The Grand Tour

Country music is abominable.

Hvis det kommer mer cuntry og muricana nå, så klikker jeg. Dette funker bare i kontext av en Coen-film.

Følte at kona forlot meg for naboen og de dro avgårde med pickupen min, og jeg likte det litt.

Jeg er altfor svak for gammal køntri

American Folk, country ballad, swing? guitars, rural drive vibes

not for me tho Will I listen to again: 1%

This lowkey pissed me off. Felt insufferably long and it’s only 28 minutes.

To mor c&w for me

I know a lot of folks love the possum … I’m just not that into him. Couple songs in and I tapped out.

One of Country’s greats. Almost a stereotypical artist but a true pioneer. Definitely has the market cornered stylishly.

?? Country, aber nicht von Jhonny...? ok c

This is what I mean by country

2,8 - In weiten Teilen eine öde Country-Platte, aber wenn des Tempo schneller, steigt auch die Qualität und dann macht es durchaus viel Spaß. Highlights: The Weatherman, Our Private Life

Fine for what it is. What it is is meh.

The saddest of sad sacks. But you gotta love it. (guessing this album will get savaged by the community on here...)

When it comes to classic country, it really is hard to beat George Jones. This is an absolutely fantastic representation of his voice and style.

The first song was the nice. The rest was a slog to get through and just felt boring.

Holy shot. That is just great. A 3.

Blind album and artist. How was this album so short yet so slow and boring. Pick it up a little bit and have some fun, its country music.

3/5. Dat is country he

Certainly can't say this man didn't emote. Voice of a drunk barfly that surprises the crowd with angelic vocals. Wish there were more upbeats like THE WEATHERMAN and OUR PRIVATE LIFE. I'm at a 2.5 stars, but those tracks pushed it to a 3 for recording purposes.

Didn’t do a ton for your boy

Sappy wife guy singing to his wife

Never really enjoyed the classic country crooner genre. Very boring.

Country. A bit sappy and each track is musically identical to the previous one. Especially with that cliche, whiny guitar sound. It's a relaxing and chilled album I guess. Jones' vocals are nice enough. The album is short and does exactly what it says on the tin.

whhauhfuahsufhadsasv,

It's country. More interesting than most I suppose. 3/5 #203

There's something very endearing to me about this era of country music.

I understand that some music on this list isn’t going to be for me, but damn this album was rough. I can enjoy some country, but this crooning one note stuff is bad. I try to give every album an honest try, but I ended up skipping most of these songs after about a minute. BUT THEN the last song is actually really good?!? What the hell? How did this one good track manage to sneak on to the end of this album? It’s the only thing that saved it from being a one star

Sad cowboy songs

Wonderful classic country from one of the godfathers of the genre.

I like it!

Liked this better than expected

I try to give everything a fair listen, but this did nothing for me.

It pleased my ears

Two verses in and I caught my self standing on a bucket with a rope in my hand😥

This is one of the most wistful, nostalgic albums I have heard in a while. Once You've Had The Best, The Weatherman, and Who Will I Be Loving Now are my top 3 for the album. It really makes me want to watch the leaves fall with a chill in the air but I've got a cozy blanket. Old country like this had truly mastered the concept of longing - and I am here for it.

This was alright

Well it’s been a fantastic journey for me with this project, as this album is my last honky that I will tonk. This one is safe but has a few moments where it’s genuinely moving and effective. 6/10

Pretty lame but ok.

A Ronseal paint country album. Its a lovely chocolatey smooth voice but does not engage me as I really don't care for cowboys.

The Grand Tour This is his 50th album! And he released 5 albums in a 4 month period in 1965, and released 6 albums in 1962. He seems to have settled into a more sedate rhythm by the time this was released, putting out just the 2 albums a year for most of the 70s. I imagine they are all interchangeable, but I think I’d probably enjoy them all interchangeably too, as he has a great, warm crooner-country voice, all backed up by skilled and sympathetic playing, and overall it hits a nice vein of cosy wistfulness, and it's done and dusted in under 30 minutes. It’s not hugely remarkable, and the songs don’t stray too far from the template, but it is very pleasant, and if I’m in the mood for some easy listening country I’d definitely reach for this, making it a solid to high 3. 🪽🪽🪽 Playlist submission: Borrowed Angel

Granddad used to love a bit of country gold on cassette - a gentle, relaxing country delivered by the baritones of Jim Reeves or Charley Pride or Conway Twitty. This falls very much into that 'golden age of country' period. It's a 70s country. It's nostlgically comforting. It's kicking your wet shoes off and wrapping both palms around a mug of hot chocolate. It's the dew on a fresh apple. It's the creak on a stair, a spluttering match held to a frosted pane, it's a half-remembered childhood birthday party, the first downy growth on the upper lip of a Mediterranean girl. The best tracks are the album bookends. The pining title track and the lively 'Our Private Life' written with Tammy Wynette, which must be influenced by Johnny and June. There's little else to say about a man who has a great voice but shat albums out in an almost weekly basis (this is his 50th gosh darn album!). It's a decent album. It has a comfort blanket feel. It's not especially good.

ganska mysigt

They don’t make real yearners like this anymore. He kind of sums up some of my favorite qualities of country music: a smooth voice, heartache, and longing. These days, I veer toward the more folk side of these sensibilities, so I don’t think I’ll come back to this album much. But I appreciate it, and this would’ve killed in my 16-year-old room.

