Love Songs: George Jones & Tammy Wynette

The sublimely romantic duets gathered on Love Songs draw their emotional richness from the ups and downs of George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s marriage. Under the production guidance of Billy Sherrill, the two country greats achieved a near-perfect vocal blend that reflected their real-life chemistry. The tracks gathered here come from Jones and Wynette’s prime 1971-1976 years on Epic, pairing such signature hits as the desire-filled “Take Me” and the anthemic “We’re Gonna Hold On” (released after the couple came close to divorcing) with lesser-known but worthy tunes like “It’s So Sweet” and “When I Stop Dreaming.” From the shared vows of “The Ceremony” to the renewed devotion of “Never Grow Cold,” the album walks the line between raw feeling and masterful style. Songs like “My Elusive Dreams” and “It’s Been a Beautiful Life” are especially poignant as they acknowledge both the heartaches and the joys they've shared. Forty years later, what remains is the extraordinary music Jones and Wynette made together, distilled down to 14 essential tracks on this well-chosen compilation.