The Grand Tour

Wow. Some of this is deeply sad. He really paints downer masterpieces. 3.4/5.0

langweilig

É um álbum legal, mas não o meu estilo nesse momento. 2.5/5

Classic country, nice voice, kinda boring

A bit right and cliché, but because of George’s voice, they are just fun and good!

5/10 - George Jones shows that he is capable of making good country songs. The back half of the album has some actually enjoyable songs on it! She told me, Mary Don't Go Round, and especially Our Private Life were all great, well written songs. So why did he put ~6 other songs that have nothing going for them on the album. Literally every song except Private Life is about love -- sometimes positive sometimes negative but about love -- which isn't inherently bad but there's not really any interesting insights or good lines, and sonically the songs just kind of blend together. Very samey. Literally listen to Pass Me By and Who Will I Be Loving Now back to back. Neither are great songs and they are also way too similar for both of them to need to exist. There was definitely potential for this album to be good but it really falls short of that potential. Sad :(

Decent enough - nothing exceptional though in my view

interesting. first country album listen.

Bleh. Lots of nothing.

Short but sweet. A very classic sound. I enjoyed this.

6/10… country / honky tonk / *1974

Nice enough voice, but still pretty dull old fashioned country music.

Easy listening.

Country Music. Not my style

Simple, witty tunes sung by someone who knows how to deliver the hell out of them

One ticket please

Таку американу я не люблю і оце засиллся слайд-гітари теж. Послухав і забув.

Proper twangy country. I could actually listen to this!

mad props, never heard of him and when i was perusing his albums on spotify (there are like 1000?!) I was LOLing all the horrid covers and even more horrid hair / teeth combos he had, I know SO SHALLOW but come on ; ) so funny..anyhoo. Quick hug to you Stu for the awesome bike memory /Def Lep, loved it!!! So - I guess old George gets a 3-4, even though I am pretty sure I will never listen to this again. Onward!

It’s like watching a balloon slowly spiral down as the air escapes - in extreme slow motion. If you are in the right mood, aka just dumped, it will hold your complete attention.

I am more of a Waylon man my self but when George Jones is good he's very good. His song selection can be dubious but when the Voice is in form with the backing of a quality track he's hard to beat. 3.5 stars.

Perfectly serviceable, but not really amazing.

Oh my GOD what a perfect country album. Opens with an absolute heart-wrencher, and the rest lives up to those expectations. Sung with great emotion and conviction. George Jones is a legend

Nashville production + George's voice + Divorce. This is country music.

He's got a beautiful voice.

Boy howdy, I do love me some country music. And for some reason, I'd never heard of George Jones before? So I guess this list did it's job. I liked it, even if it basically was just one big song about the same thing, at least it had the decency to not be over half an hour.

This one is a very Nashville polished country album and his great voice and songs like the title track carry it a long way. But I prefer the rougher, more "outlaw" country of Cash, Jennings, and Haggard to this. It feels a little too much like product rather than original and impassioned. I began to tune out until later in the album with "The Weatherman" and "Our Private Life " two songs that are lyrically more interesting and dig into the troubled relationship of Jones and his then-wife Tammy Wynette.

I usually go for the more independent, less polished outlaw style country rather than the Nashville sound. But goddamn, what a voice this guy had. I think people underestimate what it takes to be a truly great country singer like this, and when you factor in the copious amounts of cocaine and alcohol he was consuming, his clarity and range is kind of all the more impressive. The title track is devastating and I enjoyed the deeper cuts too, like The Weatherman and Our Private Life which he wrote with Tammy Wynette

I enjoyed but mostly blends in with the other country albums

Same song over and over. Not too bad though

if my nan had listened to C&W then this would probably have been it very stereotypically country with a twang and that accent

Dober

I'm a sucker for this sort of thing, but I have to fight my biases and admit it's not fantastic.

Country , folk, nothing wrong with it

The steel guitar is the harp that leads sad men to Heaven’s Gate; a bar that shows still images of boobs on the TV’s hanging in every corner. The songs are the same but moods rarely shift with the winds.

Sad songs and a golden voice. What more can you ask from George Jones. Felt like all of these songs fit in the background of some movie. The old gun at the bar, nursing his old sorrows; maybe lost love; who cares. To quote Nicole Kidman, “Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.”

Every song is pretty much the same. That said, I do like the One Song...weeping pedal steel, melancholy lyrics, honey singing, third verse key change. Pap loved George too...why did he love such sad music?

I have always loved George's voice. This is the music I grew up on, and it will always have a place in my life. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ok country album. Perry boring to me. 2.5/5

i think the main thing i've learned from this list so far is that i like country a lot more than i thought i did; even though i'm getting this right after at folsom prison, which is clearly a better record than this, i still quite enjoyed this and it didn't feel like it was outshined. this one's just a nice short and sweet country pop record, and i love myself some nice cozy country/folk! high 4/5, feels a bit derivative so i'm not sure if it deserves to be here but i quite enjoyed it nonetheless!

out my wheelhouse, but didn't hate it. reminds me of riding in the back of dad's chevy impala wagon

Right artist; wrong album

Traditional country built from gentle pedal steel, acoustic guitars, restrained rhythms, and deeply expressive vocals feels like taking a slow guided tour through an empty house where every room tells essentially the same story. The sincerity is undeniable, but for me the album's unwavering restraint and emotional monotony made it remarkably boring. George Jones' natural delivery is impressive, yet neither the music nor the themes offered enough variation to keep me engaged.

Favorite Track: Once You've Had the Best

Oh yeah this is great. Just some good ol country. Love this older kind of Elvisesque sounds. Great songs. Old charm and not racist from what I heard. No complaints just classic sounds. Very enjoyable, very playlist, no notes. Favourite: Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through) Least favourite: Merry Don't Go Round

I haven’t heard of George Jones … sounds like proper old school country to me … which makes me think that I should have heard of George Jones … but I haven’t heard of George Jones … so that’s that.

Meh.

A couple songs were alright, but most of it was sappy, overly twangy and bland. This is the stuff films use as background noise when a character enters a dive bar in the middle of nowhere.