I’m not yearning, you are! 🫵😭 I enjoyed this project more than I thought I would. I enjoyed the old country vibe about a man whose wishes he could be with the one he loves, but she is taken by another. I really felt dudes pain. The production sounded great for something recorded in the early 70s. But I am unaware of the version I listened to on streaming was remastered in any sort of way. My only negative critique is that it was slightly jarring to go through the whole project and hear about this man’s love life, mostly in a somber and romantic way. But the last song is a lot more up beat and damning in regard to those who obsess over the private lives of famous individuals. Just strange note to end the album on. Maybe near the end of the project this guy was found to be having an affair with the woman he talked about in the album??

I think this was alright. I’m glad I was exposed to it and it’s clear this was an influential honky tonk album. But I found many of the songs to be relatively similar, and I didn’t really feel like any particular tracks stood out to me.

Nothing wrong with this, old school classic country.

I never really cared much for George Jones. Perhaps it was because growing up in the 70s the only songs I heard of his were the ones like this album that were drenched in sappy slide guitar and overuse of strings. But, I will say that his voice is instantly recognizable and all his own. Utterly unique. Still, this album just seems like he’s singing the same song over and over. Same feel. Same tempos. And while the title track is the clear standout, once I got to the end of the tour I realized I didn’t remember any of it. A fine listen in the end, but not near as exciting as reading about his drug-ridden booze-soaked personal life.

Not my typical go to but decent songs and well performed. Next time I feel like drinkin’ some whiskeys and feeling sorry for myself, I’ll be putting this on. 2.75

Rounding up in honor of my father in law. Good album, not great. Do enjoy that unmistakable George Jones sound. 2.75/5

Short, sweet, but not for me.

Oerhört ojämnt. När han får till det så får han till det så in i helvete. Som i "Mary dont go around", den är verkligen fantastisk på alla vis. Men däremellan är han.också nästan en patisch på sig själv. Allra värst är "Our private life" som ju är en "Jag mår illa" i hurtfrisk countrytappning, den är direkt pinsam. Många av balladerna förstörs också av outhärdliga stråkar som gör dom onödigt kletiga. Men tre kanonlåtar och två rätt bra, räcker ändå för att styra upp en trea

Jag älskar George Jones sätt att framföra sina sånger. Men problemet med honom, och flera andra högproducerande crooners från countryns guldålder, är att de gjorde många fantastiska låtar, men sällan riktigt starka album. Här finns guld, t ex titelspåret och She told me so, men också dussinlåtar som George Jones kunde spotta ur sig av redan innan han hunnit dricka upp sin första förmiddagsgrogg. Men… han var i alla fall en av countryns bästa röster, så alltid värd att lyssna på.

Det är verkligen synd om George Jones. Hon har lämnat honom utan nåd. Tagit både barnen och hans hjärta. Stackarn! Innerst inne vet vi att det är självförvållat. Han har naturligtvis varit ett svin. Frågan är snarare varför han inte fick sitta ensam med flaskan på kammaren tidigare. Ändå tror man på Jones. De är sliskigt, självömkande och ändå äkta. Stark fyra på vad jag tror är första countryalbumet som lottas fram.

Det är inte lätt att hänga med i George Jones diskografi. 80 studioalbum hann han med att spela in. Det här är hans femtionde. Vem vet hur ert står sig mot övriga 79? Lite för välpolerat Nashville-sound för min smak. Titelspåret är klassik hjärtekrossare country; med rader som She left me without mercy Taking nothing but our baby and my heart Men tyvärr med lite väl smetiga stråkar. She loves the one she's with och Once you've had the best håller inte måttet. Överlag saknar jag lite blod, som Person hade sagt. Svag trea.

Totally serviceable country album

It’s pleasant, which can’t be said for a lot of other country music

Tolerable at its best. Atrocious at its worst. Fucking country music.

Exceptional!

Pas le pire album de l'histoire de la country, mais quand même de la country.

Some nice songs, it was pleasant. It wasn't unique enough to set it apart from other country to me. Rating: 2.3

The Grand Tour is simply a very pleasant country classic with a few truly exceptional songs. George Jones proves his strengths as a performer across The Grand Tour, with clever, classy and instant classic country tunes delivered in his wonderful baritone. Everything that makes this album great may be best exemplified in the title track, a grand, classic country weeper. However, there are some other really great tracks here. The Weatherman is energetic and fun. I'm a big fan of the lapsteel on Pass Me By. The chorus on she Told Me So is a great example of the unique and clever writing on display here. And Our Private Life is a really interesting, sort of tongue in cheek song about the consequences of celebrity culture. It's also, incidentally the most fun you can have on this album in my opinion, I'd probably love dancing to this one in the right setting. There's plenty to love here. I will say, the strongest song here may be the first, which I have mixed feelings about. Also, this isn't all the sort of country I gravitate towards. Despite that, there is something undeniable about this, and I liked it a lot.

Enjoyed more than i thought i was going to

Oh Lordy this some of that old school cowboy music

Such heavy hitting lyrics and fantastic tunes. Then it ends with an upbeat groove that is so applicable to social media today.

Sounds just like any other Country music album. Not a fan, can't really have an objective view. 5/10

Quite possibly the worst county album on this list

3.5

Not my usual style but this was easy listening and I can totally see this on in the background in the right setting.

Не разобрался, не тронул.

Some grand ol' country. And western? Lush vocals, big arrangements, plenty of heartache.

Not my thing. I don't like the twang of country music. At least this was short.

I love how the drums sound on The Weatherman.

Nelabai, bet bent trumpas.

Might listen again.

Low 3 nothing wrong with it

Country Elvis wasn't really my style.

Solid country album but a little too mellow. Love George’s voice though.

