Few artists have as gorgeous and identifiable voice as Jim Reeves. Like tenor saxist Stan Getz, Reeves had a calm, mellifluous tone that makes any song a balm to the ears. “Gentleman Jim” Reeves’ career, while cut short by an early death at the age of 41, did not have the artist underrecorded, as he was essentially the ambassador for the Nashville sound of playing and singing. He always was supported by best studio artists, including Floyd Cramer/p, Red Hayes/fid, Little Hayes/fid, Chet Atkins/g, Hank Garland/g and Jimmy Day/steel, and even with poppish strings, or vocal support by the likes of the Anita Kerr singers or The Jordanaires, you hang in with him because of the allure of his Bing Crosby calm.
His top hits such as “Mexican Joe,” “Billy Bayou” and “Four Walls” are included here, and pieces such as “He’ll Have to Go” simply cross all musical divides. Other popular material such as “Four Walls,” “Anna Marie” and “Blue Boy” stand the test of time, and don’t sound dated at all. Isn’t that the goal of every artist?