I read somewhere that George Jones has more hits than any artist in any genre. He’s released hundreds of albums and probably even more singles, but his success is no fluke. Few people can sing a song with as much pathos as George Jones, and when he was married to Tammy Wynette, that pathos was cranked to eleven.

With the release of “Golden Ring”, the couple was in the throes of divorce, which means that if you happened to be in compromised circumstances of your own, listening to this album could be dangerous for your mental health. In true country music fashion, every single song addresses a rocky relationship from various angles, but through some miracle, it manages to sidestep morose bitterness. In some crazy way, it almost sounds like they are having fun singing together, despite the circumstances. Yes, there are plenty of tear jerkers – some of the best, including “I’ve Seen Better Days, “Near You” and the title track – but “Did You Ever?” must be the most fun duet break-up song ever written. Before anything else, Jones and Wynette are stunningly talented pros and on “Wedding Ring,” they hone their craft by adapting their personal situation to suit the project.

On an earlier album (“The Grand Tour”), George Jones sang a pretty funny song called “Our Private Life”, where he calls callous fans to task for spreading rumors and developing poorly informed opinions about the lives of celebrities. Before their tumultuous marriage, Jones had a reputation that eclipsed rumor, including a stint in a padded cell for his advanced alcoholism, so he knew what to expect from fans who judged his every move as tabloid fodder. On “Wedding Ring”, Jones and Wynette recognized that their divorce would be analyzed and interpreted, so rather than hide behind a wall of pretense, they opened their doors and invited us all in.

With public scrutiny defining their entire relationship, this was really their only choice; it was just a matter of defining the manner in which they would present themselves. With pride, dignity and even a touch of humor, they grabbed the reins, gave their audience what they wanted, and made some of the best music in their already remarkable careers. Unfortunately for George Jones, he would not be able to maintain the façade. His subsequent slide back into advanced alcoholism is legendary, and for a few years, not only his career but also his very life appeared to be in jeopardy. The fickle public shunned both Jones and Wynette as solo acts, mocking them in concert appearances and virtually demanding that they reunite. By then, Jones added a cocaine addiction to his troubles and he sank into destitution, living out of his car, behaving deranged and delusional while his weight dropped to less than 100 pounds. Jones may have more hits than any other human being, but he also had more lives than most cats. He eventually recovered after recording “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” one of the most moving country songs of all time, which became a huge hit and renewed public interest in a man with a five decade-long career whose life virtually belonged to his audience.

Featured Tracks:

Golden Ring

Even the Bad Times Are Good

Near You

Cryin' Time

I've Seen Better Days

Did You Ever?

Tattletale Eyes

I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)

If You Don't, Somebody Else Will

Keep the Change

July 1976 – Billboard Did Not Chart (However #1 on Country Chart)