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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hardcore country mostly from the forties, June 27, 2003
Ernest Tubb was one of the earliest superstars of country music. Unlike his friend Red Foley whose voice had pop crossover appeal, Ernest had a voice that was pure country with no obvious crossover appeal. Yet Ernest had hits in the American pop charts because the songs were of such great quality.
This compilation covers the best of his Decca recordings from 1940 to 1952, although that was far from the end of his recording career. He continued to have big country hits well into the sixties, in which decade he recorded three albums of duets with Loretta Lynn. The set is divided up so that most of the hits from the period covered are on the first two CD's. The third CD contains a selection of other songs that he wrote, while the fourth CD contains his versions of songs written by others (not all covers - some were written for him). The last two CD's include some hits too - they couldn't fit them all on the first two.
The hits include all the songs for which Ernest is best remembered and some that have since yielded interesting covers. They include Walking the floor over you, Soldier's last letter, Tomorrow never comes (covered by Elvis Presley), Filipino baby, So round so firm so fully packed, Let's say goodbye like we said hello, Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue, Slipping around, Blue Christmas and I love you because.
Ernest, though not the first to record Blue Christmas, was the first to have a hit with it though it has since become identified with Elvis Presley. Likewise, Ernest's huge country hit with I love you because is generally forgotten - Jim Reeves made the song his own in the sixties when he had a huge international hit with it.
Ernest also recorded plenty of duets, especially with Rod Foley. Among their duet hits were Goodnight Irene, Too old to cut the mustard and Don't be ashamed of your age. Ernest also recorded two songs with the Andrews sisters (I'm biting my fingernails and thinking of you, Don't rob another man's castle), both featured here.
The third and fourth CD's prove that there was more to Ernest's music than just hit singles. Among the tracks here are The last thoughts of Jimmie Rodgers (recorded in 1936 and released on the Bluebird label), Blue eyed Elaine (his first Decca single, presumably written about his wife), There's a little bit of everything in Texas (a huge hit), Texas vs Kentucky (with Red Foley) and The lovebug itch (with Red Foley and Minnie Pearl).
Diehard Ernest Tubb fans will want the Bear Family boxed sets, but outside those very expensive collections, this is the strongest available. Of course, it only covers the early part of his career but those were his best years. For comparison, this contains the first 35 of the 40 tracks to be found on the Definitive collection. There is more than ample compensation for the omission of Yellow rose of Texas, Mister love, Half a mind, Thanks a lot and Waltz across Texas. Many other hits missing from that collection can be found here.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I spent my misspent youth listening to Ernest Tubb, June 11, 2004
I have Peter Harris to thank for bringing this boxed set to my attention. I had a small collection of Tubb's songs, but one in particular, which I always liked, I could not find anywhere;
probably because I had the name wrong: I thought it was "On My Way to Italy (From the Gulf of Mexico)". It was, instead, titled "Seaman's Blues." I could play it on the guitar, and knew the lyrics, but I wanted it by Ernest Tubb. Now I have it. Thanks again, Peter Harris (see his spotlight review.)
There are four CDs in this boxed set, with 25 songs on each, all by Ernest Tubb. Too many to critique them all, but if you are familiar with his singing, you won't need a critique. Contrary to another critic, I found the quality of the CD quite good. I'm always amazed at the number of critics who spend more time criticizing the technical quality of the vehicle (CD, DVD, etc.) than the quality of the singer's voice or instrumental skill of the side men. These days, it is the digital mastering. In the old days it was the clicks and pops in the records. Well, in the beer halls on the Mex border, we were often too drunk to care, and we enjoyed the music for the music itself. T. Texas Tyler and Ernest Tubb were big with that audience. Marty Robbins was in the Navy at the time (along with me) and no one had yet heard of him. We never heard of Patsy Cline or Jim Reeves, either, although they may have been around. We surely knew Eddy Arnold, although he was not yet Pat Boone's father-in-law, and Red Foley. So, don't expect soothing pop music from Ernest Tubb. It's country/western, beer hall music that you could sit and nurse your broken heart to all night. Run Western music backwards, as they say, and you get your girl back, your truck back, your dog back, your horse back, and you don't need Western music anymore. And that would be a shame. Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honky Tonk Legend, March 11, 2003
Ernest Tubb was simply one of the best country singers to ever walk before the mike. This box set is an affordable collection of his greatest recordings. Don't let the price fool you--all the songs are great, the sound is wonderful, and the booklet is very informative. If you can't afford the Bear Family sets, this is the way to go. Let's hope Proper keeps doing country reissues.
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