Gene Autry: Blues Singer, 1929-1931

Gene Autry | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 1996)
• Original Release Date: October 8, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AEO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,771 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!!, August 16, 2000

By 

James Otterstrom (Big Bear City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gene Autry: Blues Singer, 1929-1931 (Audio CD)

I just love this CD, here he is, the squeaky-clean idol of Hollywood's 'Singing' Cowboys', yodeling about booze, women, and jail. Blues and folk music is fundamental to what eventually became the cowboy, western, and country genres, and Gene demonstrates here that prior to his 'Cowboy' fame, he had a solid grip on the blues. He emulates the style of blues legend Jimmie Rodgers, but each track, including the 10 original compositions, is genuinely convincing. Gene's voice & timing are wonderful, and his playing competent, especially when backed up by Roy Smeck's banjo or delicious steel guitar. Before I heard this recording I felt that Gene's major contribution to music was 'Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer' and a bunch of movieland hokum, but, as with 'Roy Rogers' early 'Sons Of The Pioneers' recordings (pre 1938), I have come to find that these cowboy-era musicians were at their best before Hollywood re-fabricated them. If you are a fan of Gene Autry 'The Cowboy', this CD will surprise you, if you're not it may surprise you even more, and if you're a fan of Jimmie Rodgers, this is definitely your stuff.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars White hat, great blues, December 14, 2004

By 

Wayne Engle "Wayne Engle" (Madison, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gene Autry: Blues Singer, 1929-1931 (Audio CD)

When it came to singing, you name it and Ole' Gene could do it. He shows that in this wonderful collection of old blues sides, a la Jimmie Rodgers (but Gene does them a little better, I think). Notice how he adds just enough "black" accent when he sings these to sound bluesy, but doesn't overdo it by continually saying "Lawd! Lawd!" or such other blues-type exclamations. His voice was still definitely a tenor at this young age, and hadn't deepened yet into the rich baritone most people remember. Wonder what those blues would have sounded like sung by a more mature Gene Autry? This is one of those gems you don't find without some digging, but it's definitely worth it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite a surprise, and very good., September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gene Autry: Blues Singer, 1929-1931 (Audio CD)

Most artists start by copying their heroes before developing their own style: the Beatles ripped off countless Chuck Berry licks, Bob Dylan wrote and sang like Woody Guthrie, early Sinatra tried to sound like Bing Crosby, and Gene Autry did his own version of Jimmie Rodgers. In fact he's just a bit better, having been endowed with a better set of pipes. Heresy, I know, but there it is.

It's surprising to hear Autry singing about T.B., murder, and infidelity if you know the slightly corny pop singer he latter became. I prefer this Autry to that one.

I reccommend this to fans of either Gene Autry or the music of Jimmie Rodgers.