?3-CD Mini-Box (CD-format) with c. 100-page booklet, 76 tracks. Total playing time approx. 205 mns.

For the first time ever the early Jim Reeves sessions are correctly documented.
East Texas Country Music expert Kevin Coffey reviewed the original session tapes with the help of DavidBussey.
Coffey also interviewed many of the original musicians.
Additional information were supplied by Arie den Dulk.
76 tracks in all - nearly three-and-a-half hours of early Jim Reeves!
The accompanying booklet features many rare photos of Reeves and the musicians.

July 31, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the tragic death of the legendary Jim Reeves. To mark the occasion, Bear Family is re- visiting Reeves' early catalog with a definitive three CD set of all the recordings Gentleman Jim made prior to signing with RCA in 1955. This historic collection contains every surviving take - and even some partial takes - of his three year association with Fabor Robison's Abbott Records. Not only is every Abbott performance included, but so are all surviving false starts and studio chatter, giving a much fuller picture of Jim Reeves in the recording studio - in all, nearly three-and-a-half hours of early Jim Reeves. The set is enhanced with an app. 100-page book featuring rare and unpublished photos from the period.
The project, overseen by veteran Reeves expert David Bussey, also contains much new discographical research into the Abbott era, shedding new light on many mysteries previously assumed to be unsolvable. In addition to the Abbott recordings, the collection also includes Reeves' 1949 recordings for Macy's and a handful of early 1950s demo recordings that trace his development leading into the Abbott era.
Heard alongside Reeves at his earthiest in this collection are a number of legendary musicians such as steel guitarists Bobby Garrett, Jimmy Day and Speedy West, pianist Floyd Cramer, fiddlers Big Red and Little Red Hayes and Harold Hensley, and many others.

Track Listing

• The Ballad Of Barberry Ellen
• Then I'll Stop Loving You (alternate)
• My Heart's Like A Welcome Mat
• Mexican Joe (take 1)
• Tahiti (take 3)
• I've Never Been So Blue
• Mexican Joe (master, take 2)
• Tahiti (master, take 4)
• Teardrops Of Regret
• Butterfly Love (master, take 2)
• Spanish Violins
• Chicken Hearted
• Let Me Remember (Things I Can't Forget) (take 1 & false )
• Hillbilly Waltz (take 1)
• I Could Cry (demo)
• Let Me Remember (Things I Can't Forget) (take 2)
• Hillbilly Waltz (master, take 2)
• Wagon Load Of Love (demo)
• A Woman's Love (take 1)
• Hillbilly Waltz (take 3)
• You're The Sweetest Thing (demo)
• A Woman's Love (take 2)
• Hillbilly Waltz (take 4)
• Let Me Love You Just A Little (master)
• Padre Of Old San Antone (take 1)
• El Rancho Del Rio (take 1)
• Padre Of Old San Antone (master, take 2)
• Wagon Load Of Love (master)
• El Rancho Del Rio (take 2)
• Beatin' On A Ding Dong (take 1)
• What Were You Doing Last Night (master)
• El Rancho Del Rio (take 3)
• Beatin' On A Ding Dong (take 2)
• I Could Cry (master)
• El Rancho Del Rio (master, take 3)
• Beatin' On A Ding Dong (take 3)
• You're The Sweetest Thing (incomplete take)
• It's Hard To Love Just One (master)
• Beatin' On A Ding Dong (master, take 4)
• Each Beat Of My Heart (demo)
• Gypsy Heart (master)
• Mother Went A-Walkin' (master)
• Each Beat Of My Heart (alternate)
• Mother Went A-Walkin' (alternate)
• I Love You (master)
• Heart Breaking Baby (demo)
• Bimbo (master)
• Penny Candy (take 1)
• You're The Sweetest Thing
• Echo Bonita (master)
• Penny Candy (master & false , take 2)
• Heart Breaking Baby
• Then I'll Stop Loving You (master, take 3)
• I'll Follow You (take 3)
• Whispering Willow
• Then I'll Stop Loving You (take 3 & false )
• I'll Follow You (take 4 & false )
• If You Love Me Don't Leave Me
• I'll Follow You (master)
• Then I'll Stop Loving You
• My Rambling Heart (take 11)
• Where Does A Broken Heart Go' (master, take 7)
• My Rambling Heart (master)
• The Wilder Your Heart Beats The Sweeter You Love (take 5)
• Let Me Love You Just A Little
• My Rambling Heart (alternate)
• The Wilder Your Heart Beats The Sweeter You Love (master, take 6)
• Give Me One More Kiss (master, take 6)
• Drinking Tequila (master, false & take 6)
• Give Me One More Kiss (take 7)
• Red Eyed And Rowdy (master)
• Are You The One (master)
• How Many (master, take 8)
• How Many (alternate)

Additional Details

Label: Bear Family Records

Genre: Country

Run Time: 205 mins

Release Date: 06/27/14

UPC: 5397102173561