Reviews (22)

Great!
I've Always Been Crazy is really a great tribute to Waylon Jennings.one of the best CW singers ever.
Good stuff!
Overall, it's a great album.Some of the songs are done much the way they were by Waylon himself, and some have a very modern spin put on them.I appreciated the artist's interpretations and especially loved Kenny Chesney/Kid Rock's version of "Luckenbach, Texas" and the girls singling "mamas".A few of the songs don't even sound like the orig. and definitely don't sound country...so if that bugs you, you may not want to buy this album.

ok, but could have been better"
this tribute album is ok, there is some good tunes on here, but nothing as good as it need'ed to be after all waylon is the king of the outlaws' its a' should've could've kinda thing if you know what i mean? but i really do like travis tritt's version of lonesome onry and mean. he is alot like waylon was. the outlaw son of waylon so to speak. and then there is other great songs on here too. but that one stands out in my mind. yes the other tribute album is much better. man its time another one comes out, but hopefuly this time they will all do the songs they want to. a waylon fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Americana    3. Bakersfield Sound    4. Contemporary Bluegrass    5. Contemporary Country    6. Country    7. Country & Western    8. Country Collections    9. Country-Folk    10. Hard Rock    11. Neo-Traditionalist Country    12. New Traditionalist    13. Outlaw Country    14. Pop    15. Progressive Bluegrass    16. Roots Rock    17. Singer/Songwriter    18. Traditional Country    19. V/A Compilations   

Editorial Review

ZZ Top's twangy, hyper-charged Texas-style blues-rock has always been superficially irresistible. The blazing guitar riffs and driving rhythms of hits like "Legs" and "Tush" have made them anthems in topless bars the world over. Yet on this 15-cut tribute, country artists like Lonestar, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., and his son, Hank III, not only manage to match the blistering, guitar-driven abandon of ZZ's original hit versions, but also imbue them with a measure of bluesy soulfulness. Some listeners will probably be surprised to discover that these familiar songs do actually have Read more

Reviews (9)

A stunning combo of country acts doing zztop
Anybody dissing this record just don't get it. I have downloaded and bought a lot music over the years and this is one of the most entertaining listens i can remember in a long time. All the songs are well done and sound super. There is nothing weird on here just great covers of zz top originals. This record kicks off with a bang and just never stops, soulful blues and smoking rock with a little country twang thrown in on occassion. Not one bad song on this disc, how many of your others discs can you say that about!

Prettycool!
I was amazed to find this in an outer Sydney 2nd hand record store! flabbergasted. I couldn't wait to hear it. It's a great fusion of blues and country. If you're a ZZ TOP fan waiting for another release like some of their earlier stuff, this is good, the version of Sharp-dressed man is very true to their roots acutally, and it's sort of though songs like Legs and Rough Boy have been made to sound more like their roots. Good stuff, wish I lived in Texas. Pity no one did Leila, a great country love song.

I wonder if any of these artists were really fans?
Well, after listening to this tribute cd my opinion is: stick to the original. Several of the covers are OK, and I have to agree that the only person that "got it" was Willie Nelson. This is coming from someone that is NOT a Willie Nelson fan, but he actually did what the album is about: Making a country version of a rock song, and making it hold up as a country song. Kinda like Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" (a Nine Inch Nails song). Those two versions will never be confused, but they both stand up in their respective categories. Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Bakersfield Sound    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Country & Western    6. Country Collections    7. Country-Pop    8. Neo-Traditionalist Country    9. New Traditionalist    10. Pop    11. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

With an impressive roster from the country-music spectrum, the Nashville CD of music inspired by Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (17)

BEAUTIFUL
I can't believe that none of these songs were ever on the radio. Now I am a young African-American woman, the first time I heard this cd I fell in love with country music. I would recommend anyone to buy this cd.

This CD is astonishing
I used the Faith Hill song "Somewhere down the road" for my infant daughters funeral who was born stillborn.We love the whole CD.

