George Jones is now called, almost routinely, "the world's greatest country singer." To support this claim, his admirers (of whom I am one) usually cite his prodigious vocal powers: his multioctave range, the fluidity of his voice and his ability to breathe life into even the most pedestrian lyrics. All these qualities are evident on I Am What I Am, Jones' first solo album since he stopped being a practicing alcoholic over a year ago.
The reasons for Jones' greatness lie beyond technique, however. George Jones is a great country singer because he comes closer to fulfilling Hank Williams' classic definition of the appeal of what was then called "hillbilly music" than any other
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vocalist now living. "When a hillbilly sings a crazy song," said Williams, "he
feels crazy. When he sings 'I Laid My Mother Away,' he sees her a-laying right there in the coffin." This is what Jones does, and even if he didn't sing nearly as well, his ability to emotionally invest himself in a tune–and to make the audience do likewise – would still qualify him for his title.
Though Jones cowrote only one of its compositions, I Am What I Am is an autobiographical LP. There's an allusion to what presumably is his undying love for ex-wife Tammy Wynette in "He Stopped Loving Her Today." "I've Aged Twenty Years in Five" refers to his nearly suicidal episodes of drunkenness. These themes coalesce in "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)," in which Jones claims: "With the blood from my body I could start my own still."
Seeing George Jones in person on a good night is the equivalent of undergoing a catharsis. Hearing him on records such as this isn't quite the same, since the sensibilities of producer Billy Sherrill come between the artist and the listener. Nonetheless, I Am What I Am can be considered a triumph. A year ago, many people held the opinion that Jones wouldn't live six more months. Fortunately, he's managed to reverse that course of events. He's learned he can live out his miseries in song without having to repeat them in real life. He sings the truth, and country music needs it. Welcome back, George. (RS 336)
MARTHA HUME
