Billy Joe Shaver – Old Five And Dimers Like Me

This is beats the VMP reissue. It’s basically a country audiophile-grade record. The acoustic guitars and vocals are so present and huge. Massive soundstage. I’m so glad I was able to get a clean copy of this original before the prices went through the roof. Unfortunately, it’s one of those records where the first pressing really is so much better than the later reissues.

Billy MF’n Joe Shaver!!

Buy it. Now. Do it. yeah

Great album. Some of the Jesus stuff is tough to get through though kind of a bummer.

Perfect album for the VMP Country track. Well overdue and such a great pressing/packaging.

Flat record. Vinyl is mostly quiet with a few ticks and pops along the way. Surprisingly wide soundstage, distinct separation of instruments. This sounds great. I did not expect the sound to be so vivid and well-recorded. The only blot on the record is that they did not record Shaver's voice completely "true". The put some kind of reverb or echo on it, which you can notice at times. That is unfortunate, but it's subtle and does not stop this from being enjoyable. It's too bad they didn't trust this artist enough to just record his voice with the same fidelity that they recorded those wonderful guitars.

I complain constantly about the shitty album art we get from VMP, so let me sayin all fairness that the back cover of the album looks pretty good. We won't talk about the front. The booklet is OK but isn't exactly brimming with information about the songs or the albums. It is more a portrait of Shaver as a funny character and a lament about why he was not more successful in the music business. It's not the kind of booklet you refer back to or look at more than once; like most of the "extras" you get from VMP, it is a pointless waste.

Highly recommended. This goes right up with the very best country records from VMP.

Absolutely glorious! What a classic release that's never sounded better!

Best part of VMP is getting albums like this, just as good as clean originals for pennies on the dollar. Sounds great and pre dates Willie and Waylon’s big ‘outlaw’ albums. Big thumbs, way up.

Everything about this release is great. The pressing is high quality and the packaging is one of the best that I’ve seen. 10/10

This album completely surprised me by the performance. Billy Joe singing and arrangements are excellent, but the songwriting is worth getting this album. You will be pleased with the quality of the vinyl and mastering. Glad to have this as part of my ever growing country music collection.

Repress coming via Vinyl Me, Please this month. If I didn't live in Australia and it didn't cost $240+ for a three record subscription, I'd be all over it.