Pretty, simple

I don't tend to see myself enjoying country albums but this one was sweet, very Elvis in how George sings (and looks) and the music is very much pop country but the result is a pleasant and short album that feels comforting to listen to in a similar way to 60s baroque pop. It's a nice listen

This one is fine, I don't really have anything against it except that it feels like the same song over and over again, except for the last song which is a dig at judgemental fans. I don't know. It's OK, but I would only listen again if someone else put the album on.

Ok this one is kind of frustrating, I'll explain. Half aware of George Jones, first time really listening (am I going to keep saying this?). Lots of ballads in here, seemingly all the same time signature and chords, but, every once in a while, George plays a sped up tune and it's so much fun. The Weatherman and Our Private Life "slap" as they say. If he had a full album of those I'd be all for it. Just too much sap in this one. Almost a 2 but the other songs elevate it.

Not for me, and didn't really enjoy. Fine singing and guitar playing for those who do though, and can hear how it's important.

The possum is the king of the heartache country song. He can cry in his beer better than anyone else. The songs are great, but this era of country ain’t about the albums. It was a singles game and this one shows it.

3/10

almost forgot to listen to this KGKHJ but its rly short so i was able to fit it in on my walk to work, which is where im writing this from so ill try to be brief lol. but this is possibly my fave traditional country record ive rolled so far?? rly enjoyed that buck owens record too and that might have better capital s Songwriting but jones has that commanding-yet-vulnerable dark chocolate voice down to a tee and he nestles in so emotively in these big lush slightly syrupy 70s nashville arrangements. the heartbreak songs r rich melancholy and the love songs feel like almost unattainable ideals and hyperbole. idk if he was specifically Goin Thru Somethin or if this is just something country lands on a lot, but its very enveloping presentations of very emotionally provocative material esp when taken as a whole...the most album-y country record ive yet rolled in that way

sorry can't do cuntry yes cunt-try. Just not a fan. Sorry George

Once again I find myself unenthused by country music

Average sounding old school country album before the genre imploded. I think the lap/slide guitar playing is quite nice and he's got a generally agreeable southern accented voice. The wikipedia entry for this album reveals a lot of personal drama between George, his ex wife, and what I guess was a falling apart marriage involving a third guy who co wrote some of this. It weirdly comes through since all the songs are about being a mess emotionally. The universe had it out for this guy in a weird way. Fairly generic but not poorly executed by any means.

Cool. Now I have to kill myself. This sounds like a bar with sawdust where I would NOT be welcome. Love GJ

Lovely classic country. Maybe a bit too pretty, missing some of that outlaw edge.

Astonishingly listenable

George Jones is a legend, this however is just ok.

How many lovesongs can a man write. The last song was pure joy.

With some albums it's literally down to you liking or not the genre, because theres no step out of it. To me this is the epitome of lame music

Sure! Best Song: The Grand Tour Rating: 6/10 Stars: 3/5

Fun little album. That's about it

This album was a lot like sex: kind of fun at times, but ultimately unimpressive, forgettable, and over way too soon.

one of the best country albums we've had on the list so far

Well George Jones is a great singer, but… I dunno, George, there ain’t anything else to sing about? Just all the women that have left you? There’s like 2 songs on this album that aren’t about that. You think there might be a common denominator here, George? Best song: Our Private Life

I generally don't listen to country with a few exceptions, and most of those are female (I'm a dude). I do appreciate old-school country like Cash and Haggard, but I can't really get behind this one. I guess I prefer the outlaws.

8/10 Favorites: The Grand Tour Darlin'

If you're not into Country music, take a listen to season 2 of Tyler Mahon Coe's in-depth history of George Jones' importance on the genre. 4/5

This is one of those "If this list was not so focussed on the USA, this wouldn't be in here." albums. It's a basic country album. Every song sounds the same, and is about the same thing: heartbreak. It doesn't do anything noteworthy. It's just... boring.

I do not enjoy this genre. I couldn't finish it.

Whilst I can understand the appeal of such an album to country fans, it ruined my day.

Tekur mig til baka á harmonikkuböllin sem ég fór á með pabba, ekki harmonikka hér en sama væbið, alltaf sami takturinn

Rólegt kántrí. Leiðinlegt. Get ekki einu sinni reynt að tengja við einhverja texta í svoleiðis rugli.

Fine, I like the up-beat numbers not the slow stereotypical country songs. 2/5

Superb - not quite 5/5 but pretty close! Really enjoyed it. Nice lyricism, nice variance. Very solid

God country, han havde nogle ægte gode budskaber, forfriskende kort. Ville nok ikke lytte igen andet end tre sange.

Brings back fond memories of my grandad.

Gäsp. Platt country. Förutom The Weatherman som är en bra låt inte mycket av värde. Tvåa

comfy, classic and concise! Tracks to Track: The Grand Tour

Divorced dad country

Anyone who knows me knows I hate country music. I do like some old country like Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline. This old country was too country-y for me. Didn’t like.

Iconic! Took the honkey tonk twang and modernized it with well produced tracks. This is golden country at it's best!

Solid mid-70s country album - it had a good vibe throughout and I can see myself coming back to it.

Not for me.

I was not expecting this. It's a weird album written for cucks. In almost every song, he's getting cheated on but he don't mind as long as he get some leftover scraps. This is a whole other side of country music.

2.5

Super smooth voice, music is ok (but not exactly my kid of thing). I don't have the ability to discern how good this is in terms of the C&W legion, but on a pure 'musical' level it is neither amazing or shote (to me, at least). This screams 3 stars, so that's what I'm going to give it.

