The Essential Jimmie Rodgers

Jimmie Rodgers

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 1997)
• Original Release Date: April 29, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002X3V
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,066 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential, indeed, for fans of Americana music..., February 9, 2002

By	William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I bought this about a year ago. Although I was 56, and had been a country music fan for 50 years, I had never owned any Jimmie Rodgers' records, and neither had my parents. In fact, I don't think I had heard a full song by Jimmie in my life. Boy, was I missing something! The man would have been a country superstar in any era, he just happened to be first, in the 1920's. This is consistently interesting material, wonderfully recorded and preserved. "Waitin'for a Train" has not been done better by any of the scores of artists who have covered it in the 70+years since Jimmie sang it. If you like country, western, folk, singer-songwriter stuff, blues or historically important sessions, buy this CD.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Singing Brakeman !, August 18, 2003

By	Mcgivern Owen L (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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"The Essential Jimmie Rodgers" is highly recommended for any serious country music fan. If anyone is the genuine article, it is Jimmie. Listeners will recognize some old favorites among the tracks including "Frankie and Johnny", "Mule Skinner Blues" and "T for Texas". There are also fine versions of "Waitin' for A Train" and "In the Jailhouse Now" though some may prefer Jerry Lee Lewis' version of the former and the Webb Pierce recording of the latter. The most interesting tracks are less well known. These include "My Old Pal", "My Old Sunny South by the Sea" and one devoted not to a mother but a father (!)-"Daddy and Home". For this reviewer, the album hit its high point on the final track, a mournful "TB Blues", a reference to the disease that took Jimmie's life at 35. While Jimmie's yodeling style may not be for everyone, this reviewer considers this album a safe bet. Keep in mind that JR was elected to both the Country and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Further, the "Essential" series of albums rarely disappoints. These almost always sponsor well- produced compilations of our past heroes best efforts. "The Essential Jimmie Rodgers" certainly falls into that category.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad. We need a volume II, though!, January 27, 2000

By	Ronald G. Reagan (Steele, Mo.) - See all my reviews

Nicely done CD. It's really hard to boil down what tracks are essential by Jimmie, but BMG didn't do a half bad job with this. I would have opted for some material like "Jimmie The Kid", "Travellin' Blues" or "The Wonderful City" in addition to the selections on here, but maybe we can get a volume II? Classic country at it's best.