This man has a great voice. Not very well versed in Country so I always like when something classic comes across me. Too short to notice the feeling of ll the songs sounding the same.

I like some country, but this was too country

I hate to be the country hater that says every damn one of these songs sounds exactly the same but…

Proper old school country music. Title track was petty good but the rest passed me by.

Unmemorable and disinteresting.

Сара 4 Марко 4

The kind of music to put on while driving at 40 miles per hour on the road. Love it! 5 stars

Better than the new country that's out, but its not for me.

Change his name to Elvis and all you people giving it one star would change your tune

Not terribly horrible. It's fine. Much better than most country.

I love a lil twang :-)

This made me feel like I was in an episode of King of the Hill

Way way too country for me!!

A great voice and smooth songs. Really old school country is rarely bad from what I have heard but to me you have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it fully. Relaxing somewhere with nothing weighing you down. Unfortunately I rare am in that situation so finding time to enjoy this might be hard. At least I had a good time listening through it today.

This album encapsulates almost everything I can't stand about Country Music. On the positive side if I look between the lines I think he still has his truck, his dog, his gun collection, his horse and his health.

Sm se bala, da bo country - in, seveda, je country. (Ampak sam 28 minut!) Fak, pr začetku "Once You've Had the Best" sm se prou nakremžila. This is not for me. Ha, in kr naenkrat je moja kuhna čista & albuma je konc.

A Film role for Jim Carey? ...and then I get the giggles before I even hear it: sounds wonky. Then winey. Then oddly pleading. Like the Saudade form, mixed with yodelling and a bendy notes gone a bit far.... I've said it before, the film "Mars Attacks" spoilt this kind of Country for me. I cant help feeling its Satire. It is however relaxing and melodic in a way... I guess its a good example of the swelling affectations of Country. In summary, this makes me smile for it's downright silliness, I doubt id ever play this in my home alone... except ironically, with a bourbon. Its a musical genre. So I suspect this is the respectable high end of it to be here. Sorry Folks.

All roads lead to Billy Sherrill. When you think about people like Charlie Rich,Tammy, it is endless. When EC did his classic country record Almost Blue, he too went to speed boat driving Billy. And he is inextricably linked to George. 1974 and all that, the new C and W template has been long set and George is the apotheosis of that sound. This is dripping in pathos, dripping. Sherrill gets it absolutely right, giving George the space to bring his extraordinary talent to a bunch of brilliant songs. Highly recommend deadbeats.

This is the platonic ideal of a country album; hard drinkin' and heartbroken. George is, of course, the star of this show, and his voice is superb in tone and absolutely genuine in delivering the material. The stories of George Jones' private life are numerous and vicariously entertaining, but, as he states himself, it's his life and the audience shouldn't really judge. Simple country arrangements, with tasteful pedal steel, some strings and the Jordanaires backing. A perfect in its brevity, not a note wasted. I hadn't heard this record before, but this truly is a perfect country album.

Pretty standard classic country music. Not bad, not great, doesn't really stick in your head. But not a bad time.

Not so great country album, also some questionable attitudes towards women and love. saved 3/11, shelved 2/11.

completely forgettable.

Not bad for a country album. I even surprised myself with my feet moving while listening it

Starts off with a nice song. The rest are a bit samey but overall pleasant enough. 2.5.

Ana album about a wife that leaves a troubled man, where the man chooses to pen the heartache on paper and write an album about it. the lyrics are simple and straight to the point with a familiar country beat and some heart wrenching pedal steel guitar. Despite all this, it never quite gets there and ends up feeling a little bit insipid. I don't realty believe him. He is saying what he thinks she wants to hear. She told me so is the standout song. 3 stars

3.5: definitely not bad, it's just not a genre of music I'd listen to all day.

If you like real country this is a 5, if you don’t you won’t make it through. I happen to like it.

George Jones's 1974 album *The Grand Tour* is widely considered a landmark achievement in country music—a masterclass in storytelling that crystallized his status as a master of the heartbreak ballad. It's the sound of a legendary artist and producer finally finding the perfect balance between raw, traditional emotion and sophisticated studio craftsmanship. ### 💔 A Track-by-Track Journey Through Heartbreak The album is structured like a sorrowful, guided tour through the wreckage of a failed relationship, a theme anchored by its legendary title track. * **The Title Track: A Perfect Match of Lyric and Performance** – "The Grand Tour" is the album's cornerstone and one of the greatest divorce songs ever written. The genius is in the framing: the narrator is a tour guide, inviting the listener through a home filled with memories. The final stop is the nursery, where his wife "left me without mercy, taking nothing but our baby and my heart". It's a devastating reveal that makes the listener feel the full weight of his abandonment. Genre historian Bill Malone called it a "perfect matching of lyrics and performance," with imagery so vivid you can "see both the inside of the abandoned home... and the interior of the narrator's mind". * **Thematic Consistency and Standout Tracks** – The album maintains this powerful mood without faltering. "Once You've Had the Best," a top 3 hit, is a quintessential Jones anthem of pride in the face of loss. It remained a staple of his live shows for his entire career. Another track of biographical interest is "Our Private Life," which Jones co-wrote with his then-wife Tammy Wynette. The song takes a pointed swipe at the tabloid gossip that was accurately speculating on the collapse of their very public marriage. This adds a layer of real-life pain that enhances the album's authenticity. ### 🎶 The "Sherrillized" Sound: A Clash of Visions The album's production is a fascinating product of the "countrypolitan" style pioneered by producer Billy Sherrill, known for smoothing country's rough edges with pop orchestration. The search results describe a creative tension that resulted in the album's unique sound: * **The "Eureka Moment"** – For biographer Bob Allen, the title track was a breakthrough for Jones and Sherrill. The producer finally learned how to "coax rich, low-register textures out of George's powerful voice and meld them... with his own heavy-handed 'Sherrillized' production style". * **A Clash of Styles** – Despite the success, Jones was reportedly wary of Sherrill's production. Jones explicitly told the producer, "Billy, I'm country, I'm traditional... I'm hardcore and I can't help it". He felt that Sherrill's signature style, which had worked for Tammy Wynette and Charlie Rich, was pushing him too far into the pop crossover territory he resisted. This tension between Jones's raw honky-tonk roots and Sherrill's lush, orchestrated arrangements is the very engine that gives *The Grand Tour* its powerful, dramatic feel. ### ✅ Pros and Cons **Pros** * **Landmark Title Track:** Features one of the greatest vocal performances in country music history, with a perfectly crafted lyric. * **Consistent Thematic Power:** The album is a cohesive and immersive experience, maintaining a mood of pure, sophisticated heartbreak from start to finish. * **Powerful Vocals:** Features George Jones at his vocal peak, delivering every line with unmatched authenticity and emotional heft. * **Strong Supporting Songs:** Includes other classics like "Once You've Had the Best," making it more than just a one-hit album. **Cons** * **"Sherrillized" Production:** The lush, "countrypolitan" arrangements can sound "too old" or overly sentimental to modern ears, especially for listeners who prefer Jones's rawer honky-tonk work. * **Tonal Monotony:** For some, the album's unrelenting focus on sadness and loss can be emotionally exhausting, making it a tougher listen compared to more varied collections. Ultimately, *The Grand Tour* is more than just a hit album; it's a profound, almost theatrical experience of profound loss. It stands as a testament to George Jones's legendary ability to channel personal pain into timeless art.

This is fine for a country album. First track was a banger but the rest was way too sappy

Boring

Two country albums in a row. This one just seemed to be the same song repeated over and over with slightly different lyrics and at different tempos. No originality whatsoever and probably one of the worst albums I've ever heard. Sorry

Who’s gonna fill his shoes?

It's country country, not my jam but not overly offensive and twangy, would play for ironic intent on a Texas roadtrip 😆😆😆

Never listened to this. I loved it. Wasn't excited to listen at all but I actually love sad guy country music. Easy 4 stars. I fucking love pedal steel. Kind of got grating even though it's a short record.

#31 - George Jones - The Grand Tour ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is the kind of music that I grew up listening to, because it’s what my parents liked. Once, when I was probably 9 or 10 years old, my parents bought concert tickets for our entire family to see George Jones. Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled and my dad said he wasn’t surprised because he was know as “No Show” Jones. I’ve never researched the validity of that nickname, I just accepted it as true because that’s what my dad said. So I for sure got a chuckle when listening to this album, which Wikipedia says is Jones’s 50th, and in the final track about people gossiping about him and if he was a “no show”. This album is so good. It’s old fashioned country music made by one of the genre’s great at the height of his abilities. It’s 28 minutes of heartbreak and a little bit of humor mixed in. I’ve never heard this album or any of these songs but I really liked it a lot.

I go through waves of disliking and then craving old country music. The harmonies and the pedal steels and the drinking are either deeply lame or soothing and powerful, depending on the day I've had. This was soothing and powerful... pretty repetitive, and "Borrowed Angel" is a horrible song, but George Jones is an amazing vocalist who barrels toward rock bottom well.

Good country, but not the most original

The Grand Tour is another reminder of why George Jones is considered one of country music's greatest vocalists. While the album starts off strong with the heartbreaking title track, I found myself enjoying it even more as it went on. The second half is where the record really clicked for me, with songs like "She Told Me So," "Who Will I Be Loving Now," and "Our Private Life" keeping the emotional momentum going. Jones' voice is effortlessly expressive throughout the album, and producer Billy Sherrill's polished countrypolitan sound complements the songs without overshadowing them. The record doesn't rely on flashy arrangements; instead, it lets the songwriting and Jones' delivery carry the weight. Even though many of the songs deal with heartbreak and loss, they never feel repetitive because Jones brings a different emotional shade to each performance. Overall, The Grand Tour is a consistently strong country album that gets better as it progresses. The second half, in particular, left the biggest impression on me, making it an album I'll gladly revisit.

Good country record.

Nice

Not my type of album but not devastating to the ears

Тряця! Знову кантрі?

It’s a no from me dawg

🪕🐿️

Beautiful sad sarcastic

Standard-fare country music of its time. It's better than today's equivalent, but it's nothing special.

This is the stuff my dad loves so I grew up on a lot of old country like this. I didn't care for much of it back then, I have more appreciation for it these days. But, it still isn't my preferred music.

Some classic country for those that are into that.

When I think of bad country music, this is exactly what's in my head. It's a nightmare made real. The caricature of every country music joke. I wish I could stream it backwards on Spotify.

This is an old school Country and Western album. It is a laid back affair which made for great listening on a winter's morning

Every story you read about George Jones: legendary hellraiser and all-round liability. Virtually every song on this album: “Aw shucks, I’m just a poor, decent chump pining after some floozy.” And he sings it so sincerely, you kind of believe it. (At least Our Private Life acknowledges his off-stage reputation.)

Lovely voice, wild Wikipedia article

Kinda boring, it sounds older than it actually is 2

Nice bit of country but didn’t blow me away

Decent, entirely forgettable. I don't think I'll ever be able to fully embrace Nashville Sound.

Really? Another "just a man and his guitar" album? This one sounds exactly the same as all the others I've had to listen to, and it's equally as uninteresting. The actual guitar playing itself is so painfully average, and the lyrics are questionable at best, with the attitudes towards women and relationships very much relflecting how backwards people's views were back then. Hardly an essential album, and I think for everyone's sake it would be better for this and the many others like it to be forgotten with time.

I couldn’t remember much of music in my childhood but boy did this one note album w god loving lyrics bring back memories of my youth …

How many different ways can you essentially write the same song? I know absolutely nothing of Country music apart from pop culture references…I grew up hating it. Listening to this was a treat in the sense I’ve never sat through something like it. And it did remind me of road trips in the 70s with my grandparents. And evoked images of some small town bar middle of Texas. And felt like Smokey and the Bandit. For sure there is a place for music like this, it’s just not any speakers I own. 2/5

Very nice voice, I enjoyed this. Classic country reminds me of my childhood. The songs start to sound kinda samey after a while. 3.5ish

Weirdly nostalgic. It’s reminding me of when I was really little living in Texas in the 90s.

Very much not my style of music, but it wasn't bad, it was clearly well done music, just in a genre I would never choose to listen to

Simpático. Aunque el country no me gusta tanto.

Classic country, not bad sounding, but jesus the subject matter and lyrics are dodgy as fuck. Not a country one I'd choose to listen to again really.

Right up Nana's alley.

Nothing special, in my opinion

more background to me but this guy has a great voice. I can see this guy joining the canon of classic country I like

It's country and it's relatively easy on the ear. It doesn't have the extreme twang of like a Dwight Yoakam. It's a little closer to Elvis. Not bad.

Might not be my type of music, but his handsome vocals make it easy to see how it could be someone's type of music.

Truly lovely voice over what eventually feel like the same song.

This album is a great example of a performer not trying to do too much and succeeding. I am not a big fan of country music but I respect the hell out of this album because it's not trying to be anything other than George Jones at his finest.

Classic country. Was a good album; had a depressed/downtrodden George Strait vibe.

The Platonic ideal of a 70s country album. Not what I choose to listen to normally, but I can appreciate it. 3.5⭐️

It is fine forlorn country music

The name George Jones means absolutely nothing to me, but that's no surprise. Country music is like acid to my ears, so I avoid any assault on my good taste and hearing as much as possible. I hate the singers' drawl, but I guess that's how country music is supposed to be. I couldn't and didn't want to listen to everything. Most of the tracks seem rather slow and reflective, or even sad. None of it is my thing. Let the country boys and ladies enjoy it; I can't stand this redneck stuff.

With 30 minutes not that grand.

Hit play, heard the country, hit stop, and listened to the new Olivia Rodrigo album instead

Never thought I'd be this into country as i got older. To now I could have been an apologist for it by saying "oh yeah, but it's ALT-country" to maintain some bullshit hipster credentials, but now I think I've fully given in - this stuff is brilliant. George Jones has the perfect booze 'n heartbreak voice singing the perfect booze 'n heartbreak songs. They never outstay their welcome - get in, make the point, get out. The pedal steel is amazing. Brilliant.

In the first line of She Told Me So does George confirm he believes in the geocentric model of the universe? I really enjoyed this album. The instrumentation is subtle allowing his voice and lyrics to be the focus. The title track is clearly the main attraction here with the other songs playing in similar spaces. He has a really great voice and I like how he throws it on the more uptempo songs. Favorites were The Grand Tour, The Weatherman, She Told Me So, and Our Private Life.

Classic country

Kind of fun country album.

Just some damn fine country music. Jones tells a hell of a story.

Netter Country der 70er nicht schlecht aber auch nicht mehr.

I don't think I listened to George Jones before now. Apparently, he was revered as one of the greatest country singers out there, and The Grand Tour certainly gave me a taste of that. George Jones had such an impressive baritone voice. Whether he sang about longing for someone on the title track, avoiding the temptation of one-night stands on "Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)", pining for someone's affection on "She'll Love the One She's With", or the sweet embrace of a lover on "Once You've Had the Best", George delivered with such an emotive crooning delivery that evoke such sweet sensibilities. His voice worked wonders alongside the gentle acoustic guitar, warm pedal steel, and background vocals nestled in the mix. That said, for as much as I got an idea of George Jones as a singer, I wish I got more of an idea of him as a songwriter. His only writing credit on here was on the closing track "Our Private Life" with Tammy Wynette, railing against the tabloid-driven celebrity lifestyle. It's a decent song, albeit tonally different from the rest of the record. I certainly wish I had gotten more of his storytelling on here, because for as much as George could sell whatever song other writers in the room had for him, it likely didn't fully speak to what could have been on his mind. Still, I enjoyed The Grand Tour for what it's worth. It was a nice slice of country music cut by a truly amazing singer. Hard to complain about that.

Ha Ha! Way too much slide guitar for me. It's a 'Toe tappin', 'Rooten tooten' of an album. Enjoyable, bit not my thing!

No thank you George - moving right along.

Jones certainly presents an interesting view on women… They will just leave you for no reason, they will most definitely start loving you when you creep around them long enough, but god forbid they are not immediately agreeing to a lifelong commitment. But of course it‘s fine when Jones is the one sleeping with a married woman because… well it brings him pleasure, i guess. That alone isn‘t a reason to give the album a bad rating. THAT comes from the abundance of country-cliches, the whining vocals and the lack of real variation on here.

Country music lives and dies on its lyrics and these songs are are heartbreaking one minute and clever the next. George was truly one of the best.

2.0 - Weak

No sé

7/10

Fuck it, I love country music. It's predictably sad and yearning, the chords are familiar and warm, and within that, there's a security - I know what I'm expecting within the genre, and because I like it, I'm filled with a familiar and secure warmth. This album transports me right to the wetlands of Valdosta, Georgia, I'm drinking something dark and unforgiving, in the pardoning and merciful sunrise, while the bulrushes ensnare my legs; I've got a cowboy husband somewhere out there in the great, wide world - I last heard from him somewhere near Amarillo, he's currently seeking some small taste of destiny over on Route 66 - and I'm waiting so patiently for him to come home to me.

Think it's a little unfair to give this lower ratings. Sure, it's pretty derivative and not interesting, but it's absolutely fine! +1 because this sounds like something my grandfather would play, miss that guy.

Almost stereotyped syrupy, sentimental country; almost completely at odds with Jones's drug and alcohol fuelled real life.

Classic country: the voice, the sound, the metaphors about love and heartbreak

2/5

I'm not sure if it's Country or Western, but it sure does sound good.

George Jones is one of the greatest singers of all time, much less just country music. Some of the songs are just average but because George is one of the greatest singers of all time, he turns each one into a country classic. Some of these modern country singers would have felt flat.

