Lefty Frizzell - Life's Like Poetry [1992] (12 x CD's)

 

WILLIAM ORVILLE (LEFTY) FRIZZELL

Lefty Frizzell - Life's Like Poetry  [1992] (12 x CD's)

William Orville "Lefty" Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was an American country music singer-songwriter and honky-tonk singer. Frizzell is widely considered one of the greatest country singers who ever lived, influencing George Jones, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Keith Whitley, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis and John Fogerty. A vocalist who set the style of singing "the country way" for the generations that followed, Frizzell became one of the most successful and influential artists of country music throughout his career. He smoothed out the rough edges of a honky tonk song by sounding out syllables longer and singing longer. Because of this, his music became much more mainstream without losing its honky-tonk attitude and persona. Frizzell's signature guitar was a 1949 Gibson J-200 (Model SJ-200). Originally built by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, it was retrofitted in early 1951 with a custom neck and pickguard by guitar maker and innovator Paul Bigsby. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982. After the death of Hank Williams in 1953, Frizzell released many songs that charted in the Top 10 of the Hot Country Songs charts. His success did not carry on into the 1960s, and after suffering from alcoholism, he died at age 47. (Wikipedia)

Life's Like Poetry is a gigantic, 12-disc box set that includes all of Lefty Frizzell's recordings for Columbia and ABC, plus early demos, a session with Jay Miller, and several radio transcriptions,  everything he recorded between 1950 and 1975. Certainly, the box is designed for collectors, no one but the most devoted fan could listen to all 330 tracks. Though all of his classic material is included, there is also a fair share of mediocre material, including some ill-advised attempts at country-pop. Nevertheless, there are gems sprinkled throughout the collection and it offers proof of his far-reaching talents and influence, as well as demonstrating that several of Lefty's later recordings were as worthwhile as his early singles. For any serious fan, it is an indispensible collection. (AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

This guy, this Lefty Frizzell, is the foundation upon which every modern male country singer has based their style on, knowingly or unknowingly. See, Lefty loved Jimmie Rodgers, and he would stick his head in the Victrola emulating what he heard. This developed into a totally original, unique way with a song and a lyric. The title of this Box Set comes from a Merle Haggard song, which is appropriate, because Merle is the next link in the chain of great country singer/songwriters. There is another Merle song, "The Way it was in '51" that contains the line: "Hank and Lefty crowded every jukebox." Lefty was a very important singer, and he is not as well known as he deserves to be among the general public, but other singers, like Merle, know that he was very influential. He was on par with the likes of Hank Williams, and Jimmie Rodgers, the Singin' Brakeman. This collection is a testament to that fact. Sadly it is now unavailable but hopefully it will be re-issued for future generations to explore and find the origins of what was great country music. This is a "must have" box set for anyone who loves and enjoys that music. (Amazon)

