Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Jim Reeves And His Greatest Hits

Jim Reeves is one English singer I like the most probably next only to Harry Belafonte and my generation King of Pops, MJ! His songs could get you excited to the peak like say the Bimbo, bimbo or the Mexican Joe. He is equally capable of making you shed tears in songs like Am I loosing you…

Please find here, a brief note on him and some of his songs that I’ve enjoyed listening to over and over again!

Early Life And Rise To Fame

Jim Reeves was born James Travis Reeves in Galloway, Texas, a small rural community near Carthage, Texas.
His warm, velvety voice made him the remarkable singer that he is. His songs were outstanding for their simple elegance highlighted by his rich light baritone voice. Songs such as "He'll Have ," "Adios Amigo," "Welcome To My World," and "Am I Losing You" demonstrated this approach. Jim Reeves' Christmas songs have been perennial favorites, including songs such as "Silver Bells," and "An Old Christmas Card".



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Some Popular Hits
His first country hits included "I Love You" (a duet with Ginny Wright), "Mexican Joe", "Bimbo" and other songs on both Fabor Records and Abbott Records. Eventually, Reeves began to tire of the novelty bracket he had been forced into, and left for RCA Victor.

Indeed, by 1955 RCA signed Jim, and offered him a 10-year recording contract. The Abbot label had released a singer who was due to become one of World Music's Biggest and Brightest stars. In his earliest RCA Victor recordings, Reeves was still singing in the loud style of his first recordings, a style considered standard for country-western performers at that time. He sought to soften his volume, using a lower pitch and singing with lips nearly touching the microphone, but ran into some resistance at RCA—until in 1957, with the support of his producer Chet Atkins, he used this new style on his version of a demo song of lost love, written from a woman's perspective (and intended for a female singer). "Four Walls" not only took top position on the country charts, but went top-ten on the popular charts at the same time. Reeves had not only opened the door to wider acceptance for other country singers, but had also helped usher in a new style of country music, using violins and lusher background arrangements, soon called "The Nashville Sound."

His Hits In The 1960s


In 1959–60 Reeves scored his greatest hit with the Joe Allison composition "He'll Have ," which earned him a platinum record. He had a posthumous No.1 hit on the United Kingdom pop charts in 1966 with "Distant Drums," a song written for him by Cindy Walker. Jim Reeves was one of the few Western singers, who became widely known in the non-European world, including Africa, India and Southeast Asia. To this day he is affectionately referred to as "Gentleman Jim" in those parts.


Death

On July 31, 1964 Reeves and Dean Manuel (who was also the pianist in Reeves' backing group) left Batesville, Arkansas en route to Nashville. While flying over Brentwood, they encountered a violent thunderstorm which proved more than a match for the tiny, single-engined Beechcraft 'Debonair' aircraft. The plane faded from the radar screens at around 17:02, and all radio contact with the craft was lost. Reeves died when the small aircraft he was piloting crashed during a thunderstorm near Nashville, Tennessee.


Many thousands of people turned out to pay their last respects to Jim Reeves at his funeral, which took place on August 4, 1964. The coffin, draped in flowers from respectful fans, was driven through the silent streets of Nashville and to Jim's final resting place near his home town of Carthage, Texas.

Legacy

Reeves' records continued with good sales for both the old albums and a series of new ones. His widow, Mary, combined unreleased tracks with rerecorded previous releases (placing updated instrumentals alongside Reeves' original vocals) to produce a regular series of "new" albums after her husband's death. She also operated The Jim Reeves Museum (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/31515250_71176161eb.jpg) in Nashville, Tennessee from the early This home was built in 1794 and known as Evergreen Place. It used to be the location of the Jim Reeves Museum. Tennessee Preservation Trust has listed it as one of the most endangered sites in the state. Hopefully it will not be tore down.

Unfortunately in September 2005 this site was torn down.

He was elected posthumously to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967, and in 1998 he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage, Texas, where the Jim Reeves Memorial is located.

Reeves' inscription at the Country Music Hall of Fame reads - "The velvet style of 'Gentleman Jim Reeves' was an international influence. His rich voice bought millions of new fans to country music from every corner of the world.

Although the crash of his private aeroplane took his life, posterity will keep his name alive because they will remember him as one of country music's most important performers."

The inscription on the Jim Reeves Memorial has: If I, a lowly singer, dry one tear, or soothe one humble human heart in pain, then my homely verse d is dear, and not one stanza has been sung in vain.


Some Songs


Now Let’s Listen and try singing along to some of his songs…

Let’s start with his all time great: Bimbo, Bimbo

Bimbo Bimbo

Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo

Does your mommie know,
That your going down the road
to see a little girlly o

Bimbo, is a little boy,
who's got million friends
and every time he passes by,
they all invite him

He'll clap his hands and sing and dance
and talk his baby talk.
With a hole in pants
and his knees stick out,
he's just big enough to walk.

Bimbo, Bimbo
Where you going e o ,
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know,
that your going down the road
to see a little girlly o

Bimbo's got two big blue eyes, that light up like a star
and the way to light them is to him buy candy bars,
cracker jack and bubble gum, will start his day off right
all the Girllies follow him just to beg him for a bite

Bimbo, Bimbo
Candy on your face eo.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Chewing on your gummy e o
Bimbo, Bimbo
When you going to grow
Everybody loves you little baby Bim b o

Instrumental

You never catch him sitting still
He's just the roving kind
All though he just a little boy, he's got a grown up mind
He's always got a shaggy dog a pulling at his clothes
Everybody calls to him as down the street he goes.

Bimbo, Bimbo

Where you going e o ,
Bimbo, Bimbo
What you going to do e o.
Bimbo, Bimbo
Does your mommie know, that your going down the road to see a little girlly o
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo
Bimbo, Bimbo









I Love You

I love you because you understand, dear
Ev'ry single thing I try to do
You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear
I love you most of all because you're you

No matter what the world may say about me
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for the way you never doubt me
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you

I love you because my heart is lighter
Every time I'm walkin' by your side
I love you because the future's brighter
The door to happiness you open wide

No matter what the world may say about me*
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for a hundred thousand reasons
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you






Am I losing you

Am I losing you
Are my fears coming true
How I wish I knew
Am I losing you

Is your love really true
Is there somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you

Am I too blind to see
What's been happ'ning to me
Ev'ry road has a bend
Will I be sweetheart or friend

Will the sweet things you do
Be for somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you

Am I too blind to see
What's been happ'ning to me
Ev'ry road has a bend
Will I be sweetheart or friend

Will the sweet things you do
Be for somebody new
Tell me what to do
Am I losing you





Mexican joe



South of the border, hey, I know a lad,

He's got more fun than anybody's had,

Don't got no worry, don't got no dough,

Everybody's wondering 'bout Mexican Joe.

In old Mexico, they call him the Rhumba King,


Leads all the women around on a string,

When they go out, they get a million thrills,
But the lovely senoritas wind up with the bills.

Chorus: Dancin', romancin',

Always on the go,

Sun shinin' down on Mexican Joe


He makes the night spots all along the bay,

People want to see him when he comes their way,
He spreads so much joy everywhere he goes,
Everyone shouts "Viva la Mexican Joe."

He likes to gamble, at poker he's an ace,

He's always lucky with the cards that got a face,
At winning the money, he is sure a whiz,
But when they win they don't collect
'cause they don't know where he is.

Repeat Chorus
He don't got no income tax 'cause he don't got no dough,
Still he gets along just fine, how we'll never know,
He's got everything he wants, a girl, a drink, a song,
If we use his formula, we surely can't go wrong.

His favorite playground is anywhere there's girls,

He's got that somethin' that sets their hearts a-whirl,
It couldn't be his money 'cause he ain't got a peso,
But when he wants a kiss all he's got to do is say so











Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone

Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone

Let's pretend that we're together all alone

I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low

And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go



Whisper to me tell me do you love me true

Or is he holding you the way I do

Though love is blind make up your mind I've got to know

Should I hang up or will you tell him he'll have to go



You can't say the words I want to hear

While you're with another man

Do you want me answer yes or no

Darlin' I will understand



Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone

Let's pretend that we're together all alone

I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low

And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go



Adios amigo, adios my friend

The road we have travelled has come to an end

When two love the same love, one love has to lose

And it's you who she longs for, it's you she will choose



Adios compadre, what must be must be

Remember to name one muchacho for me

I ride to the Rio, where my life I will spend

Adios amigo, adios my friend



Adios compadre, let us shed no tears

May all your maƱanas bring joy through the years

Away from these memories, my life I must spend

Adios amigo, adios my friend



\

Welcome to my world

Won't you come on in

Miracles I guess

Still happen now and then

Step into my heart

Leave your cares behind

Welcome to my world

Built with you in mind

Knock and the door will open

Seek and you will find

Ask and you'll be given

The key to this world of mine

I'll be waiting here

With my arms unfurled

Waiting just for you

Welcome to my world



Knock and the door will open

Seek and you will find

Ask and you'll be given

The key to this world of mine

I'll be waiting here

With my arms unfurled

Waiting just for you

Welcome to my world

Waiting just for you

Welcome to my world



Silver Bells



Silver bells, silver bells)

(Soon it will be Christmas day)



City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air

There's a feeling

Of Christmas

Children laughing

People passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on ev'ry street corner you'll hear



Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day



(Strings of street lights)

(Even stop lights)

(Blink a bright red and green)

(As the shoppers rush home)

(With their treasures)



(Hear the snow crunch)

(See the kids bunch)

(This is Santa's big scene)

(And above all this bustle)

(You'll hear)



Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day













There's an Old Christmas Card

There's an Old Christmas Card in an old dusty trunk

And it brings back sweet memories dear to me

'Though it's faded and worn, it's as precious as the morn

When I found it 'neath our first Christmas tree



Chorus:

I thrill with every word, every line

Guess I'm always sentimental 'round this time

Pardon me if a tear falls among my Christmas cheer

It's the memory of an Old Christmas Card



(Recitation)

You know, I don't know why I get to feeling sentimental

about this time, every year

But every time I see a Christmas card,

I somehow can't help reminiscing

About the very first Christmas that you and I spent together

What a beautiful Christmas card you gave me that year

Why I know you must have looked through thousands of cards

To find that wonderful poem that still brings a tear to my eyes








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