Another stereotypical country album that's pleasant to listen to but not very interesting or exciting.

this is why people don't like country

My first proper exposure to Nashville Sound country, and it’s a hell of a first one - George Jones has such a beautiful voice for singing all these soft-but-hitting songs of heartbreak and the struggles of love (to hold onto it, to accept it’s gone, to try and find it and keep it in forgiveness), and with all the armaments of a studio backup, the strings and the piano and the backing vocals, it amps it up that step more to really wring the emotion out of it all. Plus, pleasantly, once you hit the second side, they start to show a snappier rocking side to go with it as well as the soft one, leading up to eventually maybe my favourite track, Our Private Life (so obviously by George and Tammy) which does feel like it wouldn’t sit completely out of place in more of an outlaw set at the time with the comedic chops in there. I’m getting hooked on country, dammit.

Jones is the greatest country singer. This album is not his best but could be a 5 if it were slightly longer and omitted the last song.

Average country album 3/5

Classic country

George Jones has a good voice, and nothing on this album sounds bad. I just find country from this era a little boring.

I’ll never be old enough for this

Deze muziek kan ik echt niet aan

Bit same-y but I liked the vibe.

Too country for me, I don't have enough spurs / chaps / stetsons for this album

Not awful, awful, but boring enough for a one star rating

fav songs: the grand tour darlin' pass me by melancholic, direct, lonely 50/100

Reminds me of something my mom would listen to. Real nostalgic experience

Solid country album

George Jones is not one of my favorite country music artists but he is definitely one of my favorite country music singers. The guy was kind of a clown. He drank and coked himself into a multiple personality disorder (see Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus episodes on Jones for details), he abused his spouses, he was frequently too messed up to perform for people who had bought tickets to his shows and arranged a baby sitter and what not, his albums are marred by schmaltzy arrangements and annoying strings, and he was kind of an all-round disaster. Here is a story about him that may be partly true or completely false but it is funny and so I don't care. George showed up at Waylon's house drunk and high and started tearing up the place. Waylon got some rope and tied him up until he settled down. George allegedly told Waylon "I'm the greatest country singer alive." To which Waylon replied "Yeah and you're tied to a fuckin' tree." But when he starts to sing I forget all of that. He didn't really write any of his iconic songs but he definitely sings them like he lived them. There are few singers who can put so much feeling into their songs. George Jones was a mess but with a voice like his, I can look past almost anything.

really country, not bad very old-timey, but not my style

Country music legend has around 80 albums and was married to Tammy Wynette at one stage. But I'd never heard of him. That said, it's pretty standard country fare - wife left me, truck broke down and dog died. But as the album is only 28 minutes long and I've had to endure longer prog songs, it's getting an extra star from 3 to 4.

Definitely not my thing. I tried, I really tried, but this is schmaltz.

didn't need to be on this list. sorry

Not my thing

I love classic country. I’m really not a fan of his voice. Never have been.

Would buy this on CD, it's a great album, I love country music!

3.5 que subo a 4 me sentí como cuando estaba carajillo y mis papás nos llevaban a comer a jr ribs... man, those were the times

A little too country for my liking but I didnt mind it. Shout out to George for only making this album 28 minutes long...because I dont think I would have lasted 30. Favorite: Who Will I Be Loving Now

solid bit of country, more of a 2.5

Just kinda boring, to me

Not a country fan, but this is classic and his voice is like AI country old guy. Probably a 2.5 for me but bumping.

Fuck the author and fuck this list

actually really enjoyed this, a great sound

If you're into country music, this is probably excellent. I'm not, really, and I mostly enjoyed this.

Good ol' honkytonk slice of meemaws apple pie down the alamo with a side of georgia peach. I legit like this kinda shit, I like country music, this is fun.

As a longtime fan of Marty Robbins, I was shocked that I had never given Jones a listen. Truly depressing music at its finest from one of the most beaten-down guys in country. I thought that Haggard's life was tough, but nothing at this level of alcoholism and depression. These songs sound cheery and nice, but the content is as dark as it gets. Country is about hurting. Must have made grown men cry at the time. Just like the blues, it's the American equivalent of fado and raga. Very bold of them to include this. Wish there were more. Gets a bit dreary over time, though, too much so. 4.5 stars.

Always ambivalent to country. This is an example of the bad ones. 2/5

There have been many pretenders but there is only one George Jones at the top of the heap. The Possum is missed by all who love his genre of music

Sing it No Show

Love some sad country

Já tivemos álbuns melhores de cowboy. Queria dar 2,5 na verdade

да нормальный альбом это кантри и большего я от него и не ожидал есть цепляющие мелодии, атмосфера приятная, вокал и инструментал соответствуют стилю есть хит могу переслушать если будет такое настроение хорошая добрая троечка 3.2

This was a pleasant surprise, a joyful listen and a soothing voice.

Hey - not bad, George! I enjoyed this one. Not something I would pick out to listen to, or buy at the local record store, but glad to have listened to it.

The first half was so sad it made me want to kms, the second half was so happy I wanted to do a little jig out in public. Great stuff.

Gave me the skeeves tbh

Yeah, that's country music, with everything I find so annoying. I listened to three tracks and couldn't stand the whining. 1/5

Very nice American country sounds like others though so no originality talks about love and booze

A great album to listen to with your morning coffee. Sounds even better if you're on the porch!

we used to a yearning nation (im not even american)

Not bad.

Same sappy country love song for 30 minutes. His voice is solid, but that is about it. 3/10 Top song The weatherman

The Grand Tour is a country album by George Jones. It was released in 1974. It is a country album. It includes the following instruments: guitar, drums, pedal steel, etc.

$5 says this album smelt like Grandma's house before it even left the pressing factory I wanted to pick on the lyrics and say that if you play the album backwards your lost dog comes home, your F150 starts working again, & the love of your life unexpectedly turns back on your doorstep....but there is a little bit of reluctant toe tappin (after thoroughly checking nobody is around to see) Old Bloke steel guitar pedal thingy gets a bit too much use for my ears though. 2.5 star

Quite enjoyable at time. Other times kind of boring, but never bad

Can’t really complain about. It was pleasant. Nice voice and I think the music was all good. Didn’t really stick out though, other than the last song. That was a fun one.