The songs are terrific
I had an opportunity to purchase this CD while on vacation in Nashville, and it's fabulous. I listen to it over and over and never tire of it. Since I didn't see the movie, I don't know how this collection stacks up to the original sound track, but it really doesn't matter -- I like pop/country and all the songs are great and well performed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop    3. Soundtrack    4. Soundtracks    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Reviews (3)

Very Disappointed
The renditions of these great songs are an embarassment.If you are looking for rousing versions of patriotic music forget it on this CD.Also not the same title list on the CD as on the item description on Amazon.

Kind of disappointed!
Was'nt exactly what I expected. There must be two versions to this CD. The tracts are not the same as the CD listed on Amazon.
Looking at the release date makes one cringe, but good album
Trust the distributor to release this compilation on 9/11 of all days!! However it is still a good collection of America's best patriotic music. Favourites include 'Yankee Doodle' and the national anthem 'Star Spangled Banner'. A fine album for proud Americans ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical Music    2. Country Collections    3. Marching Band / Patriotic    4. Pop    5. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

Though the "outlaw" tag is a little tired at this late date, this 1996 recording from the Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (1)

A Great Live Recording.
Normaly I Don`t Like "Live" recordings, But This Album Is Something Special. Just The Way The Artists Acts And Performs Is Just Wonderful. Oh I Love This Record...++++++++++++ ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country Collections    3. Pop   

Reviews (4)

Great Tribute to a Great Artist
The songs on this tribute to Merle Haggard show better than some of his own inconsistent work just what a huge, multi-faceted talent Haggard has been for decades.For those who might still only recall him as a tunnel-visioned patriot (neither Okie from Musgokee or The Fighting Side of Me are here, fortunately), Tulare Dust sets the record straight -- Haggard is the champion of each human's daily struggle (the title cut and A Working Man), the romantic of rough open road (White Line Fever, Ramblin Fever), and the chronicler of tragic romance (Kern River).Most surprisingly, perhaps, considering his origins and audience, he writes of love across the color line (Irma Jackson).Picking the best of this outstanding collection is tough, but try Iris Dement's amazing take on Big City, Dwight Yoakam's weepy Holding Things Together, Billy Joe Shaver and Ramblin Fever, but most especially Dave Alvin and Kern River.In just about the onlydisappointment, while almost all the other singer-songwriters deliver inspired covers of these songs, Marshall Crenshaw's version of the classic Silver Wings is bland and rote.
This tribute saved Merle's career
The story goes that ol' Merle was ready to pack it in at the time this disc was made. What happened? He heard some young angel named Iris Dement sing a version of his tune "Big City" and he melted. Merle said that after hearing Iris, he felt there was hope for country music after all! A nice story, but the truth is, this disc is one of the best tribute albums you're likely to hear anywhere. While Iris does shine, the stand-out track is Tom Russell doing "Tulare dust/They're tearin' the labor camps down." Fantastic. The rest of the disc is interesting. Some of it quite different than Merle's version, but good nevertheless. A good buy.

The music can't be touched
This is very good CD.The only problem is that Merle's music is so good, it's tough to cover.I listen to the CD fairly often and especially enjoy this version of Big City.Buy it, but understand, if you want to hear the best, buy Merle's originals! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Alternative Country    3. Alternative Country-Rock    4. Americana    5. Bakersfield Sound    6. College Rock    7. Contemporary Country    8. Contemporary Folk    9. Country    10. Country & Western    11. Country Collections    12. Country-Folk    13. Country-Pop    14. Country-Rock    15. Folk-Rock    16. Heartland Rock    17. Honky Tonk    18. Neo-Traditionalist Country    19. New Traditionalist    20. New Wave   

Editorial Review

For most people, this 28-track anthology will be more edifying than entertaining... and that's not a criticism. First released in 1971, the collection was assembled by Alan Jabbour under the auspices of the American Folklife Center and the Library of Congress. Spanning the 1930s and '40s, the handsomely illustrated and thoroughly documented collection captures fiddlers from New England to California sawing their way through their favorite showcase tunes, in the process illustrating the rich variety of roughhewn sounds that salt-of-the-earth Americans produced with the violin. Read more

Reviews (3)

I have found my Grandfather!
Elmer Barton from Quechee VT is my grandfather. He was my mother's father. I never had the opportunity to meet him. I now have an excellent example of what a talented man he was. I can pass this on to my children.

