Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Wynn Stewart 1958-62

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Along with Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart shares credit for creating the west coast country sound. Harder hitting than the direction Nashville was taking at the time, and with some sting in the electric guitars, the west coast sound planted the seeds for later country-rock marriages and any number of alt.country roots revivals. Bakersfield contemporaries (including Owens and Haggard), as well as Dwight Yoakam, k.d. lang, Nick Lowe and Roger Wallace have all taken cues from Stewart.

Stewart's sound, especially his singing, had a drama that neither Owens or Haggard matched. From his earliest rockabilly work (represented here by 1958's "Come On") to fiddle-and-harmony driven weepers ("How the Other Half Lives," a duet with Jan Howard, "Wishful Thinking," and others), and country pop ("Above and Beyond (The Call of Love)" - a hit for Buck Owens on the tails of this original waxing), Stewart ranges over a variety of styles and emotions with incredible ease.

Though his chart success was sporadic, the brilliance of his recordings were anything but. The tracks here represent only a sampling (but a well-picked sampling) of the riches in his catalog. Selected from a five year period ('58-'62) during which he recorded for Challenge and Jackpot, these eighteen cuts serve as an excellent (and affordable) introduction to Stewart's work. Newly penned liner notes and vintage photos provide a brief biography. For the full story (including his later #1 hit, "It's Such a Pretty World Today," and a comprehensive biography), Bear Family's 10-disc, career complete, "Wishful Thinking" box set is the ticket.

Single disc or box set, Stewart's music is essential listening for anyone interested in honky-tonk and the west coast country sound.

This is a pretty solid little record that serves as a good intro to the music of Wynn Stewart. The songs are all top-notch old school country that would sound right at home in a little smoke-filled bar. The production is a little slick on some of the tracks giving them a less gritty, pop feel. However, the song "Come On" is a great rock-a-billy stomper and "Wishful Thinking" will have you cryin' out to a long lost love! This CD is a great addition to a classic country fan's music collection and is right at home with stuff like Faron Young and Johnny Cash.

One country music's best voices. Wynn is in the roll call with Lefty, George Jones, and Merle. He also laid the chunk for the Bakersfield sound. A few songs into this CD and you'll know where Merle and Buck got their major influence. I can't wait for the best of '63 through '75.

Here's the guy that kicked off the California Country sound. You can hear Wynn's influence not only in Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, but moreso, in Dwight Yoakam! In fact, Dwight covered Wynn's fine hit "Playboy". Included in this collection, are "Long Black Limousine" (a song covered by both Lefty and Keith Whitley) and "Above and Beyond" (A Buck Owens covered hit). Also, the duet with Jan Howard, "How the Other Half Lives" and "Wrong Company", will rival any duet Conway & Loretta or George & Tammy ever put together. This album is absolute pure honky-tonk with the finest fiddle sound to ever come out of your speakers (one listen to "Wishful Thinking" and you'll agree). If you like the Bakersfield Sound, you owe it to yourself to get this one. A+

I have never heard of this singer but one of his songs is used on a car commercial. We like the song so we ordered his CD and love all the songs. Great old Honky Tonk music.

This is a good assortment of songs for the Wynn Stewart fan. I had not heard his music for years and recently rediscovered him when I saw the commercial on TV with "Another Day, Another Dollar". It is too bad he was not more successful as he was very talented.

Wynn Stewart was one of those singers that never received the notoriety he deserved,although,a big influence on country music and other singers who took a step higher than Stewart,like the legendary,Merle Haggard and Buck Owens-both men rounded off and completed the hardcore "Bakersfield" sound or the California sound that also influenced artist such as,Gram Parsons,and Dwight Yoakam. Wynn Stewart with a voice so unique,resonant,smooth,and controlled,had the ability to turn a mediocre song and flip it to the hitside as you hear on this disc,the very best of the Challenge recordings,here's an early glimsp of this very underrated vocalist. There are better recordings of Wynn Stewart,(After The Storm,the Playboy sessions and the Capitol recordings),any chance to hear the man is like pure gold,honky tonk at its best.

i purchased this cd for the song another day another dollar only to find out what a great cd this turn out to be, good old country music.the more i hear it the better it gets

I remember Wynn Stewart from the 60's and had forgotten how good he was. This is an album I recommend.

Purchased for the one song "Another Day, Another Dollar" which my husband kept hearing on TV as an advertisement for some company that used "Another Day" as background music. He wanted to have a complete copy of it for his collection. Has been enjoying the entire CD.