With scant material between the two, both this Ace compilation of
Jones' early material and Mercury's two-disc
Cup of Loneliness collection should thrill fans in search of the country star's classic honky tonk sides. Cut for the independent Starday label and Mercury, the 22 cuts on
Don't Stop the Music chart
Jones' gradual maturation in the latter half of the '50s and during the first few years of the '60s. Over the course of such gems as the title track and "Accidentally on Purpose,"
Jones reveals a fine pen, indelible country pipes, and a keen take on the tavern's wayward world of love and booze. Fiddles, pedal steel guitars, and rustic harmonies ring throughout, fueling a set perfect for a dance under all those hazy neon beer signs.