Charley Pride’s new tribute to Jim Reeves will, inevitably, be measured against three sets of standards. First, Reeves fans will compare these versions to the original recordings of their hero, who died in a 1964 plane crash. Secondly, any new Pride album will be critiqued in light of the singer’s own monumental oeuvre, which has earned him 29 No. 1 singles and membership in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Finally, the new disc must also stack up against previous Reeves tributes recorded by Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith, Kitty Wells, and others.
But no matter which critical standard is used, this tribute is a striking success. On this masterful marriage of vocalist and material, Pride showcases a supple baritone that is grittier than Reeves’ velvet voice. Pride’s vocals are more like chenille — soft, warm, and comforting. Backed by a small band and strings, he gracefully interprets fifteen Reeves hits.
Because Reeves’ voice was so smooth and so often coupled with sweeping orchestral arrangements, it’s easy to miss the sinister, psychological elements to these lyrics. The narrator of “There’s A Heartache” provides a classic case of denial: After his gal walks out for good, he pawns the ring and claims he never really loved her anyway. In Reeves’ best-known hit, “He’ll Have To Go”, a man seated in a bar phones his lover and gives her an ultimatum; the drama is heightened by the presence of the woman’s new lover, who is in her house during this conversation. The abandoned lover of “I’m Gonna Change Everything” torches his curtains and photographs because they remind him of his former sweetheart. Although the music is uptown, the lyrics are pure honky-tonk.
At 63, Pride still has a powerful set of pipes, and he approaches these tunes with reverence, while still sounding thoroughly engaged by the story lines. Reeves may never achieve the overwhelmingly universal, mythical status afforded to his “Nashville Sound” peer Patsy Cline, but Pride’s fine effort helps to foster Gentleman Jim’s legend and legacy.
