Love Songs [2004]

• Artist: George Jones/Tammy Wynette
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 13, 2004
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Country

Review

Oh yeah, this is it. Just in time for Valentine's Day 2004, Legacy kicks loose this compilation of love songs by George Jones and Tammy Wynette. And though it only contains 14 songs, they are choice. The six years documented here, 1971-1976, when the duo were sharing Billy Sherrill as a producer, offer one of the most beautifully stylized and emotionally wrought pairings in country music history. Whether it be the classic "The Ceremony," in which the pair openly declare wedding vows, to the devastatingly beautiful "It's Been a Beautiful Life (Loving You)," to the redone, definitive version of "We're Gonna Hold On" -- that Jones originally recorded with Melba Montgomery -- and arguably, the greatest version of the Billy Sherrill-Curly Putman classic "My Elusive Dreams" ever put on tape, the result is the same: pure countrypolitan bliss (though "We're Not the Jet Set" could have been here, too). Highly recommended. ~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Ceremony (Lyrics)	Carmol Taylor, Billy Sherrill, Jenny Strickland	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(3:04)
When True Love Steps In (Lyrics)	Carmol Taylor	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:10)
Take Me (Lyrics)	George Jones, Leon Payne	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:21)
To Live on Love (Lyrics)	Earl Montgomery	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:56)
It's So Sweet (Lyrics)	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:25)
We Could (Lyrics)	Freddie Hart, Felice Bryant	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:42)
My Elusive Dreams (Lyrics)	Curly Putman, Billy Sherrill, Claude "Curly" Putman Jr.	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(3:34)
If Loving You Starts Hurting Me	George Richey, Earl Montgomery, Carl Montgomery	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:57)
When I Stop Dreaming (Lyrics)	Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(3:15)
Even the Bad Times Are Good (Lyrics)	Carl Belew	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:49)
We're Gonna Hold On (Lyrics)	George Jones, Earl Montgomery	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:57)
Near You (Lyrics)	Francis Craig, Rob Goellner	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:23)
It's Been a Beautiful Life (Lyrics)	Carmol Taylor, Billy Sherrill	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:25)
Never Grow Cold	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	George Jones, Tammy Wynette	(2:41)

Credits

Liz Reilly (Photo Research), Adam Farber (Artist Coordination), Gregg Geller (Compilation Producer), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), Vic Anesini (Mastering), Joy Gilbert Monfried (Series Director), Steven Berkowitz (A&R), Michael Ochs (Photography), Billy Sherrill (Producer), Stephanie Chernikowski (Photography)