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Born in Beaumont, Texas Billy Jo Spears made her professional
stage debut at the age of 13 at an all-star event in Huston that saw
George Jones, Jean Shepard and Tommy Collins playing the bill. Known
fondly as B.J. she became a popular country icon in the UK due to
numbers such as "Blanket On The Ground", "57
Chevrolet" and "What I've Got In Mind" on United
Artistes label during the mid-1970's. With a voice that leaned
towards a bluesy texture with a hint of Texas drawl, B.J. first drew
the British country fans with her recordings on Capitol that reach
back to the late 1960's. In April 1970 B.J. first toured the UK as
part of the Capitol Caravan package alongside well-established
headliners such as Buck Owens, Tex Ritter and Wanda Jackson.
On this new release from Hux Records, two of B.J.'s early
Capitol albums Mr Walker, It's All Over
and Just Singin' can be found.
Digitally re-mastered there are 21 splendid tracks in all to be
found taking us back over 30 years with a freshness that gladly
delights the senses. The first of this pairing from 1969 saw the
title track "Mr Walker, It's All Over"
giving B.J. a #4 hit on the Billboard chart with a song telling the
saga of a young and somewhat naive office secretary working in the
heart of New York City. Also to be found here are Merle Haggard's
"Keep Me From Cryin' Today",
a tale of a deserted young mother who struggles through life with
"Tips And Tables" and a
stunning version of Tammy Wynette's smash hit "Stand
By Your Man" (Tammy's version was the biggest ever
selling single by a female country singer at that time). Some other
tracks to be found are "That Man"
from the pens of Jerry Foster/Bill Rice, Curly Putman's "My
Arms Stay Open Late" and Ed Bruce's ripping "The
Price I Pay To Stay".
The second of this pairing is the 1972 released Just
Singin' that sees several poplar numbers from that time with
Ann Murray's 1970 chart hit "Snowbird"
setting the ball rolling. Another track to take special note of is
Johnny Paycheck's sensational song of broken love "Apartment
#9". Kris Kristofferson's offerings, the soul searching
"For The Good Times" and
"Help Me Make It Through The Night"
are given deep emotive feeling by B.J., easily tempting the listener
to hit the replay button.
That last time I saw Billy Jo Spears live in concert was
around 1980 when she superbly gave a glittering performance. Billy
Jo Spears 2on1 offers a touch of personal relationships with
a warmth of favoured and carefully delivered gems, leaving us
inevitably lingering for more!!! |
