Porter Wagoner was, for more than a quarter of a century, one of the most recognisable and high-profile stars in country music, his impressive stature, his mane of blond hair and his flashy colourful suits constantly placed in the public eye on his hugely popular TV show, which began in 1961. It was on that TV show that Wagoner introduced the young Dolly Parton to country audiences, and they had a successful screen and recording partnership which lasted into the mid-70s. However, by the time that TV show as launched, he had already been recording for the best part of a decade, and it is that formative era when he enjoyed his initial successes which is addressed by this collection.
This great value 60-track 2-CD set comprises selected A and B sides from the 35 singles which he released on RCA from his 1952 debut through to 1962, with at least one side from every release included. It naturally features all his fourteen country hits from that era, including the No. 1s A Satisfied Mind from 1955 and the Jerry Reed song Misery Loves Company from 1961, along with other Top 10 entries such as Company's Comin', Eat, Drink And Be Merry, What Would You Do?, Your Old Love Letters and I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand. Its a showcase for a style which ranged from innovative hard country through to more traditional sentimental ballads, and which helped make him such a key figure in the genre over subsequent decades.
| Disc 1 |
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|
| Track |
Title |
Artist |
| 1 |
Settin' The Woods On Fire |
Porter Wagoner |
| 2 |
Headin' For A Weddin' |
Porter Wagoner |
| 3 |
Takin' Chances |
Porter Wagoner |
| 4 |
That's It |
Porter Wagoner |
| 5 |
Trademark |
Porter Wagoner |
| 6 |
Bringing Home The Bacon |
Porter Wagoner |
| 7 |
An Angel Made Of Ice |
Porter Wagoner |
| 8 |
Flame Of Love |
Porter Wagoner |
| 9 |
Trinidad |
Porter Wagoner |
| 10 |
Bad News Travels Fast |
Porter Wagoner |
| 11 |
Be Glad You Ain't Me |
Porter Wagoner |
| 12 |
Love At First Sight |
Porter Wagoner |
| 13 |
Company's Comin' |
Porter Wagoner |
| 14 |
Tricks Of The Trade |
Porter Wagoner |
| 15 |
Hey, Maw |
Porter Wagoner |
| 16 |
How Quick |
Porter Wagoner |
| 17 |
A Satisfied Mind |
Porter Wagoner |
| 18 |
Itchin' For My Baby |
Porter Wagoner |
| 19 |
Eat, Drink And Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry) |
Porter Wagoner |
| 20 |
Let's Squiggle |
Porter Wagoner |
| 21 |
What Would You Do? (If Jesus Came To Your House) |
Porter Wagoner |
| 22 |
How Can You Refuse Him Now |
Porter Wagoner |
| 23 |
Uncle Pen |
Porter Wagoner |
| 24 |
How I've Tried |
Porter Wagoner |
| 25 |
Tryin' To Forget The Blues |
Porter Wagoner |
| 26 |
I've Known You From Somewhere |
Porter Wagoner |
| 27 |
Seeing Her Only Reminded Me Of You |
Porter Wagoner |
| 28 |
I'm Day Dreamin' Tonight |
Porter Wagoner |
| 29 |
I Should Be With You |
Porter Wagoner |
| 30 |
Good Mornin', Neighbor |
Porter Wagoner |
|
|
|
| Disc 2 |
|
|
| Track |
Title |
Artist |
| 1 |
Who Will He Be |
Porter Wagoner |
| 2 |
I Thought I Heard You Call My Name |
Porter Wagoner |
| 3 |
Pay Day |
Porter Wagoner |
| 4 |
Doll Face |
Porter Wagoner |
| 5 |
As Long As I'm Dreaming |
Porter Wagoner |
| 6 |
Turn It Over In Your Mind |
Porter Wagoner |
| 7 |
Tomorrow We'll Retire |
Porter Wagoner |
| 8 |
Haven't You Heard |
Porter Wagoner |
| 9 |
Tell Her Lies And Feed Her Candy |
Porter Wagoner |
| 10 |
Just Before Dawn |
Porter Wagoner |
| 11 |
Dear Lonesome |
Porter Wagoner |
| 12 |
Me And Fred And Joe And Bill |
Porter Wagoner |
| 13 |
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind |
Porter Wagoner |
| 14 |
I'm Gonna Sing |
Porter Wagoner |
| 15 |
The Battle Of Little Big Horn |
Porter Wagoner |
| 16 |
The Girl Who Didn't Need Love |
Porter Wagoner |
| 17 |
Your Kind Of People |
Porter Wagoner |
| 18 |
Legend Of The Big Steeple |
Porter Wagoner |
| 19 |
Wakin' Up The Crowd |
Porter Wagoner |
| 20 |
Falling Again |
Porter Wagoner |
| 21 |
An Old Log Cabin For Sale |
Porter Wagoner |
| 22 |
Your Old Love Letters |
Porter Wagoner |
| 23 |
Heartbreak Affair |
Porter Wagoner |
| 24 |
Everything She Touches Gets The Blues |
Porter Wagoner |
| 25 |
Misery Loves Company |
Porter Wagoner |
| 26 |
I Cried Again |
Porter Wagoner |
| 27 |
Cold Dark Waters |
Porter Wagoner |
| 28 |
Ain't It Awful |
Porter Wagoner |
| 29 |
I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand |
Porter Wagoner |
| 30 |
One Way Ticket To The Blues |
Porter Wagoner |