I liked all of George's recordings, but "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is the most emotional recording of my time.
When that flanged steel guitar starts playing at the beginning, the sadness starts. But then that haunting, almost over-reverbed harmonica kicks in it sets you up for the chill bumps to come.
But boy, just after when he sings the first "He Stopped Loving Her Today" in the chorus and the string section kicks in with it's little "frill" before "They Placed A Wreath Upon His Door", you can feel the descent of his soul into another place.
The effect of not having another verse in the song is no coincidence. It leaves us wanting more. Just like all good songs should .
The song's producer, Billy Sherrill (an Alabama native), should get half credit but George's vocal inflections were perfect for that song. No one can ever do it like him.
IMHO, perfection is hard to achieve. They did it.
At first George fought the record company about recording this song, saying it was too sad and would never be popular. A friend of mine was in the room when they played him the final mix several months later. He said George himself had tears.
"From The Window Up Above" is a killer too.
RIP