Search - Faron Young :: Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight: Hi-Tone Poppa

The Music Is Fine, the Package Is Obnoxious!

luckyoldsun | New York New York | 02/17/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you already have "The Complete Capitol Hits of Faron Young" (the best collection by far) then most of what you get here is songs that you already have. But there are a handful of new ones here, some of which are good, like "I'm A Poor Boy" "Hot Rod Shotgun Boogie" and the title track that show off Faron Young's rockin' side.



What is annoying for a deluxe package like this is that Bear Family for some strange reason assigned the writing of the liner notes to someone named Deke Dickerson who, to put it plainly, bears a deep contempt toward Faron Young! (I suspect the people running the German record label did not even read the notes.) Dickerson's nasty essay says--among other things--that Faron probably stole "Goin' Steady" from Hank Williams; that Faron's rockabilly records--THE MATERIAL THAT'S NEW TO THIS COLLECTION!--are forced and are really not any good; and that Faron was not innovative at all. He even brings up unsuccessful Faron recordings that are not included here! ("Shrine of St. Cecilia") just to point out that they were especially awful. Oh, and to top it off, he rips Faron for committing suicide at age 64, ascribing it to Faron's flawed character and lifelong need for attention. Deke Dickerson certainly is entitled to his opinions, but I have no idea why his gratuitous slaps at Faron would be foisted on people who buy a Faron Young disc. There must be a knowledgeable country music historian who could have produced an essay on Faron Young that did not have a hostile tone and that highlighted what was good about him and his music--and that did not resort to engaging in cheap, armchair psychoanlysis of the man.



This has to be the first time I've ever bought a product of any sort and received a message inside from the seller telling me that the thing I just paid for is really not very good! It puts something of a damper on the "listening experience."

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