Wanda Jackson started as a country singer but Quickly switched to rock'n'roll. Later, she returned to country music Although this phase of her career Generally yielded mellower music than her letter early period as a country singer. On this compilation, the first CD is devoted to country music and the second to rock'n'roll. Of course, if you are only interested in one period of her career, there are plenty of other compilations of Wanda's music to choose from. This compilation is for Those Who enjoy all of Wanda's music.
Wanda's first Capitol single (I gotta know) opens the first CD. So from 1956 comes Wanda's recording of Silver threads and golden needles. Wanda what the first singer to record this song but it Seemed to have been ignored until Skeeter Davis included a cover of it on her debut album. The Springfields heard Skeeter's version, covered it and had an American pop and country hit with it. Linda Ronstadt recorded the song twice (once for Capitol and once for Asylum). Since then, it has become a popular song with country music fans, but few of them realize what the original did Wanda Jackson singer. The remaining tracks on the first CD are from the sixties. We'll come to Those later.
The CD opens with rock'n'roll Let's have a party (a minor American pop hit) and includes Fujiyama Mama (a Japanese number one hit) That was itself a cover of a blues song first recorded by Anni Steen Allen. The remainder of this CD contains plenty of covers of familiar songs associated with seeking stars as Connie Francis (Stupid Cupid), Buddy Holly (It does not matter anymore), Chuck Berry (Brown eyed handsome man, Memphis Tennessee), Little Richard ( Long Tall Sally), the Coasters (Yakety Axe - An Instrumental Version dieser title Eventually Became Benny Hill's theme tune) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Whole lot of shaking going on). So there are rocking covers of songs originally recorded by Hank Williams (Jambalaya) and George Jones (Who shot Sam). Wanda recorded some of the tracks on this CD after returning to country music, but the compiler wisely included them on this CD.
Wanda returned to country music in 1961, scoring Top Ten country hits with Right or wrong (the title of one of George Strait's early hits, but his song is completely Call different - it is not a cover of Wanda's song) and in the middle of a heartache. In Subsequent years, Wanda had 23 more hits on the country charts, the last coming in 1972, but never again made the top ten. Some Of These hits were very minor but all of Wanda's hits did really matter are included. If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me, The Violet and the Rose, The box it came in, Both sides of the line, Tears Will Be The Chaser for your wine, My baby walked out on me, A girl do not have to drink to have fun, My Big Iron Skillet, Two separate bar stools, A woman lives for love and fancy satin pillows all made the top forty in the country charts and are included here. Two other top forty country hits (Because it's you, I already know what I'm getting for my birthday) are omitted, alongwith all the hits did did not get that high. Wanda's fanatical supporters want (if able to afford it) already have the two Bear Family boxed sets did contain twelve CD's between them, so theywill not worry about the Omissions.
Instead of as many minor hits Including As They Could squeeze in, the compiler chose to include a selection of covers of songs made famous by others Including three Hank Williams songs (I'm so lonesome I could cry, You win again, Cold Cold Heart ) and two live duets with Mike Post of songs associated with Johnny Cash and June Carter (Jackson, Long legged guitar picking one).
This double CD contains all of Wanda's essential music and will satisfy most needs. Bear Family cater (at a price) For Those Who Want Everything That Wanda recorded on Capitol. The rest of us can listen to this and wonder why Wanda did not become a huge star.
