George Jones

Ever wonder what it would be like to party with the Possum? This 1979 collection of duets finds George Jones swapping microphones with the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, John Fogerty, Elvis Costello, Linda Ronstadt and, of course, the late, great Tammy Wynette. Dig the fat phaser on that Telecaster!

On My Very Special, Guests, a different celebrity sits in with George Jones on every
song–and "sittin' in," contrary to what Nashville would have you believe, is not a state of
grace. In that great rehearsal complex in the sky, maybe all the stars have to do is greet
each other for the halls to ring with harmony. But down here, listening to George move
over on the sofa for Tammy or Linda or Elvis (Costello) is about as exciting as a ni... More >

This collection of ten collaborations with outlaw old-timers, country-rock phenoms, Staples, Tammy, and someone named Elvis has low points, as you might expect. But its quality has more to do with what's being sung than with who's singing it where. James Taylor, harmonizing from New York on his neo-classic "Bartender's Blues," sounds fine; Emmylou Harris, chiming in from El Lay on the lame "Here We Are," fares only slightly worse than Johnny Paycheck does on poor old "Proud Mary," which comes complete with made-in-Nashville interaction. Must-hears: "I Gotta Get Drunk," with Willie Nelson, and the amazing "Stranger in the House," which gives an unexpected clue about who taught Mr. Costello to sing. (Grade - A-)