Editorial Review:

Album Description:
4-CD-Box & Book. This third Don Gibson boxed set covers the period from 1966 to 1969, the final years of his RCA Victor contract. Includes all the groundbreaking late Sixties LPs, 'All My Love,' 'The King Of Country Soul,' 'More Country Soul,' 'All Time Country Gold,' and the fabulous duets with Dottie West. All the hits from this period are featured, including Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings, Rings Of Gold, and There's A Story, together with some previously unreleased recordings.The 40-page book includes an essay by Stuart Colman, who conducted the last interview with Gibson, as well as rare photos from the Gibson family archives, and a complete discography by Richard Weize.









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Related Items:
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Related Items:

• The Singer, The Songwriter, 1949-1960
• Right or Wrong
• Country 1951-1958
• For You - The Decca Years 1963-1969
• Country Meets Folk/Here's to Our Love
• see more

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Disc 1:

1. Forget Me - Don Gibson, Eddy, Mirriam
2. Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings - Don Gibson, Newbury, Mickey
3. Just to Hurt Me - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
4. Losing Your Love - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
5. The Chance I Had to Take - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
6. Run Along Blues - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
7. No Doubt About It - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
8. All My Love - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
9. There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight - Don Gibson, Williams, Hank [1]
10. Where Is Your Heart Tonight - Don Gibson, Martin
11. This Cold War With You - Don Gibson, Tillman, Floyd
12. We Live in Two Different Worlds - Don Gibson, Rose, Fred
13. It's a Sin - Don Gibson, Rose, Fred
14. (I'll Let My Heart Break) For a Little While - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
15. Faded Love - Don Gibson, Wills
16. Ashes of Love - Don Gibson, Wright
17. They'll Never Take Her Love from Me - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
18. What Locks the Door - Don Gibson, McAlpin, Vic
19. Headin' Down the Wrong Highway - Don Gibson, Daffan, Ted
20. Good Morning, Dear - Don Gibson, Newbury, Mickey
21. It's a Long, Long Way to Georgia - Don Gibson, Murray
22. I Just Said Goodbye to My Dreams - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
23. Low and Lonely - Don Gibson, Jenkins, Floyd

Disc 2:

1. You've Still Got a Place in My Heart - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
2. Everlovin' Never Changing Mind - Don Gibson, Endsley, Melvin
3. Maiden's Prayer - Don Gibson, Wills
4. A Thing Called Sadness - Don Gibson, Howard
5. What Now My Love - Don Gibson, Becaud, Gilbert
6. Half a Man - Don Gibson, Nelson, Willie
7. Thoughts - Don Gibson, Thomas
8. I Walk Alone - Don Gibson, Wilson, Herbert
9. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Don Gibson, Williams, Hank [1]
10. Someday You'll Call My Name - Don Gibson, Branch
11. She's Looking Good - Don Gibson, Inman
12. Times Were Good - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
13. Don't Rob Another Man's Castle - Don Gibson, Carson
14. Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You) - Don Gibson, Hodges, Jimmie
15. If My Heart Had Windows - Don Gibson, Frazier
16. Ever Changing Mind - Don Gibson, Melson
17. You Can't Pick a Rose in December - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
18. Til I Can't Take It Anymore - Don Gibson, Otis, Clyde
19. Let's Wait a Little Longer - Don Gibson, Putman, Curly
20. Lovin' Season - Don Gibson, Thomas, Gene
21. How's the World Treating You - Don Gibson, Bryant, Boudleaux
22. Rings of Gold - Don Gibson, Thomas, Gene
23. Sweet Memories - Don Gibson, Newbury, Mickey
24. I Love You Because - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
25. When I Stop Dreaming - Don Gibson, Louvin, Ira

Disc 3:

