Eddy Arnold recorded an incredible number of albums and used the format in many different ways. He made country albums, pop albums, folk albums, thematic albums, and various other kinds of albums that, from his perspective as well as that of the music buyer, must have helped differentiate one from the other and keep things fresh. Having said that, The World of Eddy Arnold may be the most half-baked thematic album he ever made, consisting as it does of songs with the word "world" in their titles. This kind of thing had been done many times before by many artists, but usually with a more cohesive effect. An entire album of songs about loneliness or nighttime, for example, holds more mood-setting potential than a bunch of songs that merely use the word "world." What's worse is that the album is a repackaging of recordings from previous albums going back to the early '60s, a few of which ("Make the World Go Away," "Turn the World Around") were major hits. So not only is the theme flimsy, but the music is not new and the cover does not warn buyers that the album consists of previously released material. Arnold's popularity was such that, despite its dubious value, The World of Eddy Arnold reached the country album Top 40.

EDDY ARNOLD
THE WORLD
(RCA Victor APL1-0239)
July/1973
Produced by Chet Atkins & Lee Hazlewood


1.
END OF THE WORLD
(Arthur Kent - Sylvia Dee)
« © '62 Edward Proffitt Music, ASCAP / Music Sales, ASCAP »
Why does the sun go on shining why does the sea rush to shore
Don't they know it's the end of the world cause you don't love me anymore

Why do the birds go on singing why do the stars glow above
Don't they know it's the end of the world it ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder why everything's the same as it was
I can't understand no I can't understand how life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating why do these eyes of mine cry
Don't they know it's the end of the world it ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating...
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