With Love in Bloomington, MN

By 1970,
George Jones
' stay at
Musicor
had been marked by a glut of sloppy releases that would continually repackage and repeat material in different thematically based "concept" albums; initially it would seem that
George Jones With Love
, with its lineup of all love-based songs, would fall into this disposable category. One listen, however, shows this to be an exception to the rule. Beginning with the wonderful
"A Good Year for the Roses"
(one of his all-time greatest performances),
Jones
tackles affairs of the heart from all directions -- from the joy and excitement of newfound love to the warmth of a settled relationship to the pain and despair of separation and its aftermath. He's clearly focused on each song, pouring the proper emotion and passion into each performance. It still may not be a "concept album" by
rock & roll
standards, but it does serve as a high point for
'
period as well as one of his greatest, most consistent albums. ~ Chris Woodstra