The four albums featured in this collection, recorded in 1968 and 1969, come from Don Gibson’s final days with RCA. All four albums appear on CD for the first time. They reveal his skills as both a singer and songwriter. His distinctive vocal styling living up to the ‘Country Soul’ album titles alongside the “sad poet” nickname given to him as many of his songs were about loneliness and heartbreak. The third album is a duet collection, always popular with Country fans. Here, Gibson was teamed with the fellow RCA recording artist, Dottie West. ‘All-Time Country Gold’ included new recordings of his originals ‘Oh, Lonesome Me’ and ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ alongside standards like ‘Half As Much’, ‘Tennessee Waltz’, ‘Four Walls’ and ‘Am I That Easy To Forget’. It took Don Gibson almost 10 years to achieve “overnight success” as a major recording artist.‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ and ‘Oh, Lonesome Me’ catapulted him from Country success to the far greater realms of International pop stardom. Both songs were written one afternoon when the very despondent Gibson was living in a Knoxville trailer park. Born Donald Eugene Gibson into a poor share-cropping family in Shelby, North Carolina on 3rd April 1928. He died on 17th November 2003. His success was recognised by induction into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1973 and 18 years later, into both the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, the last being Country Music’s highest honour.
1. Ashes of Love
2. Faded Love
3. They'll Never Take Her Love from Me
4. Headin' Down the Wrong Highway
5. Maiden's Prayer
6. A Thing Called Sadness
7. What Now My Love
8. You've Still Got a Place in My Heart
9. Everlovin' Never Changing Mind
10. Good Morning Dear
11. I Just Said Goodbye to My Dreams
12. What Locks the Door
13. Low and Lonely
14. Someday You'll Call My Name
15. Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings
16. It's a Long, Long Way to Georgia
17. Half a Man
18. Some Day (You'll Want Me to Want You)
19. Forget Me
20. She's Looking Good
21. I Walk Alone
22. You Can't Pick a Rose in December
23. Don't Rob Another Man's Castle
24. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
25. Til I Can't Take It Anymore
26. Rings of Gold
27. How's the World Treating You
28. Final Examination
29. I Love You Because
30. Sweet Dreams
31. Let's Wait a Little Longer
32. Set Me Free
33. Sweet Memories
34. I'll Never Stand in Your Way
35. Lovin' Season
36. When I Stop Dreaming
37. Half As Much
38. Tennessee Waltz
39. Bonaparte's Retreat
40. Almost Persuaded
41. A Little Bitty Tear
42. Four Walls
43. Good Deal, Lucille
44. I Can't Stop Loving You
45. One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)
46. Oh, Lonesome Me
47. Here Comes My Baby Back Again
48. Am I That Easy to Forget