1. Set Me Free - Don Gibson, Putman, Curly
2. I'll Never Stand in Your Way - Don Gibson, Rose, Fred
3. Final Examination - Don Gibson, West, Dottie
4. Sweet Dreams - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
5. Solitary - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
6. I Will Always - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
7. Montego Bay - Don Gibson, Cochran, Hank
8. Blue Darlin' - Don Gibson, Lyles, Lessie
9. Good Deal, Lucille - Don Gibson, Terry, Al
10. Am I That Easy to Forget - Don Gibson, Belew, Carl
11. Oh, Lonesome Me - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
12. One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) - Don Gibson, Dean, Dearest
13. Bonaparte's Retreat - Don Gibson, King, Pee Wee
14. A Little Bitty Tear - Don Gibson, Cochran, Hank
15. Here Comes My Baby Back Again - Don Gibson, West, Dottie
16. Half as Much - Don Gibson, Williams, Curley
17. I Can't Stop Loving You - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
18. Tennessee Waltz - Don Gibson, King, Pee Wee
19. Almost Persuaded - Don Gibson, Sherrill, Billy
20. Four Walls - Don Gibson, Moore, M.
21. I Found Someone New - Don Gibson, Payne, Leon
22. Snap Your Fingers - Don Gibson, Martin, Grady
23. There's a Story (Goin' 'Round) - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
24. Lock, Stock, And Teardrops - Don Gibson, Miller, Roger [Coun

Disc 4:

1. Intro Country Style #151 - Don Gibson,
2. Oh, Lonesome Me - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
3. I Can't Stop Loving You - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
4. Flip Flop and Bop - Don Gibson, Cramer, Floyd
5. Set the Wedding - Don Gibson, Sills, Dottie
6. Just a Closer Walk With Thee - Don Gibson, Public Domain
7. Outro - Don Gibson,
8. Intro Country Style #157 - Don Gibson,
9. Oh, Lonesome Me - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
10. Take Me as I Am or Let Me Go - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
11. Flip Flop and Bop - Don Gibson, Cramer, Floyd
12. Blue Blue Day - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
13. Just a Closer Walk With Thee - Don Gibson, Public Domain
14. Outro - Don Gibson,
15. Intro Country Style #177 - Don Gibson,
16. Give Myself a Party - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
17. Look Who's Blue - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
18. Comedy - Don Gibson,
19. Sweet Temptation - Don Gibson, Travis, Merle
20. Where No One Stands Alone - Don Gibson, Lister, Mosie
21. Outro - Don Gibson,
22. Intro Country Style #188 - Don Gibson,
23. Blue Blue Day - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
24. Heartbreak Avenue - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
25. The Lonesome Road - Don Gibson, Austin, Gene
26. Raggin' the Keys - Don Gibson, Wood, Del
27. I'm Climbing Up the Mountain - Don Gibson, Lister, Mosie
28. Outro - Don Gibson,
29. Intro Country Style #232 - Don Gibson,
30. Blue Blue Day - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
31. Heartbreak Avenue - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
32. Flip Flop and Bop - Don Gibson, Cramer, Floyd
33. Oh, Lonesome Me - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
34. Outro - Don Gibson,
35. Intro Country Style #251 - Don Gibson,
36. Oh, Lonesome Me - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
37. If I Can Stay Away Long Enough - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
38. Am I That Easy to Forget - Don Gibson, Belew, Carl
39. Just One Time - Don Gibson, Gibson, Don
40. Outro - Don Gibson,

Rating: - 30,000,000 and counting
My title refers to how many times his "I Can't Stop Loving You" has been played. It has been recorded by over 700 singers and as of yesterday when I looked it up on the internet (Google "Don Gibson's Story") 30 million times it's been played. And factor that with minutes in a day and it being played over and over, it would take 22 years for it to be played that many times. According to Google. And I don't even think that's the best one he ever wrote. That's just how brilliant he was. So he didn't use 10-letter words. He didn't need to. His "simple" words (according to him) and picking and singing just projected geniusness. Every word was with deep feeling. In his writing, his picking, and his singing.
Oh yes, I finally got all 3 box sets and no one could pry them from me. You couldn't pay me enough to sell them. He is absolutely the most under-appreciated singer/songwriter/guitar picker ever. And self-taught. Seeing as how he decided school was boring and so in the 2nd grade (he was 8) he told his mama he wasn't going back and so he didn't. He proved himself. I'd like to know if any of his teachers (well, I guess there probably were only 2 or maybe 1 in those days) ever wrote a song or 2. I have a pretty good education and I couldn't even come up with a song title much less write lyrics for one.
He was just great. I miss him so much. I would just love to have DVD's of him performing at the Grand Ole Opry and other places. Someone, somewhere must have old film of him. They have film of other old, old people. If I had half the brain he had, I'd start right now, digging for film of him and make a DVD.

