A Comprehensive 6-CD Box Set of all of his Recordings from 1952-1962 with a Completely Annotated, Detailed Book.
CD Reviews
Bear Family Outdid Themselves!
C. A. Wine | Woodstock, VA United States | 08/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All I can say is WOW! For anyone who is a fan of Sonny James, this box set is for you!This is indeed the most comprehensive 6-CD collection chronicling the early stages of Sonny's career as a professional recording artist. 147 tracks in all! Featured in this collection is every track Sonny recorded from his initial stint with Capitol, featuring a few recordings never before released. This collection also contains his seven tracks recorded with NRC in 1960 as well as his recordings with RCA and Dot Records. A 60-page booklet accompanies this collection, chocked full of never before seen photos of Sonny and his family, early backstage and studio photos and much more. Personal interviews with Sonny reveal his struggle to fame and the life of a young professional singer, looking to make it big someday. Once "Young Love" comes along, you'll read about the dilemma Sonny's producers are faced with concerning his target audience and the mistakes that were made following this success. Fascinating reading as you listen to his music evolve starting with the first CD to the sixth.The first CD begins with his 1952 sessions with Capitol and producer Ken Nelson. Most of these recordings have the typical country music style from this era. A young Sonny James is establishing himself among his peers, however his own style doesn't seem to show up here. You might pick up a hint of Hank Williams style in some of these tracks.The second CD has a sudden burst of Sonny James! His style that we've grown to love over the years is very dominant on this collection of recordings that chronicle his career from 1955-56. All of the tracks on Sonny's first LP "Southern Gentleman" are featured on this disc. You'll love his guitar and his wonderful delivery of vocals. These sessions truly show Sonny at his best. The third CD starts off with "Young Love", Sonny's biggest selling single and most popular. His "country" sound seems to have been toned down a bit and changed to a more universally accepted "country-pop". The tracks from Sonny's second LP "Sonny" are featured on this disc. Sonny's unique style is present on a few of these recordings. Obviously, record producers are very influential during this period, attempting to sway Sonny away from his core country audience.The fourth CD contains many of Sonny's tracks that attempt to appeal to a younger audience. These recordings have the typical late fifties rock & roll flavor and are no doubt enjoyable, however they're quite a departure from Sonny's country style. You'll pick up the styles of Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers and Rick Nelson among these recordings. Sonny's unique style is absent on this disc until you hear "You Don't Hurt Me Anymore" & "Love Me Like I Am", both tracks truly Sonny! The tracks of Sonny's third LP "Honey" are featured on this disc. This particular LP was recorded in 1958 in an attempt to place Sonny in competition with the popular artist of the day. This LP wasn't country, it wasn't rock & roll, it was pop! This LP was a collection of tracks with a soft-singing Sonny without his guitar with what sounded like "jingle singers" in the background. This was very "un-Sonny". I've personally dubbed it Sonny's "lounge singer" LP. This LP was apparently a sore spot with producer Ken Nelson as well. When you listen, you'll understand why.The fifth CD features a variety of Sonny's sessions with Capitol in 1959. His swung from rock & roll to country and then to pop. All genres were represented on these tracks. Further into the CD, you'll notice the quality of sound deteriorate when Sonny leaves Capitol in 1959 and cuts seven tracks with NRC in 1960. My favorite NRC recording is "Passing Through", an up-tempo tune that could have done well on it's own, but it was featured as the "B" side the "Jenny Lou" single, which did moderately well on Billboards country charts. Toward the end of this CD are some of the RCA sessions, with Sonny working with friend and producer Chet Atkins.The sixth CD rounds up the remaining RCA sessions and covers all of the Dot recordings, most of which were featured on an LP in 1962. The two exceptions are "The Longest Day" and "The Only Cure", which was Sonny's last single before returning to Capitol Records in 1963. "The Only Cure" sounded as if it should have been on a much later Sonny James LP!In conclusion, I think that Bear Family did an astounding job in putting together this boxed set. They've immortalized Sonny James by preserving his recordings and photographs for future generations to enjoy.Thanks Bear Family!Bill Wine"
Sonny James revisited,before he became a star.
S. A. Vikesdal | Vikesaa, Bjerkreim Norway | 09/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This box is great,contains all of Sonny James studio recordings before he became a star.
Hear how many styles of music Sonny tried before he found his trademark style.On the last cd you can hear Sonny has found the style that made him famous.
It is all good great music,buy it you will not regret it.
I guess Bear Family Records will release an cd box with Sonny James complete Capitol recordings where this cdbox ended in the near future."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1