Jones Collection Revives “Musicor” Years

Country legend George Jones has released a lot of music over the course of his six-decade career. But hardcore Possum fans will heartily welcome the February 23 release of George Jones: The Great Lost Hits. The 2-CD collection, released by Time Life, compiles rare and largely out-of-print recordings that were originally released on the Musicor label between 1965 and 1972. On the same date, a special 12-track, single-CD version of the record will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart, with a digital version available from Walmart.com.

Longtime Jones fans point to this era of his career as his best, and the 34 songs culled from the over 250 recordings Jones made for Musicor were carefully selected to reflect this. The tracks included on The Great Lost Hits are a mix of songs that have become classics and rarities that few have heard in many years.

The Great Lost Hits includes Jones classics “A Good Year for the Roses,” “Walk through This World With Me,” “I’ll Share My World With You,” “Love Bug,” and “When the Grass Grows Over Me.” The original version of “Beneath Still Waters,” which later became a No. 1 country hit for Emmylou Harris, and “Your Angel Steps Out of Heaven,” later recorded by Elvis Costello and The Flying Burrito Brothers, are other standouts. Also included is the original version of “Where Grass Won’t Grow” a song Jones later recorded with Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.  

Fans can also hear Tammy Wynette anonymously singing harmony on “Never Grow Cold” soon after they began their relationship. It was actually Jones’ marriage to Wynette that prompted his departure from Musicor for her label, Epic.

Jones is the #2 best-charting country artist of all time, with 143 Top 40 hits to his name, and two Grammy Awards. He is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and holds a National Medal of Arts. At 78, he continues as an active country superstar, headlining dozens of concerts each year.