Search - Jimmy Work :: Making Believe

Rescued From Obscurity

rfrankl | NYC | 11/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bear Family Records is the German company that releases massive, beautifully produced reissues of the recorded works for country musicians, both well-known and obscure. Major figures such as Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb and Left Frizzell have all received the royal treatment from Bear Family with massive, multi-CD sets.Less noticed but perhaps even more valuable are the one or two disc reissues of minor artists who produced a handful of great works and then faded away. Jimmy Work is one of those artists, and "Making Believes" ensures that he is not forgotten.Work wrote one of the most beaautiful country songs ever, "Making Believe," which Work had a minor hit with, and which has been covered my numerous artists in the five decades since its first release. Work's own version is here, and its a fine one. But throughout these two CDs Work demonstrates that he was solid and original songwriter and a better than avergae vocalist. These songs are, for the most part excellent '50's honky tonk, with a only a few silly novelty songs added to the mix. Work flirts with a few other styles of his day such as rockabilly, country boogie and western swing, but he sounds most comfortable qith straightahead honky tonk. Fans of the style will enjoy this collection, much of which has never before been released, on LP or CD.Jimmy Work had no meaningful commercial success after the song "Making Believe" and he retired from the business many years ago, apparently with few regrets. He deserved better. Is this a "must have"? No, but for fans of '50's country, you will enjoy this reissue."