The America's Most Colorful Hillbilly Band: Their Original Recordings 1946-1951, Vol. 2
Artist: The Maddox Brothers & Rose

Like Maddox Brothers & Rose, 1946-1951, Vol. 1, this has a wealth of material -- 30 cuts in all -- from their early four-star era. The quality is on the same level as the first volume, and it's difficult to imagine that anyone who enjoyed the previous installment will be dissatisfied with this collection. The recording quality has the odd effect... Read More

Love Songs - 1995 COLUMBIA
Artist: Willie Nelson
Sixteen Tons - CAPITOL
Artist: Tennessee Ernie Ford

Though named after Tennessee Ernie Ford's biggest hit, Sixteen Tons was released five years after the single was a hit. The large gap of time between the release of the single and album is inconsequential -- in essence, the album is a compilation of Ford's greatest hits of the '50s, containing not only the title track, but also "Mule Train,"... Read More

Vanguard Years
Artist: Doc Watson

Four-CD, 64-song collection drawn principally from Doc's Vanguard releases of the 1960s and early 1970s (tapped his solo LPs and performances at the 1963 and 1964 Newport Folk Festival). This was Doc's best period recording-wise, and certainly you couldn't hope for a better document of his virtuosity, as the guitarist covers all manner of... Read More

1996
Artist: Merle Haggard

In late 1995, Merle Haggard stood on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House, acknowledging the music industry's ovation as he accepted his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A few months later, however, his next album came out with no fanfare at all. His record company didn't send promotional copies to reviewers until the album had... Read More

The Best of Johnny Paycheck
Artist: Johnny Paycheck

The Best of Johnny Paycheck, Vol. 1 is a budget-line collection that draws from material written during his heyday in the '70s. With such hits as "Take This Job and Shove It," "She's All I Got," "Mr. Lovemaker," and "Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets," this disc functions as a good introduction to Paycheck's sound for the budget-minded. ~ Thom... Read More

A Prairie Legend
Artist: Wilf Carter

Four CDs containing more than 100 songs recorded by Wilf Carter aka Montana Slim between 1944 and 1952, and his self-produced sessions from 1959. Disc one features more than a dozen tracks with Carter accompanied primarily by his own acoustic guitar, and they're pretty fair cowboy songs. Carter's voice is a pleasing one, reminiscent at times of... Read More

Satisfaction Guaranteed - BOX
Artist: Carl Smith

Every song that Carl Smith recorded during the '50s is included on Satisfaction Guaranteed, a five-disc, 143-track box set that stands as the most comprehensive retrospective of the honky tonk star's peak period. During the era that Satisfaction Guaranteed covers, Smith scored more Top 10 hits than either Hank Williams or Lefty Frizzell, and... Read More

Sugar Coated Baby
Artist: Frankie Miller

Taking the album Hey! Where You Going? one step further, Sugar Coated Baby contains his complete '1954-1956 Columbia sides, including many of his hits. This single-disc, 30-track collection is absolutely essential for Miller Fans. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide Read More