brown remains one of the purist voices in Country Music, and it is doubtful there will ever be anyone as smooth. This album begins with 6 of the biggest hits of the Browns (Jim Ed, and his Sisters). While I realize this review is for Jim Ed, the harmonies of the Brown trio are simply astounding. There is absolutely nothing to compare to the vocals you'll hear on "I Take the Chance" or the famous "Three Bells". After leaving the Browns for his solo career, Jim Ed retained his trademark style of delivering a song, but like may in the early '70's, seemed to have lost his musical roots. The selection of songs presented here are good, but it also includes the sappy and tired/goofy sound of the dying Nashville Sound, the best examples being "Man and Wife Times" and "Angels Sunday"......if you can keep you're lunch down after hearing these, you're a better man than me! BUT, such was the sound of the day, and Jim Ed redeemed himself with more traditional songs, such as: "Pop a Top" and "Bottle, Bottle". If I had to make a sincere criticism of this album, it would be the lack of numbers including his duet with Helen Cornelius. But, the CD does run nearly an hour, so maybe it was best to leave these off. Still, all in all, this is a nearly perfect collection of songs for the Jim Ed Brown fan.

If you are not familiar with Jim Ed's music this is the CD collection you must own. He is truly one of country music's master balladeers. Whether he is singing with his sisters as a trio, duets with Helen Cornelius, or solo work you can count on this country gentlemen to give you country at its best. If you have known and loved Jim Ed's music for years, enjoy, if you are just a "young'in" buy this CD and learn how its done!

I love the mellow way Jim Ed sings. His songs are truly a joy to hear

I've loved the Browns since I was a little girl. This recording represents all that country can be,especially the well loved Three Bells.Only Jim Reeves could do as well with a ballad. I won't write a biography but I will say that it's been over thirtyfive years and I still love these songs.

The CD features songs Jim Ed Brown recorded with his sisters, Maxine and Bonnie, and later as a solo artist. The Browns songs include their #1 crossover, "The Three Bells (Los Trois Cloches)" and the equally spiritual themed ballad, "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)". Both favorite songs of mine. They cover The Louvin Brothers' "I Take The Chance", Hank Locklin's "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On" and "They Call The Wind Maria" (from the musical "Paint Your Wagon"). Wish this CD also included their cover of Jim Reeves' "Then I'll Stop Loving You". Jim Ed's solo hits include "Pop A Top", written by the late Nat Stuckey and later covered by Alan Jackson. Also beautiful, uplifting songs, "Angel's Sunday" and "Morning".

This CD brought back so many great memories from our teenage years. Always loved The Three Bells and now we can listen to it "whenever". Great music.

I Like Jim Brown's music. I have been looking for the Song Title"Fall Solftly Snow" by Jim Ed Brown/Helen Cornelius. I believe it is on this "CD. I have also been looking for the sheet music for the Song title "Fall Softly Snow". If you have any informationas to where I can locate a "CD"/Cassete tape and or sheet music for the above please reply to lawrencekatie@hotmail.com Thank You, Katie