JIM REEVES FAN FORUM

Late-Night Thoughts

Posted by Tom Croteau <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ray+Croteau' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 19, 2014, 12:07 am

As I lay in bed tonight listening to Jim Reeves gently lull me to peaceful sleep (a nightly ritual), my mind began to wander to all the songs we, as fans, were robbed of on that July day.
The main ones that come to mind are the Hank Williams catalog. How wonderful a rendition Jim would have done with the Hank standards 'Cold, Cold Heart', 'Mansion on the Hill', 'I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love With You', and 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry', just to name a few. I often wonder why he didn't record more of Hank's songs. In my opinion, and at no offense to Hank Williams,I believe Jim could only have improved on them.
Any thoughts?

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

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 October 19, 2014, 12:12 am, in reply to "Late-Night Thoughts"

In my book I talk about how Jim and Mary realized that with Hank's passing at the end of 1952 and Jim's emergence as a new artist in 1953, the opportunity existed for another young singer to make a splash in the country music world.

Incidentally, Jim sang some of Hank's songs early in his career and I have a copy of him doing "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You" which I plan to release in the future.

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

Posted by Tom Croteau <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ray+Croteau' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 19, 2014, 12:25 am, in reply to "Re: Late-Night Thoughts"

Wonderful news about the recording! I recall reading that in the book, as I am actually on my 3rd full reading of it. Not to sound like a rear-end kisser, but the book is such a fabulous read, I pick up new things every time I read it. I fully intend to order another, as I have begun to wear this one out!
It is my sincere opinion, as I'm sure most of Jim's fans will agree, even though the powers that be continue to hold Hank up on a pedestal, Jim FAR surpassed Hank in talent, and if both men had lived to become "old timers', Jim would have stood the test of time quite better... Just my humble opinion.
Thanks Larry. Be well!

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

Thanks for the compliments. I am surprised nobody has noticed that the eBook version of my book has additional stories, including about a trip Jim took to Mexico in which he got in a car accident, had to flee wild dogs that were chasing him, and ended up being inspired to record some Latin flavored songs on "Moonlight and Roses." Plus other stories not in the print version.

Amazon and many, many other venues sell the eBook version for a few bucks. And my book is "speech enabled" so, depending on your e-Reader, you can have the book read to you aloud, which is a boon to the blind, or even commuters who are traveling a lot in their cars.

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

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 October 19, 2014, 2:58 am, in reply to "Re: Late-Night Thoughts"

I don't believe Jim EVER recorded any of Hank's songs, except for his reading of "Men With Broken Hearts" on the "Talkin' To Your Heart" LP. Although I love it, I thought it was an odd choice out of all the hit songs that Hank had for Jim to pick that one. I've often wondered myself why Jim never did any more of Hank's songs in the studio. Larry, I can't believe you have a recording of Jim singing "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You"! Wow! That is REALLY exciting news! Thank God YOU have it, Larry, and this one didn't end up in the hands of the hoarders!

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

Posted by Ron McBride <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Ron+McBride' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 19, 2014, 6:34 am, in reply to "Re: Late-Night Thoughts"

Mike, you're forgetting about "Too Many Parties and Too Many Pals", also on the "Talkin' To Your Heart" lp.

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

You're right, Ron! Thanks! I stand corrected! Love that one too! Jim doing an entire album of talking is better than most other artists albums where they sing! Now THAT'S talent! I can honestly say that I've never heard of another human being that could mesmerize you with just their natural speaking voice like Jim can! His speaking and singing voice could hold anyone captive for hours on end. That's how he affects me. We lost Jim way too early, and there's not a day goes by when that reality doesn't go through me like a knife.

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

Posted by Manendra Pedris <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Manendra+Pedris' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 19, 2014, 6:10 pm, in reply to "Late-Night Thoughts"

With all due respect to you and Jim, I am of the firm belief that no one, and I mean NO ONE, can do Hank Williams' songs like Hank Williams.

The pain that emanates from Hank's voice is absolutely essential for the songs you mention in particular, and for all of Hank's songs in general. Without that pain and emotion in the proportions delivered by Hank, those titles will simply be tuneful words, not the gut-wrenching tear-jerkers that Hank delivered.

Re: Late-Night Thoughts

Posted by Jay Perry <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Jay+Perry' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 25, 2014, 3:04 pm, in reply to "Late-Night Thoughts"

Hi Tom,
One of my other favorite singers has always been Ray Price. He had an incredible career but I once heard him tell about the very early years when he first started out - possibly about 1953 just after the death of Hank Williams. Ray hired Hank's band to back him up. After one of the shows a fan told Ray that he "sounded just like old Hank." The next thing Ray did was hire a new band which he named the Cherokee Cowboys. As they say the rest is history. Maybe Jim had ideas that replacing Hank at that time may have been hard to do I don't know.

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