Phil Harris talk-singing style made him the pop equivalent of
Tex Williams, and he had a clear influence on
the Big Bopper and
Jerry Reed, to name a couple. His late-'40s and early-'50s recordings for RCA are collected here, including such
Harris favorites as "Woodman, Woodman Spare That Tree," "The Preacher and the Bear," "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," and "Deck of Cards." Also present are several novelties such as "I'm My Own Grandpa" and
Harris' major hit, "The Thing."
Harris' southern Indiana drawl and country repertoire make him seem like a shoo-in for the country charts, but the horns and big-band arrangements place his recordings squarely in the pop camp. This affordable 24-track import compiles a generous assortment of vintage sides and is one of few available collections of
Phil Harris' recordings.