I do like a little bit of country music and this is a nice listen that's easy on the ears. Thankfully, Jones's vocals on this album are minus the affected southern twang of many male country performers . Three stars. 1. "The Grand Tour" (4/5) 2. "Darlin'" (3/5) 3. "Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)" (3/5) 4. "She'll Love the One She's With" (3/5) 5. "Once You've Had the Best" (3/5) 6. "The Weatherman" (3/5) 7. "Borrowed Angel" (4/5) 8. "She Told Me So" (3/5) 9. "Mary Don't Go 'Round" (3/5) 10. "Who Will I Be Loving Now" (3/5) 11. "Our Private Life" (4/5) Total - 36 Average - 3.27 322/1001 176/322 albums reviewed were new to me.

not my cup of tea

4.2

Mixed up this guy with Jim Jones and Charles Manson at the same time. Kind of coloured my perception of the music. Ignoring the murders, the music is just regular schmegular country, nothing to write home about as someone who isn't a fan of the genre

I would rate it high for the genre. Love a short little album, was good to listen to for the time I was listening. Probably not going back to this one but wouldn’t hate to hear it out in public at a state fair or something. Season: Late Summer Favorite Song: Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)

Im not really a country fan, I think it was all just fine. Nothing offensively bad, but like. eh. I defintly enjoy it much more than very many modern country music but that bar is in hell.

The Grand Tour is a great way to open this album. This whole work comes off genuine and like it has some substance. He really makes the line "I'm getting weak from being strong" land. I can picture a bunch of emotionally disconnected guys sitting and listening to the line and nodding along.

A perfect example of a type of music in a time and place. A solid album. Something like this belongs on a list like this. I don't have any complaints. The guy has a great use of his voice as an entertainer. A splendid use of syllables and punctuation. I could see this taking more time to grow on me.

“Grand” is doing a shit ton of work here.

I went into this album wanting to hate it. When I heard the first track I said “ugh, country,” but this dude is a certified actual yearner. I couldn’t help but feel with him, yk? I dig it. Fav Song: Our Private Life

Better than I was expecting

It's like all of the bad parts of Elvis' sound. Way too much twang. Songs were mostly uninteresting. Thought I would like this more but I strongly prefer Willie Nelson or George Strait if I'm listening to old-school country.

By the first song I'm all ears as it sounds lovely and George has a truly beautiful voice. But by the middle of the album this already feels a bit too overwhelmingly saccharine sweet for me. I liked the song Weatherman though.

Utterly unremarkable

He de decir que, a pesar de que no me guste mucho el country, no estuvo mal.

Same old same old

Eh. I get that people love George Jones, but I'm not one of them. It's fine, but it's a bit draggy.

Once again, sounds like bog standard country to me

Can't really differentiate this from other traditional country music, I think that's says something about the genre as a whole

Country? With pedal steel guitar? Snore. 1 Star.

This album is about a guy who has been single for too long, living in middle America. He is on first name terms with the postie, and thanks to him the friendly morning greeting they share always drags on a bit too long. He eats at the same diner at least three times a week, and has asked the waitress every question under the sun about her personal life, so he now feels like he can offer her advice and joke about her deadbeat boyfriend. She doesn’t particularly like it, but she realises she might be the only human interaction he gets most days, so she tolerates it. Desperate for grandchildren, his mother organises a date for him. He takes her to the same fucking diner and spends most of the night talking about the waitress’s life. The date gets drunk on cask wine, and ends up making the mistake of sleeping with him. The next morning, as he sits in his armchair, she hands him the newspaper, thanks him for a good night, and leaves. He heads to the diner for brunch and tells the waitress all about how wonderful this girl is, and starts to explain, in heavy detail, what their future holds. The girl from the date makes excuses not to go on a second date, and the promptly shacks up with a local rancher with a drinking problem.

Some great story telling amd kept thw album short. A bit repetitive ovwrall though

This is classic sounding country and western with it's awful mawkish lyrics. Musically is pretty much indistinguishable from any other country and western. Absolutely not my thing and tiresome to listen to.

While this wasn’t an unpleasant listen, I found it to be an uninspired, generic country album. It hits every cliché of the genre - the obligatory slide guitar on every track, predictable chord progressions, and really cheesy, frankly dreadful lyrics.

man once that slide guitar hit in the intro track I think I was hooked. It's that old fashioned storytelling country you got a lot of in the 70's. I'm sure it would be great to slow dance to under a starry sky with the one you love after a hard week of work. I think Pass Me By is the standout for me here, it catches the theme of the album pretty well, just a sad man singing songs about broken hearts and how to win her back. There is a nice break in tempo a few times through so its not completely full of sad sack country, I thoroughly enjoyed this listen, and I cant help but laugh, because 20 years ago I would've shut this off so fast. Aging does some funny things to you.

George Jones had a great country voice and this album was enjoyable enough but I have no idea why it’s on this list. Absolutely nothing essential about it

American country music is so often the sound of suffering, though I think they might not want me to feel it so acutely. Some country records can capture my heart, but this one isn't for me. And while the album is not abominable, outside of its craft it's barely redeemable.

Couple of good songs but I didn't vibe with it. First track was the best. 2/5

Not overly my thing but I do like the steel guitar throughout

Its good, I think it will sink in more upon a relisten or too. 3.25

The first song was good, but besides that this album is incredibly boring. The only saving grace of this album is that it is less than 30 minutes. Mid 2.

I'm not much for country. Sorry.

You know, not every genre is for every person. And that's okay. I still don't like country music. But a couple of the tracks didn't make me want to throw the speaker out of the car.

Not a fan of country music in general. Still gave it a chance, still not feeling it. Two star music.

Pretty standard old school country. The title track in particular stands out with a captivating lyrical story and musicality, but the rest of the album feels much more derivative in comparison. Not the greatest country album, but worth a listen, especially with the shorter runtime. Top tracks: The Grand Tour, Borrowed Angel

I don't think I'll listen to this again. It was fine, but no more than that. Country music doesn't ring my bell.

