Before George Jones came on the scene in the mid-1950s, there was one truly great pure singer in country music: Ralph Stanley. And then there were two. And while Stanley’s singing was shaped by the mountains and the church, Jones’ came straight from the honky tonk. This compact collection manages to showcase the whole range of his talent and his style: there are silly novelty songs, gospel numbers, and his real stock in trade: barroom weepers. “She Thinks I Still Care,” “My Tears Are Overdue,” and “You Comb Her Hair” are the ones that best showcase his supernal vocal talent, but even on the slighter material he still has the capacity to raise the hair on the back of your neck with a perfect melodic ornament or sudden change in timbre.

– Rick Anderson