Indispensable for American musical history...
People used to dance to these tunes; people used to congregate, socialize and be a community with the help of these tunes. It's not hard to imagine why - just try to control the spontaneous and inevitable foot tapping while listening to this disc - the rhythms are too seductive and inviting. The songs are reminiscent of a hoe-down or what today most of us would recognize as Irish music (this style of fiddling sometimes accompanies modern Irish Folk/Rock bands such as Boiled in Lead). But this is pure American music brought over from Britain generations ago. It would later be incorporated in western swing, country, and folk music and become a more or less permanent cultural archetype for this country's music. This disc includes samples of the source of that tradition, and the songs hold up very very well on their own some sixty or seventy years later. Some of them will sound wildly familiar. A MUST-HAVE FOR FIDDLEFANS
If you love traditional fiddle music, this album belongs in your music library. This is a remastered reissue of the 1971 LP of 28 field recordings of fiddlers found in the Library of Congress' Archive of Folk Culture. It was compiled, edited and annotated by Alan Jabbour, a pioneering scholar and researcher in the study of the various fiddle traditions of North America. A master fiddler in his own right, Jabbour's selections are well chosen to give us a nice overview of the range and diversity of American regional fiddle styles, while his comprehensive liner notes-- presented here in a whopping 72 page (!) booklet, complete with great photos of many of the fiddlers -- reflect his estimable scholarship and passion for the music.Read more

Subjects:  1. 30's    2. 40's    3. Bluegrass Collections    4. Fiddle    5. Field Recordings    6. Folk & Traditional    7. Old-Timey    8. Pop    9. Traditional Bluegrass    10. Traditional Country    11. Traditional Folk   

Reviews (6)

Solid Collection of Bluegrass Gospel
There was a time when gospel music was a staple of both country and bluegrass music.Live concerts would feature at least one set devoted entirely to gospel music. This 65-minute disk features twenty-four tracks from the CMH stable of artists. Several of these songs were written by the artist like Merle Travis' "I Am a Pilgrim," Don Reno's "I'm Using My Bible for a Roadmap" and "The Lord's Last Supper," and Eddie Adcock's "Living Waters." [For years, Adcock was the banjo player for the Country Gentlemen. Here he performs with his wife Martha.] Most of the songs are covered by artists who did not make the songs famous, but yet still offer a heart-felt performance like Carl Story's rendition of Hank Williams' "I Saw the Light" and Jim and Jesse McReynolds' version of "Great Speckled Bird," a song more closely identified with Roy Acuff. All told, this is a solid collection of bluegrass gospel played and sung with conviction. Hallelujah! RECOMMENDED

Mediocre
This sounds more like a "country gospel quartet" collection.For a much better bluegrass collection, try Rounder's "25 Years of Bluegrass." Much better gospel bluegrass CD's are Ricky Skaggs' "Soldier of the Cross" and The Isaacs' "Increase My Faith" or "Pieces of Our Past."

Mediocre
For a much better bluegrass collection, try Rounder's 25 Years of Bluegrass. Much better gospel bluegrass CD's are Ricky Skaggs' Soldier of the Cross and The Isaacs' Increase My Faith or Pieces of Our Past. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Bluegrass    4. Bluegrass Collections    5. Bluegrass-Gospel    6. Country    7. Pop    8. Progressive Bluegrass    9. Traditional Bluegrass   

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country Collections    4. Country-Pop    5. Honky Tonk    6. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    7. Outlaw Country    8. Pop    9. Progressive Country    10. Rockabilly    11. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

Whatever you say about alternative country, don't call it "underground"--not since the "movement" has now received K-Tel's (mixed) blessing. Hard-core fans will find Read more

Reviews (4)

Great compilation to get into whatever they call this music
Bought this not long after it came out.I was just getting into alt-country, americana, no depression, insurgent country, or whatever you want to call it.This is an excellent starting point.Standout tracks are The Handsome Family's suicide song "Weightless Again", Whiskeytown's cover of the Black Flag classic "Nervous Breakdown", Johnny Cash, Freakwater, Gram Parsons, Steve Earle and the list goes on.If you are curious about this style of music, get this.If you can't find something on here you like - then alt. country (country-rock?) isn't for you.

