"THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
Posted by JULIE (Webmistress) on May 2, 2014, 8:52 pm
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: The waiting is over! The most spectacular new CD set has just been released and WE HAVE IT BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE!
"The Great Jim Reeves" is an 8 CD set with more than 170 tracks, including 42 new overdubs of RCA Masters and material you haven't heard before. Also included is a 48-page booklet called "Songs & Recordings" by Reeves biographer Larry Jordan (with an assist from our daughter Sara, who helped with research and writing).
Needless to say, this is a splendid way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jim Reeves' passing. Many talented musicians, singers, orchestrators, engineers and others have worked on this project for months, putting in long hours as they strove for excellence. Hearing is believing. You can listen to audio samples and order this set -- bargain priced at only $39.95 -- by clicking the link below!
I want to add one postscript: even if all you listen to is the GOSPEL music sampler on the promo page, be sure to take the time to hear it. I believe you will be deeply moved by the exquisite beauty of this music, which is my favorite on the new CD set. The original recordings have been transformed into something extraordinary amongst all the overdubs. -- JULIE
I ordered mine as soon as i received the e-mail. I listened to the samples and they really are amazing. The gospel ones really make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end !! This really is a fitting tribute to mark the 50th anniversary of Jim's passing.
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
Wow Julie this is fantastic. A wonderful way to commemorative the 50th anniversary. I only wished the gospel song "The flowers, the sunset and the trees" a very beautiful rendition was also included in the gospel list. The original version definitely needs an uplift. Anyway, this is a true masterpiece and will shine for years to come. Thanks Larry for all your love,effort and the time spent to bring this unique set to our lives.
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
I can tell you why that song wasn't included: Because Jim's voice uncharacteristically sounded frayed on some of the low notes. I don't know if he had been singing a lot that day but his voice was not in as good a shape as it normally was. Several of the musicians commented on it who worked on this project, so I as producer made the decision not to include it. Only "the best" songs are represented in this collection. It is surprising that Jim and RCA ever released a "take" that had his voice sounding so gravelly. I've wondered about that for years.
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
Thanks for your explanation Larry. I too, was surprised that RCA released this very poor recording of Jim. Perhaps he was worn out that day for him to sound so different and melancholy. However, I like the lyrics and the melody and will have to live with the original recording!!.
Thanks again for this wonderful new music to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jim's passing. You are truly a genius Larry!!
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
I keep telling my wife and daughter I'm a genius but they don't believe me for some reason! :)
There was an overdub done of "The Flowers, The Sunset, The Trees" years ago on an LP. Maybe someone can write in and tell us where that can be found as I admit I don't recall exactly what release it was on.
I love the song, but I avoided using recordings that had imperfections. There was one song in particular I really wanted to overdub, but it was so poorly recorded with overly loud and very bad background vocals (by somebody other than the splendid Anita Kerr singers) that I just couldn't work with it.
One thing that I think will surprise and puzzle a lot of fans, especially those audiophiles who are interested in the technical side of things, is just how we were able to so isolate Jim's voice and get rid of the original backings. I'll let them wonder about that. You will be astonished when you hear Jim on this set.
We also did some remixes that will make the songs sound fresh. "I Won't Forget You" is a good example. Jim has NEVER been heard this distinctly before. Same with "Welcome To My World." You've never been able to hear Jim's vocal this well on that song. It's like hearing it for the first time.
Our brilliant daughter Sara dug up some really interesting background information on each of these songs and helped me put the narrative together. I think fans will have fun learning the stories behind these numbers.
The talented musicians I have used on previous VoiceMasters releases are also featured on this set and they worked tirelessly to get their parts exactly right. There were no ego clashes; everyone cooperated beautifully, contributed creative ideas, and did EXACTLY what I asked of them as the Producer. We're also working on another CD of overdubs of very rare tracks by a female artist for release sometime probably late summer. This one will be rather jazz oriented.
The musicians have pedigrees that you just would not believe. Like my trumpet man, Steve Patrick. He has performed with Maynard Ferguson, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Vince Gill, Elton John, Norah Jones and Patti Austin.
Or tenor sax man Craig Swift, who has worked with Amy Grant, Tom Jones, Francesca Battiselli, Salvador and Jaci Velasquez, and even played for the visit of Pope Benedict to New York City. How do you top THAT?
Trumpeter Mike Duva has backed an incredible gospel singer I've had the pleasure of meeting named Ivan Parker, as well as the best Southern Gospel group recording today -- the Kingdom Heirs (who appear at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge). Mike also played with the reconstituted Glenn Miller orchestra on tour.
The list goes on.
A very skilled percussionist who worked with Billy Joel and has a degree in studio engineering from Berkley also worked with me extensively in Florida on this "Great Jim Reeves" 8 CD set. Besides all this, Scott Graham is a talented arranger. (If you've heard "Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney: The New Recordings" I produced a few months ago, Scott was a major force behind that incredible recording). He helped me take "Mary's Boy Child" (which Jim Reeves described to a Nashville newspaper as his favorite Christmas song), and turn it back into a calypso beat -- like the songwriter originally intended. It is not included in the medley we've posted online so it will be a surprise when you buy the set. Scott became engaged to a lovely young woman from the UK during the time he was working on this project and after getting down on one knee and proposing to her, and then slipping a ring on her finger, he immediately took her home so he could dash back to the studio and resume working on this 8-CD set post-midnight, as the deadline neared. Now THAT'S dedication! Thank goodness his fiancee understood! I extend my congratulations to this lovely couple.
Kenzie Wetz, who is a gorgeous young woman with a rich voice and is a member of the current Grand Ole Opry band, sang two duets with Jim Reeves you're going to enjoy. She also is a heck of a fiddle player and she helped Opry steel guitarist Pat Severs turn "Railroad Bum" into a rousing number.
Our friend Arne Benoni, the popular singer from Norway, also contributed his guitar skills to some of the songs and besides being a fine singer (he's featured on "I Know One" with Jim Reeves), Arne is a very fine guitarist.
So it was a tremendous experience working on this...and doing 42 new overdubs while I was recuperating from my heart ablation and at a really low point in terms of energy. But I honestly think it was therapeutic because I have so much fun doing these.
Hats off to my wonderful UK business partner Steve Brink as well, who like me is very detail-oriented and a perfectionist. He has an impressive background in the recording industry and shares my enthusiasm for good music
Last but not least...today is not only Julie's birthday but our 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. So we're celebrating several things today, including the release of this new CD set...
Happy Birthday to Julie. And happy anniversary to you both. I look forward to hearing the 50th Anniversary set. And I appreciate what you both do for us Jim Reeves admirers.
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
Wow! This set looks fantastic, and I'm sure it is! Julie, I want to wish you a very Happy Birthday, and to you and Larry, a Happy Anniversary! And as always, a big thank you for all the great releases! I can't wait to hear all the new overdubs, and to see the book which I'm sure Larry and Sara did an excellent job putting together. I understand there will be two more surprises coming up for the 50th anniversary! Can't wait to see what they are!
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
I can't wait to hear the new overdub of "Mary's Little Boy Child"! One of my all-time favorite recordings of Jim's, and has always been my favorite Christmas recording of his. I was delighted when I learned it was Jim's favorite too!
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
Julie, wish you a very Happy Birthday and to you both a Happy 25th Anniversary. May God bless you and fill your life with more love and happiness. Thank you for all you do and continue to do to keep JR alive in us. You are amazing.
Re: "THE GREAT JIM REEVES" 8 CD, 50th Anniversery SET RELEASED!
on May 3, 2014, 6:27 am, in reply to "