The title track to
The Race Is On is one of George Jones' biggest hits. With its galloping beat and clever, funny lyrics, the single gives the impression that the rest of the record is a return to Jones' honky tonk roots. Although there are several up-tempo numbers,
The Race Is On is dominated by ballads, like the majority of his UA albums. But
The Race Is On boasts a stronger, more varied set of songs than most of his '60s albums, ranging from ballads like "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me" and the Western swing of "Time Changes Everything" and the skittering honky tonk of "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes." There are a couple of weak moments -- ironically, one is "She's Mine," which was co-written by
George -- but the album remains one of his strongest from the mid-'60s. ["It Scares Me Half to Death" and "Take Me as I Am (Or Let Me Go)" also appear on
Sings Like the Dickens! and "Time Changes Everything" appears on
Sings Bob Wills.]