“You Don’t Know Me”
Faron Young
Make no mistake: this is not a
collection of re-re-re-released tracks that turn up from time to
time, and are often of dubious quality, when someone licenses the
songs of a legendary artist.
collection of re-re-re-released tracks that turn up from time to
time, and are often of dubious quality, when someone licenses the
songs of a legendary artist.
There’s no doubt that Faron Young is
a legendary artist, but this album is indeed a rarity: literally a
brand new collection from the beloved singer who passed away back in
1996. As Faron’s son, singer-songwriter Robyn Young, says in the
liner notes, the CD is a collection of very rare, one-of-a-kind
recordings that most people never knew existed. They are from live
performances, old radio broadcasts and old unreleased studio cuts.
The tapes sat around, lost and forgotten for years.
a legendary artist, but this album is indeed a rarity: literally a
brand new collection from the beloved singer who passed away back in
1996. As Faron’s son, singer-songwriter Robyn Young, says in the
liner notes, the CD is a collection of very rare, one-of-a-kind
recordings that most people never knew existed. They are from live
performances, old radio broadcasts and old unreleased studio cuts.
The tapes sat around, lost and forgotten for years.
Many of the tracks were cut on acetate
pressings that were intended for a single play on the radio and were
then discarded or destroyed. As such, several of the tracks were in
extremely poor condition, and have been painstakingly repaired and
modernized to contemporary standards by the dedicated people at
Country Rewind Records.
pressings that were intended for a single play on the radio and were
then discarded or destroyed. As such, several of the tracks were in
extremely poor condition, and have been painstakingly repaired and
modernized to contemporary standards by the dedicated people at
Country Rewind Records.
Scott Oliver is
the producer who was charged with the task of taking these songs and
making them sound as if Young had recorded them today. As Oliver
points out, this is not a re-mastered album, but essentially a brand
new multi track project utilizing the resources and audio quality of
the type available to current artists today. Understandably, all of
the original recordings were one-track mono. Oliver has been totally
faithful to the original sound while adding guitars, vocals and
orchestral arrangements to breathe new life into tracks that would
otherwise have been left for dead forever.
the producer who was charged with the task of taking these songs and
making them sound as if Young had recorded them today. As Oliver
points out, this is not a re-mastered album, but essentially a brand
new multi track project utilizing the resources and audio quality of
the type available to current artists today. Understandably, all of
the original recordings were one-track mono. Oliver has been totally
faithful to the original sound while adding guitars, vocals and
orchestral arrangements to breathe new life into tracks that would
otherwise have been left for dead forever.
All of the tracks were originally
recorded in one take, a single shot to get it right, recorded ‘live’
to acetate without ‘punch-ins’ or endless re-takes and tweaks.
As a result, the tracks capture not only Young’s talent and
faultless professionalism in his dedication to his craft, but also
communicate a sense of fun and spontaneity that gets lost by the
third (or thirtieth) take.
recorded in one take, a single shot to get it right, recorded ‘live’
to acetate without ‘punch-ins’ or endless re-takes and tweaks.
As a result, the tracks capture not only Young’s talent and
faultless professionalism in his dedication to his craft, but also
communicate a sense of fun and spontaneity that gets lost by the
third (or thirtieth) take.
On some of these tracks, we here the
radio announcer’s banter with Young at the start of the track, or
the spontaneous applause from those in the studio at the end of a
song. Every cut showcases Young’s magnetic personality and his
crystal clear diction and pitch. The album features unique versions
of his familiar hits such as ‘Goin’ Steady’ and ‘Hello Walls’
but perhaps the standout cut is the title track, “You Don’t Know
Me.” The song was a hit for Eddy Arnold (and recorded by many other
artists including Ray Charles, Jerry Vale and Elvis Presley) but
Young’s version has a plaintive quality that could have given him a
major hit if it had ever been released. Now we get to hear it all
these years later.
radio announcer’s banter with Young at the start of the track, or
the spontaneous applause from those in the studio at the end of a
song. Every cut showcases Young’s magnetic personality and his
crystal clear diction and pitch. The album features unique versions
of his familiar hits such as ‘Goin’ Steady’ and ‘Hello Walls’
but perhaps the standout cut is the title track, “You Don’t Know
Me.” The song was a hit for Eddy Arnold (and recorded by many other
artists including Ray Charles, Jerry Vale and Elvis Presley) but
Young’s version has a plaintive quality that could have given him a
major hit if it had ever been released. Now we get to hear it all
these years later.
The fifteen unique tracks on “You
Don’t Know Me” will bring the voice of the “Hillbilly
Heartthrob” to a new generation of listeners and will be a thrill
to longtime fans who still love the legendary Faron Young.
Don’t Know Me” will bring the voice of the “Hillbilly
Heartthrob” to a new generation of listeners and will be a thrill
to longtime fans who still love the legendary Faron Young.
Preshias Harris for Country Music News International Magazine
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