George Jones photo courtesy of Bandit Records.

 

August 17, 2009 – It took forty years to bring them together, but now a country music legend is joining forces with a leading restaurant for good country cookin' to offer up some songs that really cook! George Jones had already hit the country music charts and won several big awards by 1969, the year that Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® opened the doors of its very first location. And to help celebrate Cracker Barrel's 40th year anniversary, George's newest album goes on sale August 31st exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations.

A Collection Of My Best Recollection has 12 tracks and features some of George's most memorable songs, including "White Lightning," "Finally Friday," and, of course, "He Stopped Lovin' Her Today," which many people consider to be the best country music song of all time. This special CD also includes two songs that have never been released before, "I Don't Want To Know," and "I'm A Long Gone Daddy."

"When the idea of working with Cracker Barrel on a CD first came up, I was all for it," says two-time Grammy® Award winner George Jones. "I've been eating there for as long as I can remember. I love the idea of having my music right there in their retail store!"

The Country Music Hall of Famer was named Billboard magazine's Most Promising New Country Artist back in 1956, and he has lived up to that promise, earning a number of honors over the years. He won both Billboard's and Cashbox's Male Vocalist of the Year award in 1962 and 1963. He's received two Grammy® Awards and Kennedy Center Honors for his lifetime contributions to American culture. George's biggest hit, "He Stopped Lovin' Her Today," won the Country Music Association Song of the Year Award twice, in 1980 and in 1981. George maintains an active touring schedule throughout North America.

One of the previously unreleased songs on this new CD, "I'm A Long Gone Daddy," was produced by Buddy Cannon, who is well-known as Kenny Chesney's record producer, and who won the Academy of Country Music's award for Producer of the Year in 2006. Cannon also produced "I Don't Want To Know," George's favorite song on the album. "They never released it because they thought it was 'too country'," says George, "but since Cracker Barrel's happy to satisfy the cravings of real country music fans, we're putting it on this record."

"What a great honor to work with George Jones to share his music with Cracker Barrel guests on such a terrific CD," says Cracker Barrel's Vice President of Marketing Peter Keiser. "George is an artist who the newer generation of country singers reveres and his songs resonate with anyone who gives them a listen."