I like George Jones well-enough and this album was listenable enough.

I acknowledge that this music is insincere and schmaltzy, but I feel like this is toward the end of the golden era of country music when the Nashville machine was purring at its optimal frequency. I had listened to his greatest hits but never made it to an actual album and that's too bad. I will revisit this one.

It's more croon-ish than the kind of country I like most, but this is excellent stuff. Listened to it while driving home from a hike and found myself doing some serious toe-tapping.

3/5 - This is some country-ass country. Seems utterly indistinguishable from the hundreds of other country-ass country songs from this time, but I was pleasantly surprised that an album named as grandiosely as "The Grand Tour" clocked in around 30 minutes, which is a fine amount of time for this.

Old school country kinda rips. Sad. Outlaw. Orville Peck.

Heartbreak with a pedal steel guitar. I feel like this should be listened to on a 8-track in an old Chevy beige and brown two-tone pickup truck. It’s a fine example of this style of country. I appreciate the short songs. They really are all very similar though.

Pretty uninspiring country

A bit too country but I liked it

After getting The Pogues yesterday I can't help wondering who would win a drinking contest between Shane MacGowan and George Jones. Musically I have more affinity for the fomer. I'm not really much of a country fan but the vocals here were smooth and I am partial to a bit of pedal steel which features prominently on this record. This classic 60s and 70s country is pleasant to listen to at least which isn't really the case with modern pop country.

this has the weirdest bass drum sound i’ve ever heard. i am very mixed on this. some of its very pleasant, some of it i don’t really care about. i do love lap steel guitar, but sometimes its a little corny here. just a little too yachty.

Country isnt my preferred genre but he is very easy to listen to. The bass and drums are consistently present on most tracks with various other instruments that come in depending on the song which adds some variety even though the songs do have a similar feel. Its easy going and emotional like I think country music tends to be and his lyrics are soothing and welcoming. If I wanted some sit around at the bar playing pool type energy this wouldn't be a bad choice.

There were almost too many George Jones albums on Amazon Music to count, but not this one! I opted for one of the many “Best Of” compilations, and I generally enjoyed it and could listen to it about any time, although I don’t love it. My best guess is that this would be a three star album for me.

590/1001 2026.04.10 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑

Well, if you really *must* listen to country I guess this might be it. 1+1 for meeting notability guidelines.

What a beautifully sad album.

Back when I was a kid, my dad loved George Jones, I think he owned every record of his. I did not like him or any country music, I was rock and roll or nothing. Listening now it's a little easier on the ears and maybe it nostalgia talking that gives this 3 stars

For someone who is picky about country music I thought this was pretty nice. I wish I could give it a 3.5 but oh well.

Rätt slätstruket

Väl genomfört men förmodligen bland det tråkigare som jag någonsin varit med om. Skonsamt nog extremt kort.

Lät väl trevligt. Oförargligt.

man vill ju gilla lite go' country, men det här har inte åldrats särskilt bra alltså.

Another country singer who I shouldn't like, because I don't like the genre, but I kind of like his voice. Weird. But I'll give him a three just because I think his music fits his voice and that ultimately makes his music work.

Awful

I do not like this type of country

Aye man this was a nice collection of diddlies. Someone’s daughter put that THANG on George, he was in love!

Mainstream country heeft veel elementen die ik echt nice vind, vooral de spongebob squarepants jangling gitaartjes. En soms echt die Hawaiiaanse twang, die je niet direct verwacht op de prairies van mainland USA. Maar als je verder kijkt dan die geluiden, dan heeft het altijd nét iets te weinig variatie, en wordt het never nooit spannend. Het is enorm opzoek naar een catchy refrein om een song te redden, en dat lukt op dit album niet echt vaak. Ik kan het altijd wel waarderen als dit op ons af wordt gegooid, maar helaas pakt hij me niet in. 6/10

Good old, country. The Grand Tour schiet niet direct in mijn allergie, wat bij Amerikaanse Country eigenlijk altijd al winst is. Het tempo is traag en de stem van George is wel gaaf. Verder is het echt zo classic country; het typische gitaar geluid, de onderwerpen van de songs en het lelijke Amerikaans Engels. Alleen in slottrack Our Private Life gaat het tempo omhoog. Dat is wel geinig, maar eigenlijk zat de kwaliteit van de plaat in het 'man-with-his-guitar' geluid. En daarom valt dat nummer aardig uit de toon. Good old country maar echt enthousiast wordt ik er niet van hoor. 5,5/10 Highlights Passe Me By

Zeikerige country ballads. De paar meer upbeat nummers waren oke, de rest kan me echt gestolen worden.

5/10

Nice voice, good storytelling, but I'm not that info country so I won't come back for more.

Oh look another white boomer with an acoustic guitar playing shite boring music. Why do I expect anything else from this fucking list

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘳 is a straightforward country album, rooted in traditional songwriting and emotional delivery. George Jones’s voice carries the material with ease, giving the songs a strong sense of sincerity. At the same time, the album stays very close to genre conventions. While it’s clearly well made, it doesn’t offer much that stands out beyond that. It’s solid country, but not something that leaves a lasting impression on me.

Is this the epitome of Countrypolitan? Or the ultimate mournful country collection? Maybe both at once! Not my favorite stuff, but it’s classy.

