Frankie's favorites

I recently received my grandparents entire record collection. Over 100 vinyls were given to me; a gift that I will cherish the rest of my life.


Why cherish them? Because I believe that my Frankie is still trying to teach me lessons through these records. How to perceiver. How to learn to deal with loss and gain.

How to love.

So my plan? Take each of these records and tell a story with them. Whether they be real OR imagined.

Now, I will give a little warning: these records consist mostly of popular country records from the '60s and '70s. Not exactly everyone's favorite style of music. But at least appreciate the story, ok?

Most importantly these hundreds of pieces of plastic keep me connected to three things: 1. my grandparents 2. my love of music 3. to people.

So, what's going to be first? Frank's (my grandfather) favorite country artist.....George Jones.

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Now, I'll admit, I know more about George Jones from the '90s more so than the George from the '50s and '60s. This will be my first dedicated listen to him and his legacy.

Album: The Best of George Jones
Artist: George Jones
Year: 1962
Label Number: UAL 3291

It's crazy, but as the needle hits the vinyl, I instantly think back to my Papaw Frank. See, my dad's side of the family were all musically talented. The Robinsons? Not so much. They cared about music and how it made us feel, but at the end of the day to work was more important.

I can never recall hearing my grandparents sing when I was little.

One day that changed. About five years after Frankie passed, it became more evident that I had to be the one to help Frank with his errands and other jobs. We always rode around in his black truck that'd seen more miles than you could imagine, listening to the local country station, seemingly catching at it's "throwback" hour. It never seemed to fail.

As we were close to home, George Jones happened onto the station. Now, I could not even recall the song, but something happened that I will never forget.

Just like it was nothing Frank started singing each line, proud and strong, like he'd been singing on stage for years.

This was the first time I'd ever heard him sing after seventeen years.

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These posts probably won't be that good. But it helps me catalog and chronicle the records that meant so much to my family (you can tell, each record are wore to the bone, with scratches on the vinyl and writing on the sleeves).

These posts also won't be that consistent. I will try to at least chronicle what the record is and also the one song that sticks out.

For "the Best of George Jones," the song that sticks out most is "Forgive Me Now."

With a typical fiddle line to intro the song, George croons into a sad ballad about a lost love. With the words and the obvious pain in his voice, he knows it was his fault.

Best lyrics:
Forgive me now and I will always do what's right
It's my fault my heart is broken angry words that we have spoken
I'm so sorry now for I have seen the light.
Humbly hope that you still love me for I swear by stars above me
Forgive me now and I will always do what's right

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If these suck or if you have suggestions for improvement, just comment or talk to me or email me. I don't mind. I really want to do this. I want to people to share in the joy of listening to these records.

So ENJOY!

edit: here is the song I chose as the stand out....