Really liked this but not quite a 5. Something about this album felt comforting 4 ⭐️

Good enough for what it is, I guess. Honky Tonk music usually either annoys me, or leaves me unimpressed. While clearly on the unimpressive side of Honky Tonk, this album was at least quite pleasant background listening.

Whingy white music

It was boring.

Old school country is infinitely easier to listen to than what's considered "country" nowadays. George Jones has a great voice and the music is fine, but I just can't get into this like I can other old school country artists. Favorite tune: The Weatherman

Not quite the thunder bolt that Loretta Lynn was, but another slice of seventies country that's a great listen. Always go for the uptempo numbers over the ballads.

Nah. Not for me

I loveeeee his voice! I immediately got chills. It is so velvety and smooth. I feel like there are better albums but I love it so much!

Who else listened to Daniel Johnston immediately following this?

Very good

ookay gross orchestrierte country. mit ouuu key change. mag d klavieriwürf. de schluss vo darling isch super. es isch seeeehr sehr klassisch country mit pedal steel und allem. the weatherman funny analogie für e beziehig findi cool. she told me so au riese arrangement mit de vocals findi super und er singt fantastisch. das isch würklich afoch country ide purste form woni glaub bis etz vo dere liste ghört ha. vlt ischs drum für mich fast zu gwöhnlich aber es isch halt au saaauguet

poaaah the grand tour isch wuunderschön! au darlin' mega, ich ghör jz scho de country aber finds ener "subtil" find cool dass mit weatherman mal chlii tempo innebracht wird würkli han e super ziit she told me sehr coole mehrstimmige refrain! hahah omg de text jaa find guet ischs album nöd so lang, chönnt au echli eintönig werde hanis gfühl, aber so wies staht klar es 4i! mega söne lieder

This exemplifies the stereotype of the crying drunk country song. The first song is particularly maudlin.

As country albums go, this was better than most. I’ll qualify that by saying that I don’t like country music and mummy ratings reflect that with most being awarded 1 star. It just doesn’t mean anything to me. The lyrics are I’m singing about a lifestyle and landscape I don’t live in. This was marginally better. I was stripping my shower of sealant when listening to it and it flew my. I don’t know whether that was because I was needing to use a Stanley knife in close proximity to myself or whether the music was good. I’ll be generous and say the music was good and give it 100% more stars that I usually award country music on the list. 2 stars.

It was grand. It was a tour. It was George.

George has got a nice voice and the instrumentation here is performed really well (some very cool pedal steel). I just can't get into this whiney "woe is me" style of country. Sorry your dog died, your wife left you, and your truck won't start.

Favorite: She'll love the one she's with

I can’t imagine why this guy was divorced 3 times. If this is one of the “Kings of Country”, Country is going to get a lot of 1 star reviews from me. Every single god damn song is about some cheating, promiscuous woman, or him cheating on someone as well. I can’t stand his Country drawl, the simple guitar playing, lyricism, or really anything else. At 28 minutes, this was actually hard to get all the way through. One of 2 albums so far I only got through once without attempting to listen to again. I could not wait to turn this off. May God give me the strength to get through whatever mid Country album I roll next, because I foresee a lot of 1’s and 2’s in the future.

Johnny Cash lite

Oof. (9/100)

I find the lyrics and style oppressive.

Classic old school country. I tend to prefer outlaw country, but maybe I’m coming around on the classic stuff.

From a lyrical and songwriting standpoint, this is great. But the way that the songs are rendered on the recording feels a bit hokey and dated. I feel like this album could really take off if some other artist covered it though. Like a pop-punk version of this album would probably be killer.

More full throated honky tonk with clip clop beats, weeping steel guitars and someone delicately tinkling the ivories. If you liked the Ray Price album (like I did), you're gonna like this one.