George Jones, 1931 in Saratoga, Texas geboren, nahm The Grand Tour im Januar 1974 in den Columbia Recording Studios (Studio B) in Nashville auf – produziert von Billy Sherrill, der die Sessions mit orchestralen Streicher-Arrangements von Bergen White und den Backing-Vocals der Jordanaires ausstattete. Das bei Epic Records erschienene Album war Jones' 41. Studioalbum und endete eine sieben Jahre währende Einzeldürre ohne Nummer-eins-Erfolg: Die Titelballade „The Grand Tour", von Norro Wilson, Carmol Taylor und George Richey geschrieben, erreichte im August 1974 die Chartspitze. Ebenfalls vertreten: „Once You've Had the Best" (Platz 3) und das intime Schlussstück „Our Private Life". Das Album entstand inmitten einer zerrütteten Ehe mit Tammy Wynette und einem eskalierenden Alkoholproblem – und das hört man, ohne dass es je ausgestellt wirkt. Sherrill hatte Jones jahrelang in Richtung Crossover drängen wollen; Jones bestand auf seinem Kernidiom. Das Ergebnis ist kein Kompromiss, sondern eine Synthese: Die Countrypolitan-Zutaten – Streicher, mehrstimmige Begleitung, polierter Sound – dienen nicht der Glättung, sondern als Resonanzraum für eine Stimme, die jede Zeile ans Limit bringt, ohne je zu kippen. The Grand Tour ist mit knapp 29 Minuten bewusst kompakt: Kein Takt, der nicht zählt, kein Arrangement-Detail, das bloß dekoriert. Jones singt, als ob er die Wahrheit kennt, die dahintersteckt, und als ob er bereit ist, dafür zu bezahlen. Wer die Seele des traditionellen Country sucht, findet sie hier in ihrer verletzlichsten und reinsten Form.

4.5 some solid bangers. Felt like I was driving in an old pickup on a hot West Texas day

One of the best to ever do it.

Does the photo on the album cover show the best example of sideburns of all time? I mean look at that thing - it looks like someone glued a piece of carpet to his face. Also, I'm immediately put off by any song called or including the word "Darlin'". That's always seemed like such a gross thing for a man to call a woman. Or anyone else for that matter. I'm not a country fan and can tell that this is probably gonna be a chore today. But only 28 minutes so here's hoping it won't be too bad. I think I lasted about 27 seconds before wanting to turn this off. I just really hate this kind of music. I hate how sappy it is. I hate the way the vocals always sound. I hate the way they build the melodies. I hate the lyrics. I don't know man, if you put me in a locked room and told me I had to listen to either this or hip hop for 2 hours to get out, I think I might just lay down and die in there. 1/5

I LOVE MYSELF SOME COUNTRY

enough with the country!

Solid classic country! Short and to the point tracks, easy to listen

I’m no country man, but I know my Platonic ideals, and this owns its place: I hear the mug splash of a grown man’s tears behind the whoosh of beer bottles zipping past my ears, and the glug of the toilet bowl as the rancher wipes his beard with his American flag hanky. Exquisite, raw, stupid sentiment rendered masterfully. If there is a Heaven, and it has a bar, this is what’ll be playing when you drink the shit into your breeches. Sample lyric improvised aloud after writing the above: “Don’t shit your pants in anger,” I heard him sayyyy

George Jones has a pleasantly-familiar voice, likely as my grandparents were big fans of his (and other Nashville stars, rather incongruously in their Essex mid-terrace). He's the archetypal country crooner, matching the tuneful sensibility of earlier Hank Williams while smoothing down its rougher edges. "The Grand Tour" is as good an album as any - skillful song construction has you singing along by the second chorus every time. You really need a Greatest Hits though - he was cranking out quality heartbreakers from the '60s ("A Good Year For The Roses") well through the '80s ("He Stopped Loving Her Today"). I think Will Oldham knowingly channels George in his most country moments - "Ease Down The Road" and "Greatest Palace Music" in particular (the superb version of "New Partner" on the latter is a great example). Hell yeah.

Noch hörbar. Schrecklich langweilig, leider.

I don't like America

Not my thing, but I gotta respect this guys output as a real deal drunk.

sure

⭐️⭐️ i had a feeling i wouldn't like this very much. he's got a great voice and some of the tracks were nice, but i sadly lost interest pretty quickly while listening

Relaxing!

The grand tour - 4 Darlin - 2 Pass me by (if you're only passing through) - 2 She'll love the one she's with - 2 Once you've had the best - 3 The weatherman - 4 Borrowed angel - 3 She told me so - 2 Mary don't go 'round - 4 Who will i be loving now - 2 Our private life - 4

Back when I was a young slip of a thing, my friends and I used to try and dream up parody Country and Western songs for our dream band - The Hillbilly Cow Pokers - to sing. If we had heard this album we would have hot the mother lode. Endless heartbreak, marriages split up, an excess of regret and she took our baby and left me her alone with nuttin'. And that's just the first song. There's one song - Once You've had the Best - that's positive and another - that has a happy ending, although it's about a troubled marriage. But the rest are a compendium of misery. 30 minutes of infidelity and heart ache with overtime on the lap steel. Hot dang!

Far better than I was expecting. But I'd rather listen to Ween's pastiche of this style of country. Apparently a lot of the session musicians from that Ween album also played with George Jones, which you can really hear. Shame he doesn't write any of his songs. Great voice though. Best songs: The Grand Tour She Told Me So 3.75

I messed up and listened to the greatest hits album (which contains The Grand Tour) instead of The Grand Tour itself. Well, 16 songs later I understand why country music got the reputation being about broken relationships, sadness for things lost, and drinking. Lots of drinking. One song out of 16 was happy, and it still had lots of drinking. The Grand Tour was probably better but I can't listen to any more country today.

This was in one ear, out the other. Might be someone's favourite country album, but it's not mine.

# Album Name: The Grand Tour # Artist: George Jones # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Lovely Voice George has. Its an easy listen but doesnt really move out of gear. # Top Tunes: TGT # Would I listen to it again? Hmmmmm

yeehaw

Not my genre.

I'm not a country guy, but this is especially awful. Whiny heartbreak stuff and everything sounds the same. At least it's not long...

bof

Country music - how to stretch 2 minutes into 10

This was fine

uninteresting country

1. tour - 2 2. darling - 2 3. pazz - 1 4. love - 2 5. bezt - 2 6. uueatherman - 1 7. angel - 2 8. told - 1 9. mary - 1 10. loving - 2 11. life - 1

158/1001 First listen. Country music. I feel like I’d be in a sorry state if i wanted to listen to this. 3/10

actually ziemlich solid

if this album was a person i would poke it with a stick until it died

Just some country music. Nothing else to say about it