Saturday Afternoon Country: George Jones

If we could choose to sound like anyone, Waylon once said, we’d want to sing like George Jones. And frankly, not too many people have ever bothered to disagree with Mr Jennings’ verdict. And like Waylon and so many other country greats, the Possum has not always had his troubles to seek; rather he’s plunged head-first into them. For years he was known as “No Show Jones”; these days, happily, George Jones seems pretty content. Still playing, still getting as much satisfaction from keeping his lawn in perfect condition as he does from entertaining his fans.

But the voice is the thing. The Possum can take something corny and distil proper country liquor from it. Here’s a clip from way back when – back before he got all rumpled and weather-beaten – of George Jones singing Walk Through This World With Me: