Timeless sounds and voices on this latest collection of reissues by Avid…
Hank Snow has been around for so long, he even preceded “Old School” country music. Things actually start in 1953 here on the last album of this 2 disc set, a tribute to Jimmie Rodgers with tunes like “Southern Cannonball” and “When Jimmie Rodgers Said Goodbye” . In 1955, Snow features his big hit “Just Keep a Movin’” and the hilarious “Chattin’ With A Chick in Chattanooga”. Next is his 1956 jamboree with a calypso’d “Memories Are Made Of This” and a harrowing “I Almost Lost My Mind” with his vintage drawl of a baritone. In 1961, Snow delivers a couple more Jimmie Rodgers songs including “My Blue-Eyed Jane”, brings in some Spanish pulses on “Panamama” and shows his guitar chops on the instrumental “Under The Double Eagle”. He’s been everywhere!
For the second set of reissues for the cool vocalist June Christy, things start with a 1956 session with Christy backed by Pete Rugolo’s orchestra as she takes on swing classics like “I’ll Remember April” and “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon.” A 1958 session with her in front of a nine piece band that includes hubby Bob Cooper and trombonist Frank Rosolino for subtle swingers of “Blue Moon” and a rich “My One and Only Love”. 1959 has the obscure session again backed by Rugolo delivering clever takes of “My Shining Hour” and an embracing “I Remember You”. Christy revisits her days with Stan Kenton with Angelenos like Cooper, Rosolino, Jim Hall and Shelly Manne for fresh wines for the wineskins of “Easy Street” and “Willow Weep For Me”. Finally, a 1961 session has her do “offbeat” and obscure material with Rugolo including “Out of This World,” “A Sleeping Bee” and a clever take of “The Bad and the Beautiful”. Classy all the way.