You know a guy is a REAL country singer when he’s listed in a “hillbilly-music.com” web site. That’s what you’re getting with Texas Jim Robertson (1909-1966) and this two disc, 52 song anthology . You get here a collection of his A & B sides of his singles from various labels, with a few songs recorded before WWII, but most after he served in the Pacific Theatre.
Unlike today’s topics of trucks, babes and beer, Robertson sings of life in Texas and the west, with nary a pose or cliché. Also unlike today’s country artists, Robertson was qualified to sing about the war as well, including songs such as “Last Page of Mein Kampf” and “When The War Is Over”. He also did traditional Western material as well, such as “Home On The Range” and “Red River Valley” without it sounding at all contrived.
With his group The Panhandle Punchers, Robertson honky-tonks with the best on “If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got the Time” and with some blue grassy mandolin work supporting his avuncular and relaxed tone on “I’m Back to Where I Started”. He’s an absolute hoot on “Don’t You Angel Me” There’s a cozy lilt to his voice with old timey fiddle on “I’ll Be Back In A Year, Little Darlin’” and held up well in his later years with “Slippin’ Around”.
You’ll feel like you spent a couple nights at the ol’ Moose Lodge after taking in this album that is so retro that it’s avant garde