Late in 1964, George Jones switched labels, moving from United Artists to Musicor. Musicor was already home to pop hitmaker Gene Pitney ("Town Without Pity," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence"), and label execs quickly struck on the idea of pairing the two successful artists. The duo's first session produced the hit "I've Got Five Dollars And It's Saturday Night." Although the duo only charted once more with a cover of the Kershaw Brothers' "Louisiana Man," the pairing lasted long enough to complete two albums. During the same year, Pitney recorded a solo country album. Bear Family's GEORGE JONES & GENE PITNEY contains all three of these albums in their entirety.
Very few singers can hold their own with George Jones--Melba Montgomery and Tammy Wynette may be the only ones who could--and while Gene Pitney may be a great singer of dramatic pop ballads, he is no match for Jones when it comes to country. He's not bad, but listening to this disc it's hard not to wish that he would stop singing so that we could hear more of Jones. This album is an interesting curiosity of interest mostly to country historians and completists.
Professional Reviews
Mojo (Publisher) (12/99, p.126) - "...well worthy, if often lightweight examples of mid-'60s country music....the duo were placed in the same studio merely because both singers were supplying hits for the Musicor label..."