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Rating: - Don Gibson The Singer-The Songwriter 1966-1969: The Very Best of Both
I asked myself "Why am I spending this much money for a CD??" I thought I must be absolutely crazy. Well, I received it in the mail yesterday, and I no longer think I'm crazy. It is soooooooo good. I have a lot of these songs on LPs (yes, from way back when!!) but I'm getting in to this modern world (I'm afraid very late) and I wanted them on CD, and I thought this CD would be good to have. I only wish that I'd bought it years ago, if it were available. Don Gibson was my favorite singer and still is. I had a few CDs already and I play them constantly. He was originally from Shelby NC and I was from Gastonia, about 20 miles away, and I remember him from those very early years. He was only a few years older than I. It had been hard to find CDs by him until someone suggested I go on Amazon looking for them. I guess The Bear Family produced this box set. I had never heard of them before I read another review of one of their products. Thank you so much, Bear Family. The writings about Don are invaluable to me, especially since he mentioned being at a movie theater in Gastonia. (Just think, I might have sat in that same seat.) I've always wondered about his life back then. I had heard about his involvement with alcohol early on in his career, but not the drugs. Well, I have mixed emotions here: If he was on drugs/alcohol when he recorded these songs, and that's what I get from the story, then I can certainly overlook that. Not that I'm condoning them, I certainly am not. I am very uplifted and happy that he cleaned himself up. My father was an alcoholic and I grew up in a hellish home, but I don't know that Don ever sang better, before or after. And perhaps his addictions, and overcoming them, helped him in a way he couldn't have been helped otherwise. My father never overcame his alcoholism until the day he died at age 72 in 1985. I still believe that he made it to heaven because he was a good man otherwise, when he wasn't drinking. I think Don may be up there as well. Maybe they know each other by now. And maybe they both can say "Vickie loved me".
Oh but I'm getting away from my review. I've heard that alcohol and drugs can improve a person's singing voice and I don't know if that is true, but they certainly didn't hurt Don's voice as far as I can tell. I think he just got better with age. Now I can't wait to get the other box sets from '49-'60 and from '60('61?)-'66. Alas, since I am old and existing on retirement and social security, I have to wait until I can save up the money, but I will be pinching my pennies until they scream and holler. I hope they will be equally as good as this one.
The book was an unexpected joy. The photos are glorious, however, the only thing I can complain about would be that the studio musicians weren't identified on the pictures as was the other performers in the back of the book. My memory escapes me a lot and so I can't put names to them.
Well, CD #4 was a pleasant surprise. I just had to hear the very first track of it to realize that I heard those programs back then. I was living in Newport, RI at the time and my husband was away in Europe with the US Navy and those radio shows was about the only source I had for country music of any kind except from my little 45 rpm records, and I, being still very young (summer of 1958), didn't have very many, however, I had some by Don Gibson and they are still stored here at my house somewhere. Country music back then seemed to bring me closer to my husband, and something in common, while he was away on long lonely cruises with the Navy. All else I had to help with the loneliness was our brand new baby, born while he was away and whom he didn't see for 6 months.
Thank you again Bear Family and to the one who did the last interview with Don. It was wonderful. I could just hear him telling the stories. And I can understand where he got a lot of his inspiration/ideas to write his songs. From true heartbreak at times. I've heard that only a person who has experienced it can write about it.
I just recently found out that Don has passed away (when I looked him up on the internet), and I am so sad about that. My heart goes out to his wife of 36 years. God Bless You, Bobbi. I am sure you made those 36 years a much better life for him. I think that he didn't write so many sad songs after that.
My husband and I have been married for 50+ years and we've survived a lot as well. 25 years of Navy life and a year and a half of it during the Vietnam war. He was there in 1967 and 1968. And that's when I got a lot of my Don Gibson albums. The ones I'm trying to find on CD now. And a lot of those are on these CDs in this box set. They bring back such memories to me.
Thanks so much to Amazon for allowing an old woman to ramble on with this, my very glowing review of this box set. It is next to perfect. Well I did give it 5 stars and would have given it 9 and 9/10s if you'd allow me. And the other tenth is for not identifying the studio musicians above their pictures.
I recommend it to ANYONE who EVER heard of Don Gibson and his music. And even to those who didn't. You might just like some of it if not all of it.