Pure country. I just can't. Rating: 2

Most of what I know of George Jones I owe to Elvis Costello. Not George himself - I wasn’t raised on country music - but on the enthusiasm of a man who was. Costello once said that Jones could sing a telephone directory and break your heart with it. That always seemed to suggest style over substance. Take A Good Year for the Roses. Costello does a fine version, a UK Top Ten hit, but it’s the bones of the song that stay with you: the half-empty cups, the cigarette ash, the silence. All the ways people vanish but stay in the room. A Stranger in the House, a song Costello wrote for Jones, treads a similar line. There’s someone missing and the house knows it. From my ignorant perspective, this is Jones's story. He sang it again and again. Most famously in He Stopped Loving Her Today – he stopped loving her because he is dead. Or she is dead. Or she just left. Absence through death and absence through heartache are all the same and to be dealt with in the same manner: stoicism. Thus it is no surprise that the grand tour of the album's title and lead single is a tour of a mausoleum, a museum of grief or heartbreak, a shrine to someone gone and the life that went with them. Although He Stopped Loving Her Today wasn’t released until years later, it feels like a spiritual twin to The Grand Tour - same story, same production, same ghostly voice. It could have come out at any point in Jones's career, for the years they won't change George Jones's persona, not one bit. All the songs seem to come from the same ghost-town, but the production makes them all look newly painted. Billy Sherrill’s arrangements - strings, backing vocals, that polished Nashville finish - glide over the surface of things. They are pristine exhibition pieces rather than living objects. Maybe that's what country fans like: Jones plays the role of the tough widower, broken but, somehow intact. The forgiving cuckold. The cautious fella who has been hurt before. And he plays this same stoic role over and over. It may or may not be him. He may as well be singing the telephone directory. It’s not that it’s false, it’s just not very active. A little too tidy, a little too rehearsed. Real man's music where you don't give too much away. It's how my granda held himself and probably how he would have sung. Maybe men aren't like that anymore. Johnny Cash, in the video for Hurt, gives you that same house tour - only in his case, it’s real. You feel the years pressing down. The furniture hasn’t been moved in decades. He’s showing you the place where his life and marriage happened. You don’t doubt it. It works because it happens once, when it was true. We see the horror in Cash's presentation of the Grief Museum, rather than Jones's odd, normalising control. Costello clearly heard something in Jones - a kind of emotional minimalism, maybe. Restraint, perhaps. But even his own Jones-inspired songs (Complicated Shadows maybe?) struggle to match what he seems to be aiming for. He can't be that restrained. You can feel the effort, the strain to be honest. Which makes you appreciate even more the artists who take that same template and stretch it into something stranger, truer. The influence can be heard in a pair of songs by Bill Callahan and Joanna Newsom about their breakup. Joanna Newsom’s Does Not Suffice, for instance. A woman walking out of her ex’s life, one garment at a time. “The tap of hangers swaying in the closet…” She’s not mourning a person so much as an atmosphere. The absence is total - and yet the space is still crackling with memory. It's a gorgeous, discrete short story, unlike Jones's gothic twist in the tale. Or Bill Callahan in All Your Women Things - the frills left behind, turned into something monstrous, something uncomfortably alluring. Callahan takes the "frilly things/scattered round (his) room" and makes "a dolly/a spread-eagle dolly/out of your frilly things." He fucks it! Gross. You can’t quite look away. He’s not the sad man; he’s the man sadness got into and rewired. It's true horror compared to Jones's little boilerplate spook stories. These songs do what Jones's sometimes only gesture toward: they make the private public and the poetic real. They show us what it’s like to live with the aftermath, not just to sing about it. These are two songs about the same relationship, the two singers moving away from each other. Newsom leaving Callahan. It is agonisingly real, awkwardly honest. Perhaps that level of emotional realism is exploitative. Normal people might prefer the distance of George Jones's pose. He had his problems, probably worse than Newsom, Callahan, or Costello, but his restrained performance of a type of man is more functional than artistic. Yes, it might as well be a phonebook. Or might as well be the same ghost story you read every Hallowe'en. Maybe Jones is beloved not because he bleeds, but because he doesn’t. Because he presents sorrow as something that can be sung, sealed, and repeated. Like sad Tupperware. Lionel Trilling once traced the modern shift from sincerity – that is, being true to your role - to authenticity, being true to something deeper, stranger, more interior. Listening to The Grand Tour through that lens, I hear Jones as the last of the sincere men. His grief is a performance of consistency: same gestures, same house, same heartbreak. What once read as emotional truth now feels like genre fidelity. Authenticity, in contrast, has to be disruptive. It has to risk being a bit grotesque. Newsom and Callahan sing like people who have actually lived in the wreckage. Jones walks us through a grief-stricken house tidied up for visitors. You admire the effort, but you know that's not what it's like to live with loss. Costello, like Jones, is still performing a role - just a more modern one. He’s sincere about his desire for authenticity, but that’s not the same thing. You hear the strain, the deliberate construction. It’s closer to theatre than to raw confession. He calls himself “The Beloved Entertainer” and, yet, his songs of loss (Veronica, The Puppet has Cut his Strings, Almost Blue, I Want You) are anything but performative. They're always surprising. Maybe I hear, faintly, what Costello hears - the form, the shape of something deep, the telephone book as Book of the Dead. But it always feels like it’s happening elsewhere. Perhaps Jones works better as a ghost that haunts than as the haunted man himself. 2 This is an odd album. Not the music of course, which is as procedural as it gets, but the lyrics. George Jones chose a number of songs here that consistently cast him in what would be commonly supposed (certainly, I presume, in 1970s Texas) to be a woman’s part. The reluctant lover, wary of heartbreak (Pass Me By if you’re Only Passing Through); the adoring spouse welcoming back a partner who has cheated (Once You’ve Had the Best); the adoring spouse who is still being cheated on and is in denial (She Told Me So); the other woman (Borrowed Angel); and of course the abandoned, heartsick partner (the Grand Tour, Darlin’, Who Will I be loving now?). Maybe I just need to listen to more country music from a half century ago, which may all be like this (I won’t). I did a couple of years of listening to Downtown Country in work; modern country-pop where the men generally sing about beer, trucks and meeting their perfect wives. George seems remarkably secure in his masculinity by comparison. Great voice too - even if the too-Texan accent grates a little. The chorus of She Told Me So doesn’t make sense. 2/5

A lot of sad songs lol

solid country record!

Could see it going to a 4. Since it reminds me of that Joe Ely album i like. Classic country

Ok 2/5

I recognise he has a good voice but this genre does very little for me. I wouldn’t ever sit down and listen to this by choice (other than on this project of course. And, oh boy. the lyrics make me cringe so hard. 2.5

another excellent classic country album. Nothing to dislike here he has great songs that tell great stories. Great vocals.

I don't really know what to say about this album. I have listened to it 3 times. Why? Because I found a bit of comfort in the way it sounds in terms of productions. It feels somewhat relaxing. But it is still a bit painful to sit through the more and more I listened to it. The third time I was wishing for it to finish when I had only reached the half point. Also, for once, I decided to look up for the lyrics. I felt curious when one of the times I was able to head the fantastic line which is 'Each night she thanks God for the day she found me'. Yes, these lyrics can get very very corny at times, and all the songs are about love or how he misses or will miss some other girl. Anyway, I don't really want to come back to this album. I'm very sure that there's dozens of other country albums that do it better.

Fun fact - I do not like country.

