"One Good Well / True Love / Currents" by DON WILLIAMS - A Review Of His 1989, 1990 and 1992 Albums On RCA Records - Now Reissued & Remastered By Beat Goes On Of The UK Onto 2CDs In 2014

Here is a link to AMAZON UK to get this 2CD remaster at the best price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00K0ZB0WW

"…You Really Don’t Want Me To Go..." 

– One Good Well / True Love / Currents by DON WILLIAMS

After a long and productive career with MCA – country-legend Don Williams signed to RCA Records in 1989 and quickly produced these 3 revered albums. It’s a smart reissue move on the part of Beat Goes On Records of the UK to gather them all together on this classily presented and beautiful-sounding 2CD set (the deleted “One Good Well” CD was over $300 some years back). Here are the curly straw-hat details…

UK released 19 May 2014 – Beat Goes On BGOCD 1152 (Barcode 5017261211521) breaks downs as follows:

Disc 1 (71:24 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album “One Good Well” released May 1989

Tracks 12 to 21 are the album “True Love” released September 1990

Disc 2 (31:50 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album “Currents” released March 1992

The generic card wraps that Beat Goes On uses on their reissues are really lovely – giving the whole package a quality look and feel. The 16-page booklet inside features liner notes by noted musicologist JOHN O’REGAN with full recording details for each album, photos, internet references (no lyrics) and the inlay beneath the see-through tray has adverts for other Don Williams albums in this series

The albums were digitally recorded in the first place – so they would have sounded clean on original CDs – but that doesn’t stop the 2014 Andrew Thompson remaster being superb. There’s genuine warmth to these recordings – lovely clarity – his voice just present in the mix – never overdone. When you play the gorgeous ballad “Cryin’ Eyes” from the excellent “One Good Well” album – Paul Franklin’s Pedal Steel and Charles Cochran’s lovely string arrangements are all crystal clear (lyrics from it title this review).

Oher highlights include a mournful take on Beth Nielsen Chapman’s story-song “Maybe That’s All It Takes” and the cheery pluck of “Come A Little Closer”. He does sweet versions of Jesse Winchester’s “Just ‘Cause I’m In Love With You” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Diamonds To Dust” with complimentary harmonies from “Drift Away” singer Dobie Gray. “Lord Have Mercy On A Country Boy” was a big country hit - even his cover of Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell” just about pulls it off. 

But I particularly love the re-working of his old MCA hit “We’re All The Way” on the One Good Turn album – simple – elegant – to the point. In fact if you want to know how good his songs are – especially in the hands of Rock Alumni – check out “We’re All The Way” by Eric Clapton on his 1977 “Slowhand” album (which is where I first heard it) - or the stunning “Till The Rivers All Run Dry” by Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane on their wickedly good “Rough Mix” album (also 1977). Eric rocked up the chirper “Tulsa Time” on his 1978 “Backless” set – all Don Williams gems.

This is a quality re-issue – great presentation, top quality sound and tunes to match – nice one.