About The Song
The early career of George Jones was a period of immense growth and stylistic exploration. Having established his raw honky-tonk credentials on the Starday label, his move to Mercury Records in the mid-1950s presented opportunities to reach a wider audience and experiment with different sounds and material. While he continued to perfect his unparalleled vocal style, Jones also proved adept at interpreting songs from various sources, infusing them with his unique country sensibility. A prime example of this is his 1957 recording of “Treasure of Love,” a song that had found significant success just the year before in the world of Rhythm & Blues. Tackling this crossover material resulted in an important early hit for Jones, demonstrating his versatility and marking a key step in his ascent to national country music stardom.
“Treasure of Love” was originally penned by the songwriting team of Joe Shapiro and Lou Stallman. In 1956, the gifted R&B singer Clyde McPhatter (renowned for his work with The Drifters and as a solo artist) took the song to the top reaches of the R&B charts and crossed over into the pop Top 20. McPhatter’s version was smooth, soulful, and epitomized the sophisticated vocal group sounds of the era. It speaks volumes about George Jones’s musical instincts and the fluid boundaries between genres in the 1950s that he would choose to record this R&B gem. Released on Mercury Records in 1957, Jones’s version was tailored for the country audience, yet retained the core emotional sentiment of the original. Its success, reaching #7 on the Billboard country charts, validated his interpretive choice and showcased his ability to connect with listeners through heartfelt declarations, regardless of the song’s origin.
Musically, George Jones’s rendition of “Treasure of Love” would naturally differ from Clyde McPhatter’s R&B original. While McPhatter’s recording likely featured smoother vocal harmonies and perhaps a more polished, urban sound, Jones’s version would be filtered through a country lens. One would expect instrumentation typical of his early Mercury recordings: the foundational elements of country like steel guitar (though perhaps used subtly), bass, and drums, likely augmented by piano and electric guitar possibly carrying a hint of rockabilly energy prevalent at the time. The production, guided by Mercury’s A&R team, would likely be cleaner and somewhat more polished than his Starday recordings, aiming for broader radio appeal while still retaining country authenticity. The core melody by Shapiro and Stallman is undeniably strong, and Jones would have adapted its phrasing and rhythm to fit his innate country delivery.
The lyrical theme of “Treasure of Love” is a straightforward yet powerful declaration of devotion and value. The lyrics express the idea that the connection shared with another person is the ultimate prize, far exceeding any material wealth (“You’re my treasure of love / You’re my golden treasure of love / You’re worth more than money or gold”). The song emphasizes the richness, security, and profound happiness derived from this bond (“Darling, when you’re near / I’m a millionaire”). It’s a sentiment of deep appreciation and unwavering commitment, portraying the relationship as the source of life’s true value. Jones’s task was to convey this profound sense of valuing another person with utter sincerity, making the listener believe that this connection was indeed the singer’s most cherished possession.
Interpreting an R&B hit required George Jones to bring his unique vocal artistry to bear. While Clyde McPhatter’s delivery was smooth and soulful, Jones’s approach would inherently be rooted in country tradition. His performance would likely feature the characteristic bends, slides, and emotional catches in his voice, translating the song’s sentiment into his own distinct dialect. The power and conviction in his voice would leave no doubt about the sincerity of the declaration. Hearing Jones sing about a “treasure of love” connects directly to the heart-on-sleeve emotional honesty that would become his hallmark, even when interpreting material from outside the country sphere. He wasn’t merely covering a song; he was claiming its emotional core as his own.
The success of “Treasure of Love” as a Top 10 country hit in 1957 was significant for George Jones. It demonstrated his growing popularity and his ability to deliver hits for his new label, Mercury Records. It also highlighted his versatility as a vocalist, showing he could convincingly interpret material beyond traditional honky-tonk fare. The song stands as an interesting example of the musical cross-pollination occurring between country and R&B during the fertile period of the 1950s. While perhaps not as frequently cited today as his self-penned classics or later dramatic masterpieces, “Treasure of Love” remains an important marker in George Jones’s early career, a testament to his exceptional interpretive gifts and a charming declaration of devotion that helped propel him towards becoming the legend we remember.