Recording and composition
George Jones made his very first recording on January 19, 1954, with "No Money in This Deal." This album's version was a rerecording made in August 1956. The first track was a #13 hit titled "Too Much Water" which Jones recorded on March 19, 1957, which was his very first session of Jones' held in Nashville. He later performed the song live on "The Tex Ritter Show." "Why Baby Why" was recorded on August 27, 1955, and soon after release in September. The song became Jones' first charting single. It would peak at #4 and remain his highest-charting single until the next year, when "Just One More," which would peak at #2 after release in September 1956. The song became one of Jones' greatest early hits, being covered by multiple artists since. "You Never Thought" was recorded in April 1957 and is the last track on the album to be recorded (ca. April 1957). "Take the Devil Out Of Me" was recorded in January 1957 alongside "Cup of Loneliness," which became his most well known gospel recording during the 1950s. "Ragged But Right" is one Jones' best known songs. Although it didn't chart, the song would become a live favorite and Jones would rerecorded it multiple times. This album's version of the song was his first rerecording of the track, from August 1956. "All I Want to Do" was recorded in October 1956, and would later become the B-side to "Too Much Water" in April 1957. Also in April 1957, the song "You Never Thought" was cut. Another song that appeared as a B-side to another track listed in this album was "Gonna Come Get You," released with "Just One More" in late 1956. Also during late 1956, one of Jones' biggest songs became "You Gotta Be My Baby," which Jones would perform live very often during the 1950s (including at his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1957). It peaked at #7 soon after release in late June, 1956. "Uh, Uh, No" was the B-side to "Don't Stop the Music," recorded in October 1956, and released in January 1957.
- Yearning (To Kiss You)
Jones would achieve great success recording duets with Tammy Wynette, but before this Jones recorded with Melba Montgomery and Margie Singleton in the early-mid 1960s. He collaborated with three different artists in the 1950s: Sonny Burns in 1954, Jennette Hicks in 1956, and Virginia Spurlock in 1957. In August 1956, he collaborated with his second artist, Jennette Hicks. With her, Jones would record three songs, including his first charting collaboration single. Jones and Hick's song, "Yearning," peaked at #10 on the US Country chart.
50 Years of Hits is a country album by George Jones who was signed to Starday Records in 1953, released his first singles in 1954, and had his first hit with "Why Baby Why'" in 1955.
I Wish Tonight Would Never End is an album by American country music artist George Jones. It was released in 1963 on the United Artists record label.
Sings Country and Western Hits is the 1961 country music studio album released in May 1961 by George Jones. The album was Jones' tenth studio album release since his debut LP in 1956. It would be one of his last with Mercury Records, as he switched to United Artists in late 1961.
George Jones Salutes Hank Williams is the 1960 country music studio album released in May 1960 by George Jones. The album was the ninth studio LP release, and was recorded in one session. The album has been reissued multiple times since its release, including the tracks being reused on many compilations.
White Lightning and Other Favorites is a studio album released by George Jones on May 26, 1959. Its title track "White Lightning" was a #1 Country hit in 1959.
Country Church Time is the sixth studio album released by George Jones on January 20, 1959. The LP includes multiple early gospel recordings by Jones on Starday.
Long Live King George is a 1965 country music album released by George Jones. The album was long thought to be a studio release; however, it is a late Starday Records compilation of Jones recordings throughout the mid- to late 1950s.
Grand Ole Opry's New Star is the debut studio album released by George Jones in November 1956 with Starday Records. Produced by Jones' manager Pappy Daily, the album was recorded during early sessions in 1954, throughout 1955, and other sessions in 1956. It is also the first album to be released on the Starday label, a label only four years old.
The albums discography of American country artist, George Jones contains 80 studio albums, 132 compilation albums, three live albums, ten video albums and seven box sets. Of his studio albums, 69 are solo releases while 11 are collaborative releases. In 1956, Jones's debut studio LP was issued on Starday Records titled, Grand Ole Opry's New Star. The label only issued one studio effort, but would release a series of compilation. On Mercury Records, Jones released six studio LP's including Country Church Time (1959) and George Jones Salutes Hank Williams (1960). He switched to the United Artists label in 1962, where he released 13 studio LP's. Among these was a collaborative LP with Melba Montgomery called What's in Our Hearts (1963), which was his first to chart the Billboard Top Country Albums survey. He moved to Musicor in 1965. Among the label's studio LP's was I'm a People (1966), which reached the top of the Billboard country survey. Musicor also issued his first collaborative studio album with Gene Pitney, which made the Billboard country LP's chart and the Billboard 200.
"Why Baby Why" is a country music song co-written and originally recorded by George Jones. Released in late 1955 on Starday Records and produced by Starday co-founder and Jones' manager Pappy Daily, it peaked at 4 on the Billboard country charts that year. It was Jones' first chart single, following several unsuccessful singles released during the prior year on Starday.
George Jones Sings His Greatest Hits is an album by George Jones, released on Starday Records in 1962.
The singles discography of American country artist, George Jones, contains 182 singles. Of the total, 136 were released with Jones as the solo artist. In addition, 31 were issued with Jones being part of a collaboration. Thirdly, eight singles were issued with Jones being part of a featured act. Fourthly, seven released were promotional singles. Additionally, 14 songs that are not released as singles are included that made any major chart. Finally, 21 music videos which were first issued as singles are also listed. Jones had his first chart success in 1955 with several top ten Billboard Hot Country Songs singles: "Why Baby Why", "What Am I Worth" and "You Gotta Be My Baby". After several more top ten releases, "White Lightning" became his first to top the Billboard country chart. Along with "Who Shot Sam", both singles were also his first to make the Hot 100 charts.
"Color of the Blues" is a 1958 country song written by George Jones and Lawton Williams and released by Jones on January 15, 1958.
"Seasons of My Heart" is a song written by George Jones and Darrell Edwards. The song was released as the b-side to the #4 hit "Why Baby Why" in 1955. The song was also recorded by Johnny Cash and, released in 1960, it became a #10 hit.
"What Am I Worth" is a 1956 country music song released by George Jones, co-written by Jones and Darrell Edwards. The song was released on January 14, 1956 and was one of the fourteen songs included on Jones' debut album with Starday Records in 1957.
"Don't Stop the Music" is a song written and recorded by George Jones. It was his first single release on Mercury-Starday and peaked at #10 on the country singles chart in early 1957.
"Did I Ever Tell You" is a duet by American country singers George Jones and Margie Singleton on their 1962 duet album, Duets Country Style. It was released as a single in 1961, peaking at number 15 on the 1961 Billboard Hot Country Songs singles chart.
"Yearning" is a duet by George Jones and Jeanette Hicks released on Jones' debut 1956 album, Grand Ole Opry's New Star. It was released as a single on Starday Records and peaked at number 10 on the 1957 Billboard Hot Country Songs singles chart. Although Jones had previously released a couple of duets with fellow Starday artist Sonny Burns, "Yearning" was his first duet to become a hit, making the Top 10.
The Crown Prince of Country Music is the 1960 country music compilation album released by Starday Records of previously unissued recordings released in January 1960. The album's original release, like the reissue edition, did not chart.
The Fabulous Country Music Sound of George Jones is the 1962 country music compilation album released by George Jones in August 1962. the album compiled a series of previously-released tracks. It contains songs dated back to 1955 while with Starday, to his second #1 hit with Mercury in 1960.