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Track lists

CD01

01 I Love You a Thousand Ways 2:47

02 If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time 2:57

03 Shine, Shave, Shower (It's Saturday) 2:34

04 Cold Feet 2:25

05 Don't Think it Ain't Been Fun Dear 2:48

06 When Payday Comes Around 2:36

07 My Baby's Just Like Money 2:18

08 Look What Thoughts Will Do 2:32

09 My Baby's Just Like Money 2:42

10 You Want Everything But Me 2:28

11 I Want to Be With You Always 3:03

12 Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses) 2:19

13 How Long Will it Take (To Stop Loving You) 2:24

14 Always Late (With Your Kisses) 3:10

15 Mom and Dad's Waltz 3:04

16 You Can Go on Your Way Now 2:30

17 Treasure Untold 3:16

18 Blue Yodel #6 3:13

19 Travellin' Blues 2:54

20 My Old Pal 2:55

21 Blue Yodel #2 2:32

22 Lullaby Yodel 2:44

23 Brakeman's Blues 2:14

24 My Rough and Rowdy Ways 2:40

25 I Love You (Though You're No Good) 2:49

26 It's Just You (I Could Love Always) 3:18

27 (Darling Now) You're Here So Everything's Alright 2:53

28 I've Got Reasons to Hate You 3:05

CD02

01 I Love You (Though You're No Good) 2:51

02 Don't Stay Away (Till Love Grows Cold) 2:59

03 It's Just You (I Could Love Always) 2:51

04 You're Here So Everything's Alright 2:59

05 If You Can Spare the Time (I Won't Miss the Money) 2:31

06 A King Without a Queen 2:34

07 Forever (And Always) 2:30

08 I Know You're Lonesome (While Waiting for Me) 2:32

09 Lost Love Blues 2:40

10 That's Me Without You 3:06

11 Send Her Here to Be Mine 2:50

12 Lost Love Blues 2:26

13 That's Me Without You 2:56

14 I Won't Be Good for Nothin' 2:32

15 If I Lose You (I'll Lose My World) 2:31

16 I'm an Old Old Man (Tryin' to Love While I Can) 2:29

17 You're Just Mine (Only in My Dreams) 2:48

18 I'll Try 2:14

19 (Honey, Baby, Hurry) Bring Your Sweet Self Back to Me 2:16

20 Time Changes Things 2:36

21 All of Me Loves All of You 2:21

22 California Blues (Blue Yodel #4) 3:01

23 Never No Mo' Blues 3:10

24 We Crucified Our Jesus 2:38

25 When it Comes to Measuring Love 2:20

26 Sleep Baby Sleep 2:56

27 (I'm) Lonely and Blue 2:54

CD03

01 Before You Go, Make Sure You Know 2:46

02 Two Friends of Mine in Love 2:44

03 Hopeless Love 3:06

04 Then I'll Come Back to You 2:25

05 The Tragic Letter (& Wayne Raney) 2:59

06 Two Hearts Broken Now (& Wayne Raney) 2:40

07 You Can Always Count on Me (& Wayne Raney) 2:05

08 I've Been Away Way Too Long (& Wayne Raney) 2:15

09 Run 'em Off 3:06

10 The Darkest Moment (Is Just Before the Light of Day) 2:57

11 You're Too Late 2:44

12 My Little Her and Him 2:20

13 I Love You Mostly 2:36

14 You're There, I'm Here 2:22

15 Let it Be So 2:27

16 Mama! 2:26

17 Making Believe 3:09

18 Moonlight, Darling and You 2:36

19 I'll Sit Alone and Cry 2:50

20 A Forest Fire (Is in Your Heart) 2:18

21 Sweet Lies 2:30

22 Your Tomorrows Will Never Come 2:22

23 It Gets Late So Early 2:56

24 I'm Lost Between Right and Wrong 2:31

25 Promises (Promises, Promises) 2:07

26 My Love and Baby's Gone 2:12

27 Today is That Tomorrow (I Dreamed of Yesterday) 2:15

28 First to Have a Second Chance 2:20

CD04

01 These Hands 2:50

02 You Can't Divorce My Heart 2:54

03 Treat Her Right 2:35

04 Heart's Highway 2:25

05 I'm a Boy Left Alone 2:42

06 Just Can't Live That Fast (Anymore) 2:05

07 The Waltz of the Angels 2:40

08 Lullaby Waltz 2:38

09 Glad I Found You 2:28

10 Now That You Are Gone 2:09

11 From an Angel to a Devil 1:59

12 Lover By Appointment (& Johnny Bond) 2:07

13 Sick, Sober and Sorry (& Johnny Bond) 2:33

14 No One to Talk to But the Blues (& Shirley Caddell) 2:29

15 Is it Only That You're Lonely 2:24

16 Mailman Bring Me No More Blues 2:32

17 You've Still Got It 2:34

18 Tell Me Dear 2:39

19 To Stop Loving You (Means Cry) 2:04

20 The Torch Within My Heart 2:29

21 Time Out for the Blues 2:32

22 I Love You a Thousand Ways 3:07

23 If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time 1:57

24 I Want to Be With You Always 2:49

25 Mom and Dad's Waltz 2:11

26 Darling Let's Turn Back the Years 2:14

27 You Win Again 2:45