A little bit of everything.
This collection of 24 cuts by different artists gives the listener an idea of how varied and interesting the roots of alt. country are. (Is it just me or is alt. country a truly dumb name. Just checking.)Songs from many artists; vets like Johnny Cash,(The true father of this style of music and so much more)and Steve Earle ("Guitar Town")to "newer" bands like BRS-49 (With their wonderful tribute to Bettie Page, a pin-up queenof the 50's)are mixed together with no real concept behind it. (Typical K-Tel) But as another reviewer explained it, this is not for fans of the genre, it's for new entrants, like me, who want to check out what this sound is about. I've definitely heard a few things here that make me want to pursue some of these artists'other recordings. A nice sampler and while maybe there are omissions, for an overview this one is not bad, a nice mix of songs and styles.

Good, but...
Lest we forget the creator of Alt country and the "No Depression" era: Jay Farrar. How could the be the "roots" without any recordings from Unclce Tupleo, Son Volt and Wilco (jeff Tweedy). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative    2. Alternative Country    3. Alternative Country-Rock    4. Alternative Pop/Rock    5. Americana    6. Country    7. Indie Rock    8. Neo-Traditional Folk    9. Pop    10. Popular Music    11. Rock    12. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (1)

A fantastic collection of old favorites
This CD is a fantastic collection of old favorites.I'm not a big classic country fan myself but bought this for my folks as my Mom couldn't find Tex Ritter's "Just Beyond the Moon" anywhere.This is the ONLY CD I could find with a copy of that song.Anyway, before passing it on to them, I had a listen and actually quite enjoyed hearing all the old favorites I remember Dad forcing us kids to listen to when he was driving.If you love classic country, you'll love this CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Country    3. Country Collections    4. Country-Folk    5. Honky Tonk    6. Pop    7. Progressive Country    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Traditional Country    10. V/a Compilations    11. Western Swing   

Reviews (2)

We need more of this!
Bravo CMH - this is what we need. Bluegrass instrumentals are quite rare these days and the best of them were done in the 1970's. CMH have delivered a fine package for the bluegrasser who prefers not to listen to a bluegrass voice which often detracts from the fine acoustic music. Let us be honest and say that many singers have B-Awful voices and instrumentals like this terrific collection are wonderful to locate. Thank you CMH.

Bluegrass magic
There are lots of wonderful Bluegrass albums around, but this one is really great. I recommend it very highly, and would give it more than five stars if possible. Every song is brilliant and it is impossible to single out any one track as better than the rest. Even non-bluegrass fans would enjoy this album if they like first-rate musicians plying their trade. A truly excellent album! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Bluegrass    4. Bluegrass Collections    5. Contemporary Bluegrass    6. Country    7. Pop    8. Progressive Bluegrass    9. Traditional Bluegrass    10. Traditional Country   

Reviews (5)

HOT!!
As fine a compilation of serious pre-nashville glitz honky tonk as you'll find. REally a great disc.

Classic soundtrack to an idealized 50s honky-tonk
I've had this disc for a few weeks now, and I finally figured out what it sounds like:a jukebox at some idealized 50's honky tonk.Columbia has gone back to the vaults to pull out a wealth of country honky tonkmaterial, *27* tracks, clocking in at an incredible *73+* minutes!Therecordings range from the mid 40's through the early 60's.The sound isreally quite impressive throughout. Half is ok, half is fantastic
The first half is weak, but the second half (starting with "Hey Joe") makes up for it.It's a chronological presentation.A good sampler.Every song from then on is FANTASTIC! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 50's    2. 60's    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Country Collections    6. Country-Pop    7. Cowboy    8. Honky Tonk    9. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    10. Pop    11. Rockabilly    12. Traditional Country   

Reviews (1)

