George Jones Duets With 12 Acts On "Playhouse"

Photo Courtesy of Bandit Records

June 24, 2008 — A dozen previously unreleased George Jones collaborations — pairing him with the likes of Keith Richards, Dolly Parton and late ex-wife, Tammy Wynette — will finally see the light of day in August.

Bandit Records will issue George Jones: Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets on Aug. 19. Among its one dozen songs are seven that were recorded when the Possum worked on the 1994 album The Bradley Barn Sessions, another three that were passed over when Epic assembled the 1991 project Friends In High Places, an additional song from a 1977 session with Tammy and a new song, "You And Me And Time," in which George joins voices with daughter Georgette Jones, the only child he had during his six-year marriage to Tammy.

Several of the titles are remakes of previous George Jones hits: "I Always Get Lucky With You," featuring Mark Knopfler; "Window Up Above," with Leon Russell; and "When The Grass Grows Over Me," a duet with Mark Chesnutt. George’s duet with Dolly is a rendition of "Rockin’ Years," a song she recorded again later with Ricky Van Shelton. The collaboration with Tammy, "Lovin’ You, Lovin’ Me," was recorded some 2-1/2 years after George and Tammy divorced, and the original tape had deteriorated so badly that technical work had to be done on the recording to salvage it to a level worthy of release.

One of the duets is a bit of theatrical curiosity: Jim Lauderdale, who sings with George on "Tavern Choir," actually had the role of the Possum when Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story was featured at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in 2001.

The complete track list for Burn Your Playhouse Down includes:
• "Burn Your Playhouse Down," Keith Richards
• "Window Up Above," Leon Russell
• "Selfishness In Man," Vince Gill
• "She Once Lived Here," Ricky Skaggs
• "I Always Get Lucky With You," Mark Knopfler
• "You’re Still On My Mind," Marty Stuart
• "When The Grass Grows Over Me," Mark Chesnutt
• "I Always Get It Right With You," Shelby Lynne
• "Tavern Choir," Jim Lauderdale
• "Rockin’ Years," Dolly Parton
• "Lovin’ You, Lovin’ Me," Tammy Wynette
• "You And Me And Time," Georgette Jones