28 Why Should I Be Lonely 3:21

29 Signed, Sealed and Delivered 2:35

30 Nobody Knows But Me 2:23

CD05

01 If You're Ever Lonely Darling 2:30

02 Silence 2:47

03 Release Me 2:48

04 Our Love's No Bluff 2:28

05 You're Humbuggin' Me 2:32

06 She's Gone 2:18

07 Cigarettes and Coffee Blues 2:38

08 I Need Your Love 2:31

09 My Bucket's Got a Hole in It 2:28

10 I Love You a Thousand Ways 2:52

11 If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time 2:05

12 Mom and Dad's Waltz 2:34

13 I Want to Be With You Always 2:44

14 Always Late (With Your Kisses) 2:11

15 If You're Ever Lonely Darling 2:14

16 Sin Will Be the Chaser for the Wine 2:09

17 Knock Again, True Love 2:22

18 The Long Black Veil 3:09

19 One Has Been to Another 2:19

20 Farther Than My Eyes Can See 2:17

21 My Blues Will Pass 2:31

22 Ballad of the Blue and Grey 2:36

23 That's All I Can Remember 3:27

24 So What! Let it Rain 2:19

25 What You Gonna Do, Leroy 2:40

26 I Feel Sorry for Me 2:20

27 Heaven's Plan 2:34

28 Looking for You 2:48

CD06

01 Stranger 2:28

02 A Few Steps Away 2:52

03 Forbidden Lovers 2:38

04 Just Passing Through 2:41

05 That Reminds Me of Me 2:40

06 Don't Let Her See Me Cry 2:13

07 Through the Eyes of a Fool 2:31

08 James River 2:04

09 Preview of Coming Attractions 2:31

10 Lonely Heart 2:28

11 What Good Did You Get (Out of Breaking My Heart) 2:18

12 When it Rains the Blues 2:50

13 I'm Not the Man I'm Supposed to Be 2:43

14 Saginaw, Michigan 3:06

15 There's No Food in This House 2:25

16 The Rider 3:13

17 The Nester 3:11

18 I Was Coming Home to You 2:19

19 Hello to Him (Goodbye to Me) 2:33

20 I Can Tell 3:04

21 Make That One for the Road a Cup of Coffee 2:59

22 'gator Hollow 2:38

23 It Costs Too Much to Die 2:34

24 She's Gone, Gone, Gone 2:23

25 Running Into Memories of You 2:14

26 Confused 2:21

27 How Far Down Can I Go 2:21

CD07

01 It's Bad (When It's Thataway) 1:54

02 I Don't Trust You Anymore 2:26

03 A Little Unfair 2:28

04 Woman Let Me Sing You a Song 3:15

05 Preparations to Be Blue 2:46

06 Stranger 2:42

07 Love Looks Good on You 2:39

08 Mama 2:39

09 It's Hard to Please You 2:57

10 You Don't Want Me to Get Well 2:51

11 Writing on the Wall 2:39

12 I Just Couldn't See the Forest (For the Trees) 2:25

13 I'm Not Guilty 2:13

14 It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy 2:32

15 Everything Keeps Coming Back (But You) 2:03

16 Heart (Don't Love Her Anymore) 2:50

17 You Don't Have to Be Present to Win 2:27

18 My Feet Are Getting Cold 2:38

19 Is There Anything I Can Do 2:25

20 The Old Gang's Gone 2:28

21 A Song From a Lonely Heart 3:02

22 You Gotta Be Puttin' Me On 2:52

23 There in the Mirror 2:46

24 Get This Stranger Out of Me 2:29

25 Money Tree 2:56

26 Hobo's Pride 2:35

CD08

01 When the Rooster Leaves the Yard 2:18

02 Anything You Can Spare 2:22

03 Only Way to Fly (Original Vocal) 2:55

04 Only Way to Fly (Laughing Version) 2:53

05 A Prayer on Your Lips is Like Freedom in Your Hands 2:48

06 Little Old Wine Drinker Me 2:48

07 A Word Or Two to Mary 2:55

08 Almost Persuaded 3:08

09 Have You Ever Been Untrue (& June Stearns) 2:34

10 If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time (& June Stearns) 2:13

11 When the Grass Grows Green Again 3:30

12 The Marriage Bit 2:47

13 I'll Remember You 2:12

14 Wasted Way of Life 2:37

15 Keep Them Flowers Watered While I'm Gone 2:11

16 An Article From Life (With Chorus) 3:13

17 Blind Street Singer 2:44

18 Honky Tonk Hill 2:47

19 My Baby is a Tramp 2:34

20 She Brought Love Sweet Love 3:55

21 Watermelon Time in Georgia 2:15

22 I Must Be Getting Over You 2:49

23 Out of You 2:11

24 It's Raining All Over the World 3:07

25 There's Something Lonely in This House 2:59

26 Three Cheers for the Good Guys 2:11

27 An Article From Life (Without Chorus) 3:00

28 Honky Tonk Hill (Without Overdub) 2:47

CD09

01 Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy 2:58

02 What Am I Gonna Do 2:35

03 Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses) 2:30

04 You Babe 3:16

05 This Just Ain't a Good Day for Leavin' 2:26

06 Down By the Railroad Track 2:23

07 Let Me Give Her the Flowers 2:52

08 If I Had Half the Sense (A Fool Was Born With) 2:46

09 Somebody's Words 2:19

10 Lucky Arms 3:01

11 True Love Needs to Be in Touch 2:17

12 My House is Your Honky Tonk 3:14

13 I Buy the Wine 2:47

14 If She Just Helps Me Get Over You 3:10

15 Falling 2:59

16 Railroad Lady 2:42

17 I Can't Get Over You to Save My Life 3:00

18 I Never Go Around Mirrors (I've Got a Heartache to Hide) 2:37

19 That's the Way Love Goes 2:50

20 She Found the Key 2:51

21 I Wonder Who's Building the Bridge 2:45

22 My Wishing Room 2:31

23 I'm Gonna Hang Out My Mind Today 3:02

24 Sittin' and Thinkin' 3:00

25 I Love You a Thousand Ways 3:09

26 I'm Not That Good at Goodbye 3:48

27 Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again 2:24

28 Life's Like Poetry 2:25

CD10

01 Darling I'm Missing You (Demo) 2:22

02 I'll Never Cry Over You (Demo) 2:01

03 My Confession (Demo) 1:43

04 I Hope You're Not Lonely When I'm Gone (Demo) 2:12

05 My Baby and My Wife (Demo) 3:59

06 It's All Over Now (Demo) 2:20

07 Worried Mind (Demo) 2:12

08 Maiden's Prayer (Demo) 2:05

09 I'm Wasting My Life Away (Demo) 2:16

10 You Nearly Lose Your Mind (Demo) 1:27

11 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) (Demo) 2:32

12 Lost Love Blues (Demo) 2:40

13 Just Can't Live That Fast (Any More) (Demo) 0:40

14 Just Can't Live That Fast (Any More) (Demo) 0:43

15 Honey Baby (Demo) 2:28

16 Please Be Mine, Dear Blue Eyes (Demo) 3:15

17 I'm Yours If You Want Me (Demo) 3:39

18 I'll Be a Bachelor (Demo) 2:01

19 Yesterday's Mail (Demo) 2:25

CD11

01 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) 0:45

02 Look What Thoughts Will Do 1:45

03 Shine, Shave, Shower (It's Saturday) 3:26

04 I Want to Be With You Always 2:45

05 My Baby's Just Like Money 1:51

06 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) 0:40

07 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) 0:41

08 Why Should I Be Lonely 1:41

09 Ida Red Boogie 2:55

10 I Love You a Thousand Ways 2:57

11 Always Late (With Your Kisses) 2:08

12 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) 0:47

13 Cigarettes and Coffee Blues 3:03

14 The Long Black Veil 3:20

15 Chain Gang - Freddie Hart 2:48

16 Desert Blues 2:12

17 Theme & If You've Got the Money 1:37

18 I Want to Be With You Always 1:18

19 My Bucket's Got a Hole in It 1:11

20 Always Late (With Your Kisses) 1:15

21 Make That One for the Road a Cup of Coffee 1:07

22 Mom and Dad's Waltz 1:55

23 Cigarettes and Coffee Blues 2:29

24 Darling Let's Turn Back the Years 2:15

25 The Things We Used to Do 1:52

26 Woodchopper's Ball 2:02

27 I Want to Be With You Always 1:41

28 Stay All Night (Extract) 0:17

29 Somebody's Pushing 2:15

30 The Long Black Veil 3:24

31 Mona Lisa (David Frizzell) 2:23

32 I Want to Be With You Always 2:37

33 Stay All Night (Extract) 0:19

34 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) 0:49

35 Sunday Down in Tennessee 1:22

36 A King Without a Queen [& Interview] 4:06

37 Mom and Dad's Waltz 2:00

38 Travelin' Blues 2:07

39 If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time) (Live) 1:37

CD12

01 I'll Make it Up to You (Demo) 1:59

02 It's Hard to Please You (Demo) 2:30

03 Too Much Love (Demo) 1:49

04 My Abandoned Heart (Demo) 1:50

05 Wait Till I'm Asleep (Demo) 3:27

06 Not This Time (Lefty & Abe) (Demo) 1:41

07 Not This Time (Lefty & Abe) (Demo) 1:15

08 Why Didn't You Tell Me Our Love Was Wrong (Demo) 1:15

09 Forever (And Always) (Demo) 1:37

10 Why Didn't You Tell Me Our Love Was Wrong (Demo) 1:13

11 Please Don't Stay Away So Long (Demo) 1:21

12 Please Don't Stay Away So Long (Demo) 1:22

13 You Have Never Been Known to Be Wrong (Demo) 2:12

14 The Reason Why My Heart's in Misery (Demo) 1:18

15 Blue Yodel (Demo) 1:25

16 Just Little Things Like That (Demo) 2:04

17 I Love You So (Demo) 1:38

18 A Fool's Advice (Demo) 2:28

19 When Me and My Baby Go Steppin' Out (Demo) 2:29

20 When Me and My Baby Go Steppin' Out (Demo) 2:28

21 Lullaby Yodel (Demo) 2:42

22 Brakeman's Blues (Demo) 2:12

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