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WEBB PIERCE
Millennium Collection (MCA/Decca)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
In the early years of Webb Pierce's career it seemed as if he stumbled across Hank Williams' shadow no matter which way he walked. That he was ever compared to ol' Hank at all is a mystery to me. They played honky tonks. That's about it, far as I can see. Aerosmith and The Cars played some of the same clubs in Boston, too, but I don't see anyone comparing "Walk This Way" with "Moving In Stereo." Maybe it's just because they both wore their hearts right out there on the sleeve, vulnerable and honest, unprotected by often corny lyrics like "It's been so long since we said goodbye - I guess that's the reason that I sit and cry."
Oooh, get over it, son, this is early 50s country music we're talking about here. Fiddles -- if you say "violins" you'll be a victim of some for certain -- and pedal steel guitars, stand-up basses, the works. Besides, Hank had a different rhythm going. Webb grew up listening to the music of his hero, Gene Autry. Strum - strum - strum - strum. Straight forward stuff. I think it's more about Webb being hired to replace Hank at the Grand Ol' Opry.
Did I say those words with enough reverence? I can try it again, if the gods aren't pleased? Grand Ol' OPRY!!
Yeah, so Webb replaces Hank, becomes good friends with one of the admin guys at the Opry, and proceeds to go into all kinds of business with him. They don't wanna fire Webb, so they fire the other guy, which pisses Webb off. So shortly thereafter, Webb takes off and does things his way. Calls his own shots. Makes his own bookings. Has two Pontiacs lined with silver dollars. Doesn't have a cat scan, but he was busy. Guitar-shaped pool, yadda yadda yadda.
It should be noted that the "Yadda Yadda Yadda" referred to the recording of a whole lot of music, some of it slop, much of it good, and some of it flat out terrific. The majority of this happened in the first half of the fifties when he recorded gems like "There Stands The Glass," "Back Street Affair," "Slowly," "Wondering" and the highly amusing "In The Jailhouse Now." What happened in the latter half of the decade is the same thing that happened to a lot of country stars: rock rolled over them. He kept at it, and in fact the songs on this little 29 minute, 18 second, 12 song collection reach as far as May 15th, 1959, but by then Webb Pierce wasn't the star he had once been.
Here's the real kick in the groin. Webb Pierce should have been in the Country Music Hall Of Fame a long, long time ago. He died of cancer in 1991 just days after finding out that he'd been shorted on votes yet again. A decade later he's still not in. Why? Because the votes are from inside the industry, and they're still ticked that he left the Grand Ol' Opry for the reason that he did. Or at all. I guess that makes Webb Pierce the Shoeless Joe Jackson or Pete Rose of country Music, except that he did nothing wrong at all, short of not bending over the pool table on command. Boycott the Hall if you go near it. It stinks to high heaven.
As for this CD, it's just the right length at the right price to introduce you to the work of Webb Pierce. You don't go broke to find out you don't get into it, but you probably do get into it, and you get an overview. You find your favorite songs, look at the year in the liners and start there when you shop in earnest. I used to be a little bit cynical about this CD series, but I'm starting to see the value in it.
Track List:
Wondering ( Back Street Affair * It's Been So Long * There Stands The Glass * Slowly * More And More * In The Jailhouse Now * I Don't Care * Love Love Love * Why Baby Why * Honky Tonk Song * I Ain't Never
© 2001 - DJ Johnson