A very original Christmas collection
Various artists Christmas collections usually contain plenty of old chestnuts, but there are not many here. That suits me fine, though whether the casual buyers at whom this is targetted will appreciate it, I'm not sure.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Christmas    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Christmas Music    5. Contemporary Country    6. Country-Pop    7. Neo-Traditionalist Country    8. New Traditionalist    9. Pop    10. Xmas Vocal Collections   

Reviews (3)

A Christmas Bluegrass Treasure!
I have purchased a number of Christmas cds over the years, but I can already tell that this one will remain toward the top of my list! Familiar tunes linked with outstanding instrumental musicianship -- this is a very accessible album of favorites! A lot of spice, hooks and nice mellow touches! And I will definitely pick up Vol. 2 when I have the opportunity!

Tasteful- and tasty.
We have here a very nice acoustic, mostly instrumental Christmas album done all in bluegrass style. The song selection is very good, with a nice mix from traditional to fun. One of the things that makes this album a good choice is that the songs are always bigger than the individual players. Although the lineups have some "big hitters" (Ickes, McCoury, Duncan, etc.), there are no real attempts to outshine the music- it's all very tasteful and not a hint of an ego to be heard. The arrangements are genuine, simple, clean, open, airy, and most often mellow. I'd recommend it for the instrumentalist in you as you fill out your holiday collection with some quality, slightly-off-the-beaten-path selections. If you're looking for great players to tear though souped-up renditions of the songs, you're likely to be disappointed with this one.

Bluegrass covers of Christmas standards
This is an excellent album consisting entirely of familiar tunes, but only the final track (O holy night, sung by the Larkins) features voices. All the other tracks are instrumentals.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Christmas Music    3. Pop    4. V/a Compilations    5. Xmas Vocal Collections   

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country Collections    3. Pop    4. V/a Compilations   

Reviews (3)

worth it for whiskeytown and bright eyes
great tracks all around, but ESPECIALLY the song "Choked Up" by Whiskeytown and the song by Bright Eyes that Conor Oberst recored just for this record. FANTASTIC!

In response to Richard Eskel
The CD is fantastic 'lost' songs by some of the best artists on the Lost Highway label. (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Ryan Adams, etc.) This was not marketed in any duplicious way. Do a little research before you hit the buy button.

Not really Lost Highway
In case you're a bluegrass fan, be aware that this is NOT the bluegrass group Lost Highway, but instead a rock compilation being advertised to bluegrass fans such as myself under what I consider false pretenses. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Americana    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Country Collections    6. Country-Folk    7. Country-Pop    8. Pop    9. Traditional Country    10. V/A Compilations   

Reviews (2)

A CD you will never get tired of listening to.
This is one of my favorite CD.My wife and I are avid Goldwing motorcycleriders.This CD sets the mood and lifts your spirits for riding in theGreat Smoky Mountains

Extraordinary!A must-buy for mountain music lovers.
I have owned all three volumes of Smoky Mountain Hymns for about six years.They are among my most-listened-to CD's, which is saying a lot!The recordings are pure accoustic and extremely "clean."The hammered dulcimer has a clear, high-lonesome sound.The support from the mandolin, banjo and guitars is precise and harmonic.If you like hymns and if you like mountain instruments, it will be impossible not to tap your foot and hum along to such favorites as "I'll Fly Away," "Amazing Grace," and "Unclouded Day."-- John Weistart, Durham, NC ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Christian Collections    3. Gospel/Christian Music    4. Pop    5. Religious / Contemp. Christian    6. Traditional Gospel   

Reviews (4)

A Mixed Galaxy of "Star(s)"
Prime Cuts:Seven Year Ache (Jenny Farrell), Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (Josh Owen), Ring of Fire (Justin David)
Nashville Star
I like the songs but as the other reviewer said Jody Evans is a true star. I hope he does go far. He is a talented man :)

Nashville Star - Season 3
Almost everything on this CD is utterly predictable... mostly just crossover artists with nothing to fall back on but decent voices and good looks. However, there is one shining star on this album that earns it three stars all on its own.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Country Collections    4. Pop    5. V/a Compilations   

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country Collections    3. Country-Pop    4. Honky Tonk    5. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    6. Pop    7. Traditional Country    8. V/a Compilations