A truly horrifying experience.

I don’t know who this guy is, but his music sucks. I would love to party with him though.

George Jones: The Grand Tour: How dare a country singer disgrace the Grand Tour. Its country music: I don't like it. Nothing of note at all, its just fucking country music. The worst part is that this is definitely like "top tier" country music, and it still all sounds the same and is not interesting. At least the album is short. 4.5/10

Does anyone outside of the US rate country? Folk music across is very cultural in the same way I wouldn't expect someone from Kentucky to understand the Wurzels

Þetta er allt í lagi. Stutt plata sem betur fer.

Alls ekkert svo slæmt kántrý.

At least it's short.

Yee-haw

A voice made for Country music but just not for me. Includes a duet with the soon to be ex Tammy Wynette on Our Private Life.

Pretty fun collection of songs, perfect for chilled evening listening

Easy to listen to and it can be kind of fun. This isn't my kind of music but has a time and place. 4/10

3/10 I wasn't drunk so I didn't enjoy. 7-9-2025

Didn't know a lot about George Jones before listening to this. Classic 70's country, rich story telling and deep emotional vocals. Nothing flash but excellently delivered. If you like country tearjerkers you'll love this album

Perfect country album. Songs were super well crafted and no fat. He’s got a great voice. Pedal steel. Song lyrics r about being lonesome. Just don’t know if it’s something I put on, but if I’m ever in the mood for this you are my first call grand tour by George jones

GOD IM SO FAR BEHIND But this rocked. Country can be so awesome.

So this is the country music that I was expecting to find at some point, traditional, and truly awful. Thankfully, this is a short album, but it's also a real stinker.

I liked it. Simple songs performed well. This is the sound that a lot of country artists I enjoy base their sound on. Very few capture the effortless bouncy twang. Just needs a single kind of clever phrase, and that’s the base for a nice two minute song.

Very deep lyrics about his breakup with Tammy and a good narrative on that era of country music.

High quality writing playing, and performing. You can see why he is so highly regarded in country music after listening to this album.

Not my type of music but brings back memories of music my mom & grandparents listened to when I was a child. Wouldn't seek this out or listen to it again but didn't hate it.

Ich mag Musik mit Country-Einflüssen, aber in Reinform wie dieser ist mir das zu schmierig.

Kind of see above really, except that this one was a little shorter (so better), but didn't have a noticeable highlight. I really just think that the genre needed one, maybe two at a push albums from mardy men telling us about their hard lives or whatever, but accidentally spawned three million, all of which are on here.

Most-all of the songs are covers or things he didn't write, so I guess my focus judging the album should be mostly on the sound itself? In which case it sounds like pretty normal old country music, I think? Maybe a little more of a consistently satisfying listen? It does sound pleasant. Maybe I've simply had a fundamental misunderstanding about the list. Maybe this album isn't on the list because it's one of the best works of music ever recorded, maybe it's on the list because Robert Dimery is worried that if you don't consume at least one album's-worth of standard country music, there'll be a gap left in your musical knowledge and you won't know what it's meant to sound like when Johnny Cash isn't there tearing it up. This is the king of competent music

Every song on this album had a similar sound but yet could easily be separated from each other. A distinct George Jones sound that was easy to listen to

Country has got to be one of the most uninventive genres. I’m not saying it can’t be interesting, but in the 60s and 70s American artists were producing country albums in such quantities that there was not enough time to innovate. There’s nothing to say about this album. It doesn’t have anything you wouldn’t hear in any other country album from the same time period. He can sing, but the music overall is very generic, uninspiring, and boring. At least it’s short…

Good album, very solid overall. 6.1/10

Well at least this was a short album because one you've heard one song you've heard them all. Sure it's a great example of early country music and executed well but I don't necessarily need or want it. 4.25/10 (2.125/5)

Beautiful voice.

Sad man sings of joyless infidelity.

such small horizons

Couldn't get through this one...

Day538 - he took the church hymns and added in some lovin,cheatin and drinking

Favorite Track: The Grand Tour

No ta

I think this album is hard carried by the fact that he has a pretty nice voice. Instrumentally, this is chock full of country twang that grinds my gears. 2.5 Stars

Знаете, что было бы супэр? Если бы в рамках одного альбома песни хотя бы чуть-чуть отличались друг от друга. О вэйт, это не ты, бро, который ставит пять из пяти всем электронным альбомам в списке, потому что современные дети и взрослые забыли, что весь модный поп родился из той же самой электроники, и всё такое? Это мое "нет" войнам в мире. Лучшая песня - The Grand Tour.

3.5

Mercifully short

Classic 1974 country. Definitely a personal heartbreak album. Worth a listen

Does exactly what it says on the tin. I just don’t particularly care for this style of tin. And I don’t know enough about country music to know if this is particularly good or whether it’s a case of “we must have a George Jones album on the list”.

If I enjoyed old school country, I feel this would be great

This was some fun old country I enjoyed it immensely

I don't care for this type of country music.

There’s something strangely homely about this type of country; and I’m from Denmark. George Jones has me intrigued in the start, but The Grand Tour quickly turns out to be a one trick pony.

This is a fabulous album filled with painful memories. It's a hard one to listen to, but that's me personally. I think Jones has that singularly sweet voice loaded with reminisce for "the good ole days" and lyrics to match.

I like his clothes more than his music. Those encrusted rhinestones twankle bright (and partially make up for how boring his music is).

I’m sure George Jones’ “The Grand Tour” is a lovely example of the genre. But it’s a particular genre that I just can’t stand. The couple of faster-paced songs are the most tolerable.

