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Charlie Rich Album: “Lonely Weekends: The Best of the Sun Years, 1958-1962 [Bear Family]”
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Lonely Weekends: The Best of the Sun Years, 1958-1962 [Bear Family] |
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Release Date:1998-03-25
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Type:Unknown
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Genre:Country, Vintage Country, Oldies
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Label:Bear Family
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Explicit Lyrics:Yes
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UPC:4000127161529
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Review - :
Of all the acts that came out of {@Sun Studios} in the '50s and early '60s, from {$Howlin' Wolf} to {$Elvis}, from {$Johnny Cash} and {$Jerry Lee Lewis} to {$Carl Perkins} and {$Bill Justis}, none was more musically sophisticated and diverse in his writing, arranging, and performing than {$Charlie Rich}. That's right, the same guy who had hits with {&"Behind Closed Doors,"} and {&"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World."} {$Rich} was equally adept at recording {\rockabilly}, {\blues}, {\R&B}, {\jazz}, {\country}, {\gospel}, and everything in between. This three-disc set of his years with {@Sun}, from 1958-1962, point to that in a big way, that {$Rich} was pretty much fully formed and wildly adventurous (often to the chagrin of {$Sam Phillips}) when he began recording for the Memphis label. Reissued by the venerable {@Bear Family}, this collection contains a whopping 95 cuts over three discs, and three solid sets of liners by {$Colin Escott}, {$Richard Weize}, and {$Hank Davis}. Some of the players include {$Scotty Moore}, {$James Wilkerson}, {$Al Jackson, Jr.}, {$Billy Riley}, and {$Lewis}. Besides {$Phillips}, {$Cowboy Jack Clement}, {$Justis} and {$Rich} acted as producers. The material includes all the hits, most of which were regional and jukebox smashes rather than bona fide, nationwide radio successes, but that was the America's loss. In England they got it. From the originals {&"Lonely Weekends,"} {&"Sittin and Thinkin,"} the {$Justis} written, {$Fats Domino} inspired {&"Rebound,"} the {$Holmes Daylie} {&"Juice Head Baby"} and more {$Rich} tunes than you can shake a stick at. There are the great {\blues} of {&"Baby I Need You"} and {&"Ain't It a Shame,"} and rockers like {&"Popcorn Polly,"} with an interesting {$Alvin & the Chipmunks} backing vocal, {&"Philadelphia Baby,"} {&"Red Man,"} and the wild {&"Break Up"} (a big hit for {$Elvis} that kept {$Rich} in rent money and cigarettes for a long time). {$Rich}'s piano work is astounding, his singing excellent, and his phrasing trademark. He could imitate like most performers, but {$Rich}'s writing is what kept him around {@Sun} for such a long time. He racked up hits for other artists by the dozens, but success in the big time was to elude him until his brief moment the mid-'70s with his big {\country} hits. (And even those albums have their quirks and double-take moments.) The sound on this collection is righteous, and it's so exhaustive it contains many alternate masters, undubbed originals, demos and alternate takes. It's not cheap, but for any serious {$Rich} fan -- and you all should be -- this is a necessity. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
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![Charlie Rich Album: “Lonely Weekends: The Best of the Sun Years, 1958-1962 [Bear Family]”](http://www.bestcountrysingers.com/covers_yaC/charlie-rich/1998_170_170_Lonely%2520Weekends%253A%2520The%2520Best%2520of%2520the%2520Sun%2520Years%252C%25201958-1962%2520%255BBear%2520Family%255D.jpg "Charlie Rich Album: “Lonely Weekends: The Best of the Sun Years, 1958-1962 [Bear Family]”")