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