Radio transcriptions are recordings created expressly for radio broadcast. They were once the prevailing form of pre-recorded music on radio -- cut in studios, pressed on high-fidelity transcription discs, and distributed by subscription to radio stations. The programs, typically 15 minutes in length, gave the on-air personalities a break and brought a wider variety of music to radio listeners than might otherwise be available. Jim Reeves, like practically every major artist of his day, recorded many sessions for transcription services and government agencies such as the military and the Treasury Department. These efforts make attractive reissue fodder for record labels because they fall within the public domain -- labels pay publishing royalties on the songs, but no licensing fees for the recordings themselves because they weren't intended for commercial release and fall outside of contractual bounds. Transcriptions can be an interesting sidebar to an artist's commercial recordings, with entertaining banter, unique performances, and even renditions of songs the artist never otherwise recorded.
Radio Days, Vol. 2 is the second four-disc Bear Family box set devoted to Reeves' radio transcriptions. These are complete 15-minute programs starring Reeves, originally broadcast to promote military recruitment. The set contains 17 such programs, complete with intros and outros, as well as a commercial Reeves did for Purina chicken feed. Reeves performs most of the songs himself, but allows his sidemen the occasional instrumental showcase. Guest artists join Reeves on several programs, including
the Louvin Brothers,
Jimmy Dean,
Benny Martin,
Faron Young,
Ernest Tubb and a young
Johnny Rivers. The 15-minute format, with its recurring theme music, makes the box set seem very repetitive, an impression only exacerbated by the frequent reappearance of Reeves' most popular songs. There are five performances of "Four Walls" and four of "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," among others. Reeves' spoken remarks are often humorous because he seems to have no idea what he's about to say while he's saying it. The accompanying 24-page booklet describes the transcription sessions as whirlwinds of activity during which the artists had only an hour to script and record each program, so it is understandable how one could become scatterbrained under such conditions. The guest spots offer a nice change of pace and are themselves fascinating and rare recordings of famous country stars. The box set was mastered from original vinyl transcription discs, which results in rough sound quality in spots, but Bear Family has a reputation for attention to detail and mostly rises to the occasion.
Radio Days, Vol. 2 is for Reeves' most ardent fans, those who will enjoy scrutinizing the differences between multiple performances of the same songs.
![Title: Heartaches by the Number [Bear Family 15454]](https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/4000127154545_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg)
