JIM REEVES FAN FORUM

Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 17, 2014, 3:37 am

The question may seem obvious but the Jim Reeves phenomena has been so expansive and enduring. Larry's seminal work has established the story through his painstaking research. He raises this question and it would be interesting to hear answers that probe beyond solely that of Jim's voice. Was it the era, the place, the glamour etc?

Regards Rodders

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Gary Bryson <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Gary+Bryson' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 17, 2014, 6:10 pm, in reply to "Why jim reeves?"

I think Jim came along at the perfect time. He was born and raised in the country when the culture was much different than it is now, and his upbringing molded who he turned out to be, both as a man and as an artist.

Part of what made Jim appeal to me was the songs that he chose to sing. He was contemporary with song writers like Cindy Walker, Bill Anderson, Roger Miller, Leon Payne, and others who provided much of his material. Jim too wrote several of my favorite songs of his. And all those people wrote at a particular time and out of a particular worldview that would have been much different had they all been born forty years earlier, or forty years later.

I also believe that the musicians that worked with him, having Chet Atkins as his producer, and the Anita Kerr Singers as his backup group all were significant parts of his success.

So, it was the era, and the place, and the people that contributed to making Jim Reeves what he became. But none of it would have mattered but for Jim's vocal gifts, which came directly from God.

Re: Why jim reeves?

I neglected to mention Bea Terry as a contributor to Jim's success.

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 18, 2014, 2:13 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Gary
Many thanks - totally agree. To further get a handle on it would be interesting to profile who has bought/ currently buying Jim's records e.g. Males, females, young, old, couples etc. Is there a new audience emerging?

Regards Rod

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Colin Baird <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Colin+Baird' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 18, 2014, 10:56 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

I never knew the man so for me it was his voice that first grabbed me. I was a youth of the sixties when it was The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and all the other Fabulous groups of the time and I loved them all. However my favourite singer was "Gentleman Jim Reeves". I have no Beatles or Rolling Stones LP's but I do have at the last count about 86 Jim Reeves vinyl LP's which are treasured and kept safe. Now all my JR. music is contained in my iPod. I often wonder what Jim would make of today's technology! How would he react if I said to him, Jim I have all your recordings on this wee piece of equipment, and show him the iPod, I bet he'd be stunned! Not long after Jim and Dean were killed I saw an LP in a shop in High Street Glasgow, the shop went by the name H.S.T. Continental. The LP. was Jim's "Singing Down The Lane" I looked at the track listing and did'nt buy it because I had his LP. "Have I Told You Lately" ( That I Love You )this LP. contained all the tracks bar two, Tweedle O' Twill and Love Me A Little Bit More. I can't quite remember the price of the album but I do know it was dearer than a British release,perhaps £3/10/6 (£3;50p )in todays money as all imports were and I could'nt afford to pay the cost for two tracks I did'nt have. Many years passed and I continued to wish I had simply bought "Singing Down The Lane" and added it to my collection. Eventually I tracked down a copy of this LP in Northern Ireland and was more than happy to part with £250 for it! It was with great anticipation I waited for the release of Jim's movie ( Kimberly Jim ) which I saw for the first time in Glasgow and enjoyed it very much. Now and again I put the DVD of "KJ" on and watch it. I don't know if Jim would ever have been a great actor but it was just great to see him perform in this film. To me Jim Reeves' music is timeless and with the dedication of Larry and his team we continue to hear newer and fresher versions of the great man's recordings. For that I send my sincere thanks to all. Colin

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 19, 2014, 2:50 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Yes, the timeless beauty of Jim's voice is amazing, I guess there timeless classics in literature, cars etc - his voice is the timeless classic of music. Although some of my teenage kids have 'strange' music on their iPods etc they also had johnny cash - rebellious songs I guess. Has Jim any appeal to this age group?

Re: Why jim reeves?

Since Jim's music is not played much on radio anymore, at least in America, I would guess that people under, say age forty, have not heard much of him, unless their parents, or an older relative has exposed them to him.

Because the culture has changed so much from how it was in the 60's, I don't know how popular Jim would be with younger people. Would someone who likes what currently passes as "music" be inclined to appreciate Jim's music? Some probably would. But it's hard for me to imagine that someone who is heavily tattooed and pierced would be a Jim Reeves fan.

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 19, 2014, 5:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

But there are radio stations her on Long Island that play music from Jim's era, and they play artists like Eddy Arnold, Patsy Cline, the Browns, Ferlin Husky, Jimmy Dean and quite a few others--but not one song by Jim--NOT ONE. For the life of me, I cannot understand this!

Re: Why jim reeves?

Mike, Curious. I wonder if it has something to do with money? Not sure how it could, but I do know money is the reason for a lot of things that happen, or don't happen, in this world.

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 20, 2014, 3:42 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Yes, this seems to be a regular concern, I guess it relates to why not jim reeves - could it have something to do with the highly sentimental nature of Jim's songs based on broken relationships etc?

Re: Why jim reeves?

Other singers sing songs having to do with sentiment and lost loves, so I think it unlikely that would be the reason Jim isn't played on radio.

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 20, 2014, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Who knows, Gary, but I would doubt that's the reason. Why on Earth would Jim, as great as he is, not be played on the radio? I've gone over it a million times, and I can't think of even one possibility. To make matters worse, I did hear "He'll Have To Go" on the radio years ago on CBS/FM and the DJ got his name wrong! Joe Reeves???

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 27, 2014, 10:21 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Not sure if it's relevant but Anita Kerr implied that JR's voice was to unemotional and too perfect for some where some more emotion and even imperfection in the voice is preferred.
A similar comment has been made re why John Denver did not get the recognition from country fans he deserves. I wonder if Larry has any insights on these views?

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 27, 2014, 9:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

I am not familiar with the quote you attribute to Anita, and would be interested in seeing the source.

I can think of a number of "perfect" singers like Jim -- who hit the notes accurately and with seeming ease -- and with their own unique intonation. The list would include stars like Anne Murray, John Denver, Rosemary Clooney, Engelbert Humperdinck, Matt Monro, and others. They didn't sing with a lot of "coloratura" or emotion in their voices. Yet they have all sold millions of recordings.

Patsy Cline was an accurate singer, too, but she had a wide dynamic range which she used very expressively, and she was from the old school. In the booklet I wrote that accompanies the overdubs I produced for "The Divine Ms. Cline," I analyze Patsy's range of vocal tricks, which were considerable. (To hear samples of her singing, click the link below).

But the other artists I named above would not have been as good had they stepped out of their comfort zone and tried to sing with a lot of emotion. On the other end of the spectrum I suppose one could cite Perry Como, who always put me to sleep because he was SO laid back and dull.

I don't know who these people are who prefer their singers not to be able to hit the right notes, or be melodramatic with their vocalizing but since it's much more difficult to sing accurately, I have always admired those -- like Jim Reeves -- who can.

Link: Patsy Cline sampler

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 28, 2014, 1:51 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Many thanks for the helpful comments; the Anita Kerr comments are on p 150 of from a moth to a flame - a sort of comparison between eddy Arnold and jr by Anita Kerr.

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 28, 2014, 6:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Are you not aware that Streissguth's book is replete with a multitude of distortions, inaccuracies, omissions and other deficiencies? I wouldn't put any stock in what you read there.

Re: Why jim reeves?

Posted by Rodney James <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 29, 2014, 8:37 am, in reply to "Re: Why jim reeves?"

Larry, I was not aware, I assumed however mistakenly that he was quoting from a transcript of an interview with Anita Kerr which is what the text on p150 implies. Did you find these "comments" by Anita Kerr to contrast with the evidence you have gathered fron her?

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