AMG Review of Love Songs [2003]

Heather Phares
All Music Guide

One of the more bittersweet entries in the Love Songs series, this collection of George Jones ballads features some of his essential songs, including "Loving You Could Never Be Better," "Once You've Had the Best," "We Can Make It," and "He Stopped Loving Her Today," as well as many other solid tracks from the early '70s and early '80s, the two peaks of Jones' collaboration with producer Billy Sherrill. Sherrill's penchant for lush strings and backing vocals gives songs like "A Picture of Me Without You," "You've Still Got a Place in My Heart," and "I'll Take You to My World" an added richness and depth, though some of the '80s productions, such as "(What Love Can Do) The Second Time Around," aren't quite as warm-sounding as the material from the '70s. "She Hung the Moon," "You Oughta Be Here With Me," and "I Always Get Lucky With You" are some of the other highlights from Love Songs. While it doesn't include enough of Jones' definitive songs to make it compare favorably to a straightforward greatest-hits collection, and a duet or two with Tammy Wynette would've been nice, Love Songs is a likeable collection of some of Jones' mellow musings on the ups and downs of love.