Search - Sonny James :: Capitol Collectors Series

A good sampling of his best years

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sonny's mellow style of pop-country music did not impress everybody but he was hugely successful in his heyday, sometimes with covers of pop songs, although he also had some great original material. This was the first collection of his music released on CD and was intended to be the first of two volumes. Capitol eventually abandoned their Collectors series so the second volume was never released. This fate also befell Merle Haggard, but while Merle has been reasonably well served by CD releases, Sonny has not. There have been several compilations but they have all been single CD's. Trying to collect all Sonny's big country hits therefore remains a challenge.



This collection is presented in chronological order, beginning with Young love, the song he is best known for despite having to compete head-on with Tab Hunter's version of the same song.



Brits will be familiar with The minute you're gone, which Cliff Richard covered and took all the way to the top of the UK charts. Sonny's version is the original, but he took several pop classics to (or close to) the top of the country charts including (on this collection) I'll never find another you (Seekers), Only the lonely (Roy Orbison), It's just a matter of time (Brook Benton), My love (Petula Clark) and Only love can break a heart (Gene Pitney).



Of the original songs, Baltimore (written by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant), You're the only world I know and True love's a blessing (both co-written by Sonny James) are particularly noteworthy.



Most of these tracks have been re-issued on more recent Sonny James collections but we still await the definitive collection of his Capitol hits.



Tracks



Young love

First date first kiss first love

The minute you're gone

Baltimore

Ask Marie

You're the only world I know

True love's a blessing

Take good care of her

Room in your heart

Need you

I'll never find another you

Heaven says hello

Only the lonely

Since I met my baby

It's just a matter of time

My love

Empty arms

Bright lights big city

Only love can break your heart

That's why I love you like I do"