He'll Have to Go - Jim Reeves Cover (with lyrics)

"He'll Have to Go" was written by Joe and Audrey Allison, and originally recorded by country artist Billy Brown. This early release had little chart success, but it did inspire Jim Reeves to record it. His version was released in late 1959, and it went on to become a hit in both the country and pop genres the following year.

The studio session featured some wonderful musicians – Floyd Kramer on piano, Marvin Hughes on vibraphone, Bob Moore on bass, Buddy Harman on drums, and Hank Garland on guitar. The Anita Kerr Singers provided the backing vocals.

With his smooth crooning voice literally caressing the lyrics, it was this song which led critics to label Reeves as “Gentleman Jim – the singer with the velvet touch”.

Sadly, I wasn’t blessed with his wonderful baritone voice - let alone that same velvet touch - but even so, I have tried to achieve some of the intimacy which I felt wasn't there in the original Billy Brown rendition, and in many of the subsequent covers (including even the Elvis Presley version).

To me it is one of those songs that cries out for romantic interpretation over technical excellence.

So I do hope you enjoy my humble vocal cover, which uses a similar musical arrangement to the Jim Reeves version!