As you know, he re-made all his Roulette hits for Dot in 1967, using the same backing musicians, same producer and same studios, and they sound so close to the Roulette versions, it is uncanny.

Some hundreds of years ago, when I was on radio, I had a segment called "Spot The Difference" where I played the original and the re-make of a hit song, and asked people to tell which was the original.

Most would get them right straight away - exxept for Jimmie Rodgers! One listener even complained that I had simply played the exact same version of "Kisses" twice - so that I could then say she had picked the wrong one!

I have both "Greatest Hits" on CD, and oddly enough, I prefer the Dot versions (a terrible admission!). In fact I can't think of one re-make I prefer to the original, apart from Jimmie Rodgers.

Beautiful voice - he was still working above in Branson up to recently although I guess he'd be around 75 or so now.

• RE: Kisses Sweeter Than Wine - Jimmie Rodgers - 195 - John 03/23/2009 15:00:30 EDT (1)