It took Louisiana's Claude King a long time to become an 'overnight success' but when he eventually arrived in 1962 with the country and pop chart smash 'Wolverton Mountain' he arrived in a very big way, with a Top 10 hit on both charts. Prior to this massive success, Claude had toured with some of country's most legendary names, appeared as a regular on the famous 'Louisiana Hayride' radio show, and been making records for 15 years - good records, too. Most of them came and went with little to no chart impact, and he retired from the music business more than once during those years. The sponsorship of his late friend Johnny Horton finally got him onto a major label in 1960, and almost 30 hits followed over the next decade or so.
This Jasmine collection brings together the A and B sides from all of the singles Claude made in the run-up to 'Wolverton Mountain' and right through to the end of 1962. Everything from straight ahead hillbilly to rockabilly to 'story-song' country to pristine examples of the early 60s 'Nashville Sound' is covered. When you hear some of the earlier recordings you will wonder why it to took so long for Claude to break through.
Copiously annotated, extensively illustrated, superbly mastered, "Sweeter Than Honey" should tick any and every box for all fans of vintage country music.
