Joe Carson - Hillbilly Band From Mars (CD)

Joe Carson-As Good As It Gets

By valu_hound  Oct 5, 2002 | 1 out of 1 found this Hillbilly Band From Mars review helpful

Little Joe Carson's musical legacy is rich, and not just in the context of an artist whose career was tragically cut short by a car accident that robbed him and his fans of a career that could have ultimately ranked him as an icon among the top of co...untry music's all-time greats. Dead before the age of thirty, with a career that was just beginning to gather momentum, Carson's masterful vocals suggest influences as far ranging as George Jones, Ray Price, and Gene Autry. His vocals and songwriting skills easily rank him among the elite of the Texas honky tonkers of his era. This recording represents his total recorded output from 1954 to 1964, and treats the listener to a view of an emerging vocalist progressing from a prodigious teen to a world-class artist who could have held his own with any of the top country male or female artists of his day. This is no small feat, considering that legends like Patsy Cline, George Jones, Marty Robbins, and Lefty Frizzell were all near the peak of their artistic powers during this time. The production and performances on these sessions are of sterling quality. Standouts include ballads like "I'll Never Love No One But You," and "Who'll Buy My Memories," uptempo honky tonk rousers like "I'm Not Allergic to Love,"and "I Gotta Get Drunk," as well as laments like "Passion & Pride" and the unforgetable "The Last Song I'm Ever Gonna Sing." The true tragedy of Joe Carson is not simply that of a gifted artist whose life was cut short. That fate has been shared by far too many recording artists over the years. The real tragedy is that, unlike Patsy Cline, Buddy Hollie, Hank Williams, and so many others in this category, Joe Carson remains largely unrecognized to this day, in spite of a talent that should have guaranteed him worldwide recognition for years following his death. Any fan of traditional 50's and 60's country music will discover they've struck pure gold in this CD. Read more Less