"THE GENTLE GIANT" (Don Williams' smooth country expressions are as comfortable as a warm conversation with an old friend)
Don Williams, a.k.a. "The Gentle Giant", has been writing and singing his mellow country songs since the 1960s. The Definitive Collection goes back to 1973's Come Early Morning and ends with Heartbeat In The Darkness from 1986. This time period and the songs on this collection are the heart and soul of Williams' successful career.
The Don Williams sound is smooth, rich and mellow, but it's also authentically wise and kindly rugged. He's tall and considerate, just as his nickname implies, but he's also famous for his old worn leather hat and friendly bearded face. Don's singing voice and demeaner are as laid-back as Andy and Aunt Bee sittin' on the front porch while sippin' iced tea on a pleasant summer night. The songs are humble and simple, with plain and subtle country arrangements that fit a warm contented atmosphere or a thoughtful reflective mood. Don celebrates new love in It Must Be Love:
It must be love, it must be love
I fall like a sparrow, fly like a dove
You must be the dream I've been dreamin' of
Oh, what a feeling, it must be love
In Good Ole Boys Like Me, Williams softly and wistfully reflects on who he is, and the challenge of staying true to himself as times and people change:
I can still hear the soft Southern winds in the live oak trees
And those Williams boys still mean a lot to me
Hank and Tennessee
I guess we're all gonna be what we're gonna be
So what do you do with good ole boys like me?
He laments the timeworn heartache that accompanies a forever unrequited love in Some Broken Hearts Never Mend:
Some broken hearts never mend
Some memories never end
Some teardrops never dry
And my love for you will never die
Don Williams isn't some Machiavellian creation from the imagination of a Nashville record executive, either. He writes his own songs, sings them with a style that's all his own, and plays his own guitar.
The definitive Collection offers twenty five songs in chronological order, and they're all digitally remastered to sound better than ever. It's a perfect way to listen to the rich, smooth, and humble country sound of "The Gentle Giant".
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Perry Como of country
Don Williams definative collection is very laid back and easy on the ears.I love all types of music,but for the Good Ole Boys AND Gals this is a must have for any country collection.Its like,Baseball,Hot Dogs Apple Pie and Cheverolet....An American Classic,Enjoy.
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