The Best of George Jones is an album by American
country music artist
George Jones. It is notable for including two new songs, including "The Door," which became a #1 country hit. It was released in March 1975.
Background
Although a plethora of "greatest hits" packages had been released under Jones' name on
Mercury,
United Artists, and
Musicor, The Best of George Jones was the first compilation of his hits with
Epic and his new producer
Billy Sherrill. The release may have been prompted by the turmoil in the singer's personal life; his third marriage to
Tammy Wynette had ended in divorce earlier in the year and his own erratic behaviour, spurred on by a legendary drinking problem, was worsening. However, he had scored his first #1 hit in seven years with "
The Grand Tour" and followed this with a second chart topper, "The Door," which became the opening track on The Best of George Jones. Another single written by Jones and Wynette, "
These Days (I Barely Get By)," was also released as a single and reached #10. The album cover features a photograph of Jones as a child busking on the streets of
Beaumont.