So sloooow. Dude needs more pep in his step for this grand tour.

I wish more of this album were upbeat like Our Private Life.

I love George Jones’s voice

I know every genre has songs about love and loss and heartache and being mistreated in a relationship. But there’s something about putting it over a steel guitar that makes it really off-putting.

Quality recording and good performance makes this album all the worse for me, as this is the type of country music I least appreciate.

This sure is an old school, cryin' in your beer style country album. Must be foundational or something. Good singer, but didn't care for what he was singing, in general. 2.5* rounding up, as it wasn't particularly irritating.

As one half of UK Country & Western behemoths Houmous & Chutney I can really appreciate George’s effort here. Of course he never quite makes it to the levels of H&C 2.1 1/11 The Grand Tour

De Nicho; principalmente para oldies y gringos.

It was a very good country album

i don’t know, man… i’m tired of this genre, boss. it was listenable, though, and i liked Mary Dont Go Round, but jeez, it just didnt wake anything in me.

Didn’t like it.

Pretty slow, old country album. Generally not my thing, but at least it’s short. 2/5 Won’t listen again

When scouring the charity shops for CD bargains the largest majority of CD’s for sale all have album covers like this. So I quickly flick past them without giving them a second thought. Sometimes without a thought at all now that I become adept at sorting the wheat from the chaff. A silly practice I know as I’m in danger of missing a gem. But as this album cover depicts you know exactly what you will get from the CD and why it needs ignoring. American Country Music means nothing to me in my UK northern environment and I know of no one in my circle of friends who would disagree. Although I did share a bedroom in a hostel with a fellow recruit when I was 17. Despite my love for Hendrix, Genesis, Yes etc which was also shared by most of the other guys in the hostel, my bedroom mate did have an unhealthy love of Country Music. Don’t recall him liking George Jones but I’m sure he must have been on his radar. So whilst listening to this today it was nice to recall Phil (that was his name) singing Jim Reeves songs at the top of his voice and 18 other lads shouting at him to shut the fuck up. Which in my view George should have done before cutting this album. 1/5 8/6/25

This collection of tunes is like a flavor of tea that I just don't like. I can see why others might love it, but I just could not get into it. I am glad that it existed to bring the great country that is being made today, but nothin I would ever return to. 2/10

One of the greatest voices of all time, singing some of the most downer songs of all time. This album is both incredible and incredibly depressing.

A little on the boring side but I was feeling it??? A good background noise album.

country is not really my genre, but this was nice enough

Not a country fan but the album is still simply a feel good nice listening.

🤷

Vildt god stemme og kunne godt lide produktionen!

Fine.

An interesting album, I really liked The Grand Tour the most.

Please, not for me, absolutely no country... This is something that will make me die if I have to listen to it! So yes, I think it's apropriate to say that with a record like this on this list, if you're not dead afterwards you'll survive pretty much anything :-/

Short and concise album, but not a bad song on it. very enjoyable country album.

A few familiar tunes.

Vanaf de eerste seconden weet je wat je gaat luisteren. Een of andere huilerige countrykweelmeneer. Het is niet eens lekkere automuziek, het tempo is dat van een hobbelende ouwe knol. De teksten hebben ook al niks origineels. Wat is hier bijzonder aan?

Ik heb dit maar even in drieën geknipt. Even wat Italiaanse rap er tussendoor. Man, wat een energietrekkende saaiheid. Het is jammer dat de man prima kan zingen. Kan ik hem geen 1 geven.

En daar hebben we weer een knauwende countrycrooner. Piano, violen, steel guitar, alles voor de ultieme snik. Dit heeft een hoog palinggehalte, voor zover ze daar palingen vangen op het Amerikaanse platteland. Omdat het uit Amerika komt, mag dit wel in de snoblijst, maar Hazes staat er niet in. Onbekend maakt onbemind? Deze smartlappen zijn alleen niet suitable for work, terwijl hazes dat dan weer wel is. Gek eigenlijk. Zolang de nummers wat meer tempo krijgen en de smartlap verruilt wordt voor snelle koiboiboots, is het allemaal nog wel vermakelijk. De smartlappen zijn niet mijn ding. Ik hou het op 2 sterretjes

this one was amazing!

I suggest reading the Wikipedia article about this guy. Incredible

I have always disliked a lot about country music, the writing, the vocals, the sounds, the reeking sentimentality, and this album encapsulates all of it.

This isnt my bag, but i took two goes through this and i gently warmed to this. There is heart and warmth and good songwriting here. Its still country, but i didnt hate it

*sad cowboy emoji*

this is so sad alexa play despacito

I do not enjoy his voice

Nice if wanting this vibe. For me it’s ok

*honk shooooooooooooooooooo*

This sounded like one long, sad song to me.

Great voice, otherwise the lyrics were the epitome of the melancholic 1970’s country music vibe.

Was alright, didn't stick with me

It's ok

This guy has a billion albums, bet they all sound like this

This country?

Way too country for me, I find the typical male country singing voice to be grating

Decent country album but did not wow me

Um bom álbum, gostei das músicas,uma pegada mais folk ou country

This is what a broken heart sounds like.

Actually one of the stronger 70s country albums. First few songs had me hooked but by about the 4th song I didn’t get anything different. Not bad

I like older country, and the album started strong. I feel like it fizzled out though and get weaker has the album went on. 6/10

Willie Nelson came on immediately after this and I didn’t realize it was new album. But I noticed the music was better…

Grand tour wel een dikke plaat, rest ook wel maar moet toch een beetje onderscheid maken

Wow that album went by quickly! It left me wanting much more. This is pedal steel, love and heartbreak old school country heaven! No one could put feeling and emotion into a country song quite like George Jones and what a voice! He would be on my Mt. Rushmore of country greats. I loved this from start to finish.

5/10

7.5

I haven't given a 1* for ages but maybe it's time to break that duck. This is just bland.. slow tempo, generic lyrics and the amount of slide guitar! I quite like that sound sometimes, but it's a trick he clearly liked and repeated endlessly. It gets old fast I confidently predict when I finish all 1089 albums and scroll back through, I will not remember this at all

Pleasant buttery voice easy listening

Old school country. Still not for me.

It’s hard to explain how much I hated this album! “She told me so” is especially bad. I was 12 when it came out, but have never heard of him.

The average person gets to spend roughly 38 million minutes alive on the planet Earth. During those minutes you have the opportunity to invest your time with loved ones, creating new things, doing productive work, and enjoying art. Somewhere along the way, a mistake happened and country music was created. I've spent 28 of my minutes suffering through this album, but you don't have to. Please take this review as a warning. Call your Mom. Do anything else. It's too late for me, but not for you.

Only got through half. Musically it’s nice but I’ve just got a built in bias against country. I tried to place exactly what’s wrong with it but it’s just taste. Put this on while I’m in line at knotts and it wouldn’t really bother me.

Like I can see how it could be liked but just wasn’t my thing. 2 stars

Not my jam. Wish there was a 2.5. And I assume for George Jones fans the rating would be higher. What I do like is it just stripped down, back to basics country. Nice steel, also

I couldn’t find the entire album. I could only find one song, but I did listen to several of his songs. Based on that I will give him a three. Classic country.

Did not expect the last song to be about celebrity culture

Man, when we lived in the Arctic, the older Inuit folks lived and died for George Jones (listening to the Inuit CBC shows it was just a lot of words that couldn’t understand and then fairly reliably “….George Jones…” and the man was in your ears! I do love country, especially old country, but never really loved GJ. He’s too clever by half and too much just like his songs. This old country ‘love’ song trope is well past its best before date. Too bad he didn’t have an updated later phase to his career like Johnny Cash and Willie, ‘cause now he’s just that misogynist drunkard for eternity

I’m torn with these country albums. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never gotten into country as a genre. But I definitely love Willie Nelson, Emily Harris, and sturgill Simpson , who sound a lot like George jones. So maybe my dislike of country is starting to thaw… Jones’ voice is great. Still not a huge fan but didn’t hate it.

Нормально, но я бы не расстроился если бы умер, не услышав этот альбом

Decent country.

Starts out solid but loses its footing along the way. Overall decent as far as country goes.

Confortável. Não sou um sommelier de country nem nada, mas consigo apreciar o conteúdo desse disco. Palhetadas agradavéis e letras agridoces. A canção titular é fantastica, é o modelo do que uma canção de country precisa ser. O resto do album não chega no mesmo ápice, na verdade não chega nem perto, mas não tem nada ruim. Album curto, fácil de ouvir... Até agora foi meu country favorito da lista. A voz desse cara é fodida de linda. 4/5

Last song was interesting, but thankfully the album was less than half an hour long

velvet voice

George Jones was the voice of country music. This album is fantastic beginning to end, can’t say the same for ol’ George.

Country

Good ol’ fashioned country. It’s a good album if you like the genre. The production quality is really something. Makes me wonder if tape recordings and the tubes were better than our fully digital modern recordings.

yee haw this one was fine

This one surprised me. Some great country. Last song goes hard! You didn’t have to do it to ‘em like that George.

A little genre diversity makes this whole thing worth it. Thanks George for the nostalgia of living in the American south.

He did eat a little on Mary Don't Go Round. I believe that all the women who left him were in the right. 4.

This isn't my type of music, but it's exactly what I would think good, traditional country music sounds like Personal enjoyment:3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

I’m just a fan of George Jones’ voice. Because of that, and the quality of the lyrics, I’m able to forgive that this is basically the same song over and over again. 3/5

A country music classic.

Latte

Good crooning but the songs are a bit too repetitive.

Classic storytelling country. And vulnerable and emotional in a way. You just don't get anymore from the genre.

Good country, nothing special in my opinion. Would have to go to the rise and fall of a midwest princess for that.

Nothing against Country fans but how many of them are trying to hear these 1001 albums before they die? Just curious! Anyway, sentimental Country just isn’t my thing. It’s not George Jones’ fault that he’s not Johnny Cash but I can’t find anything much here to move me.

I would say this is a grand 'ol' tour that feels more like a nostalgia piece. I am not a big fan of country, but somehow it seems more palatable as a slice of history. Still can't embrace it wholeheartedly.

Claaaics

I really like country, but I had a hard time finding what made this album stand out — it felt pretty standard and just ticked the usual boxes.

so much classic country has a gimmick, a conceit that runs through a song to tell the story - the title track is a pretty good example. Man this possum looking mother fucker could sing. An inspiration as I understand for friend of the list Elvis Costello. A friend lives across a couple lawns from the house he shared with Tammy Wynette before the grand tour.

short and sweet! i do love old/classic country... feels like this would be right at home in a bar with a jukebox.

nice old-school country crooner album. good vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation - moving in parts, funny in others. nothing fancy or ground-breaking but super solid. bonus star for being under 30 minutes! favorites: the grand tour, she'll love the one she's with, once you've had the best, our private life

🎧Why, for the love of God and sweet baby Jesus, can’t modern mainstream country sound like this?

No interest in this type of country music.

Jones stops beating Tammy Wynette long enough to record a record with a couple of good songs