About this Artist

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Editorial Reviews

Hux's 2009 two-fer pairs 1968's Here's Faron Young and 1970's "Occasional Wife," two albums he recorded during the middle of his run at Mercury Records. Apart from some added sugar on the ballads, the rock rhythms of "Here's to the Girls" and the crisp Everlys-esque pop of "Stay Love," Here's Faron Young is a straightforward honky tonk record Young could have released back on Capitol in the '50s, right down to how Faron is in strong, assured voice. The collection of songs is quite strong, too, highlighted by the singles "I Just Came to Get My Baby" and "She Went a Little Bit Farther," both classic Texas 2-steps, as is "If You Ever Walk My Way Again," but he also has one of the earliest versions of "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," and a good drinking anthem in "Glass of Smile," helping make this into a solid LP.

Occasional Wife steps with the times a little bit more than Here's Faron Young, boasting a bigger, sweeter production, and some awareness of a world outside of a honky tonk, particularly in how "The Whirlwinds of My Mind" winks at the late-'60s MOR standard "Windmills of Your Mind." Fitting the sly title, there's humor in evidence throughout this disc, whether it's on the wry "Everybody's Got Problems" or the George Jones-styled novelty "A Bunch of Young Ideas," but this record also has a fair amount of straight-ahead honky tonk, a tentative pop crossover on "Alabama Rose," equal parts Glen Campbell and Merle Haggard, and a historical turn in "The Guns of Johnny Rondo," a tune partway between Johnny Cash and Johnny Horton, and totally not fitting Faron. In other words, it's a bit of a jumble, but not an unenjoyable one, with the good stuff -- which does include the singles "If I Ever Fall In Love with a Honky Tonk Girl" and "Occasional Wife" -- slightly outweighing the clunkers. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

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