Candy Kisses [Living Era] – George Morgan

Candy Kisses is the lengthiest George Morgan compilation, barring only the completist Bear Family box set with the same title, and although it includes recordings from only his first three years as a star, that's basically all a fan will need. After all, Morgan had one of the best rookie years of anyone in country history, notching a half-dozen big hits in 1949, beginning with "Candy Kisses" and its B-side ("Please Don't Let Me Love You") plus another double-sided hit, "Rainbow in My Heart" b/w "All I Need Is Some More Lovin'." His second best hit (after "Candy Kisses"), "Room Full of Roses," followed close behind, along with "Cry-Baby Heart" and "I Love Everything About You," all in 1949. (It's no wonder that The Grand Ole Opry felt secure letting Eddy Arnold go.) Like Roy Drusky, Morgan was a smooth-voiced Arnold disciple who mirrored pop trends of the time (Perry Como also had a knockout year), but this compilation also shows elements of his Tennessee upbringing in the country boogie hits "Somebody Robbed My Beehive" and "Tennessee Hillbilly Ghost." Morgan never recorded a song that ranks with "Candy Kisses" or "Room Full of Roses," which can make the prospect of a hits compilation rather dodgy, but Chet Atkins' clean production and occasional guitar solos make for a few highlights later on in the program. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide