Editorial Review

The song that rings most true on this salute to the Mississippian generally considered the father of country music is also the most fatigued tune on the collection--Jerry Garcia and David Grisman's "Blue Yodel #9 (Standin' on the Corner)." Garcia died two weeks after rush-recording the track before entering a substance recovery clinic. You get the sense the fading Garcia understood what drove Rodgers to make music till nearly his dying breath. A few other Rodgers proselytizers make creditable connections with the pioneering recording star, including Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, and Iris DeMent. For an undistilled sense of the great man, check out Rounder Records' eight volume Read more

Reviews (14)

Learning Experience
What a great learning experience to those who are just discovering Jimmie Rodgers.This is a good way to bring the blues-country knowledge to younger listeners who are just learning to enjoy this genre of music.With the latest artists givnig their spin on the traditional music, this is a "don't miss" collection.

All Star Cast Does Jimmie Justice
Like the Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly Tribute this album has well selected artists who do an excellent job of performing Jimmie Rodgers' tunes.
bono makes me cry
i was working at tower records when this came out, and it was in the rotation in the store for a while...and songs started to grab me. mostly bono...but john mellencamp as well. bono's version of "dreaming with tears in my eyes" is one of the saddest, most beautiful songs i've ever heard; i looked on amazon for it because my old copy is long lost and my heart has been broken again, and when i'm sad i think of this song, because it is as sad as a broken heart but as beautiful as true love. i don't know who wouldn't love this song and this album.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Album Rock    3. Alternative Country    4. Americana    5. Bakersfield Sound    6. Blue-Eyed Soul    7. Celtic Rock    8. Contemporary Bluegrass    9. Contemporary Folk    10. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    11. Country    12. Country-Folk    13. Country-Pop    14. Country-Rock    15. Folk-Rock    16. Heartland Rock    17. Jazz-Rock    18. Neo-Traditional Folk    19. Neo-Traditionalist Country    20. New Traditionalist   

Reviews (1)

A Fantastic Example of Yesturdays Best Country!
If, like me, you love yesturdays country music, you don't want to miss this one! Just look at the titles! This is a great collection! Albums usually have lots of fillers and only one or two good songs, Not the casehere! All the songs are wonderful! This is not todays country, This is agreat collection of yesturdays country hits! ... Read more

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

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

Features

• Import

Subjects:  1. Country Collections    2. Country/Bluegrass   

Reviews (4)

Best Country Album Compilation Available!
This was the first album to be released under "The Best of Austin City Limits" from their vast library of classic country music. It delivers the best country album compilation I've ever heard. With the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Feel Lucky" (and you will if you own this great album) to Waylon Jennings "I've Always Been Crazy" and Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man", all the great country music venues are explored here. From slow, tender love songs to foot-stompin' tunes, the minutes race by like an old iron horse headed west into the sunset as you listen to your favorite hits. It all ends too soon, but lively, with "Boogie Back to Texas" by Asleep At The Wheel. If you don't own this album, get it. Then do someone else a favor--share it!

Great Compilation
From the familiar first words, "Its Austin City Limits" followed by the unmistakeable voice of Merle doing "Silver Wings", this CD captures what the show is all about.I listen to this CD at least once a week!Just buy it.

Who had to choose the best of??
"Austin City Limits" has been on the air since 1976.How does somebody arrive at the 16 best performances from those 24+ years! Read more

Subjects:  1. 70's    2. 80's    3. 90's    4. Alternative Country    5. Bakersfield Sound    6. Bluegrass    7. Contemporary Bluegrass    8. Contemporary Country    9. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    10. Country    11. Country & Western    12. Country Collections    13. Country Gospel    14. Country-Folk    15. Country-Pop    16. Country-Rock    17. Honky Tonk    18. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    19. Neo-Traditionalist Country    20. Outlaw Country   

Reviews (1)

Outstanding Collection
So, I am new to Johnny Cash and to country music but this compilation chosen by Johnny Cash is outstanding.It brought back wonderful memories of a more innocent era. From Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" to Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" and Bob Dylan's "The Times They are A-Changin'", I am thoroughly enjoying this wonderful album - my daughter gave it to me for Christmas and though I would never have bought it for myself (I rarely buy music for myself), I cannot remember a more wonderful music gift! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country Collections    4. Country-Pop    5. Guitar    6. Pop    7. Rockabilly    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Soft Rock    10. Spirituals    11. Traditional Country    12. V/A Compilations    13. Vocals   

Features

• Import

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

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

Reviews (2)

great bluegrass even if you're not a WSP fan
There's some great pickin' on this cd.3 different bluegrass bands have taken Widespread Panic songs and done them bluegrass style.The songs are beautiful and the musicians can't be beat.Hard-core bluegrass fans should know that these songs weren't written for bluegrass, so they're more "newgrass".Hard-core Panic fans should be happy to hear that these songs aren't just Panic songs without the words--they're interpretations. This is the best no-word album I have ever heard
IF you are down with just an hour of straight blue grass jams this album is all you. Theres only three different artist with four songs each. None of which you or I had heard of, so I won't bother to go look up their names. But the CD is really good. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Bluegrass Collections    3. Pop    4. Progressive Bluegrass    5. Rock    6. Tribute Albums   

Reviews (2)

Generic Texas
The trouble for me with this CD is that there is not enough variety.There are only about three or four basic rhythms and almost every other song is a honky tonk blues number.Blues has a very limited range and these artists do not seem bent on stretching the boundaries.I found most of the songs predictably structured with familiar chord progressions.There is also the problem that many of the lyrics are in written from a contemplative point of view, which also gets monotonous.The only number that really grabbed me immediately was Nanci Griffith's "Lone Star State of Mind," although her accent is extremely peculiar.She sounds like more like an Iowa farm girl transplanted to the San Fernando Valley than a native Texan.But I cannot get her song out of my mind.This CD is not bad as background music for beer-drinking socializing or driving down a lonesome Texas highway, but for the most part I found it only mildly interesting.I've listened to it six or seven times now, but my initial impression remains the same.In general, I like this series, but the Tex-Mex volume remains far and away the best.

Notes from the TX Commission on the Arts website
"The new Don't Mess With Texas Music Volume Three CD celebrates the people, places and great state of Texas. It features honorary chair Willie Nelson and 19 other great artists and songs about Texas. It also includes messages about the importance of music education from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country Collections    3. Country-Pop    4. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    5. Neo-Traditionalist Country    6. Pop    7. Progressive Bluegrass    8. Traditional Country    9. V/a Compilations    10. Western Swing Revival   

Reviews (3)

A Must Have Collection!
This is my all time favourite collection of banjo music. It features some really sweet sounding banjo. A few different playing styles are used by the various musicians, such as rapping or knocking, otherwise known as clawhammer, two and three finger styles and 'guitar style'. Standout performances by Earl Thomas, Blanche Coldiron, Bert Garvin, Travis Wells and Vernon and Zora Judd make this an album that all Banjo players should hear. Other recommendations are the North Carolina Banjo Collection and for those interested in historic recordings, Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virgina.

OLD TIME YES, CLAWHAMMER STYLE LESS THAN 50%
The clawhammer style of playing banjo is associated with Old Time music, but this is not a totally clawhammer style recording. this is not knocking the recording, it's filled with very good tunes and performances; but if you are looking for an all clawhammer style recording, keep looking. i'd say less than 50% of the tunes are played in clawhammer. there are a lot of two and three finger style represented here as well. a recommendation for a great all clawhammer style recording try Bob Carlin's Bangin' & Sawin'.

This is a great album
If you like old-time banjo, get this one. It's the best banjo album I own.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Bluegrass Collections    3. Contemporary Folk    4. Country    5. Old-Timey    6. Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter    8. Traditional Bluegrass    9. Traditional Folk   

Reviews (4)

Hot Licks, Cold Steel, and Trucker's Favorites
One way to escape the cheesy pop that passes for today's country music is to listen to some truck drivin' tunes that speak to the blue collar roots of real country music. This fine collection contains a number of classics updated by contemporary artists as well as tunes by the original artists. Highlights of this CD are Junior Brown's collaboration with the great Red Simpson on Red's classic "Nitro Express" which is as good as their collaboration on "Semi-Crazy" from the album by the same name. The Yayhoos update the genre with their raucous take on "Highway Junkie" while Bill Kirchen gears it up on "Semi-Truck." The songs by the women seem weaker to me because truck driving tunes just sound better when sung by a man. These songs tend to fall into the I'm-left-all-alone-while-my-man-is-on-the-road category like Kay Adams "Mama Was a Rock." Hot Licks, Cold Steel, and Trucker's Favorites
One way to escape the cheesy pop that passes for today's country music is to listen to some truck drivin' tunes that speak to the blue collar roots of real country music. This fine collection contains a number of classics updated by contemporary artists as well as tunes by the original artists. Highlights of this CD are Junior Brown's collaboration with the great Red Simpson on Red's classic "Nitro Express" which is as good as their collaboration on "Semi-Crazy" from the album by the same name. The Yayhoos update the genre with their raucous take on "Highway Junkie" while Bill Kirchen gears it up on "Semi-Truck." The songs by the women seem weaker to me because truck driving tunes just sound better when sung by a man. These songs tend to fall into the I'm-left-all-alone-while-my-man-is-on-the-road category like Kay Adams "Mama Was a Rock." AMAZON.COM Has The Greatest Truckdrivin CD Of All-Time!!
This album is the best thing that has ever happened to truckdrivers since coffee and rest stops.Rig Rock Deluxe captures the feelings,plights of courage, and comradere of the unsung american hero- The Truckdriver.Thisalbum explores issues of the "absent husband syndrome" in ajammin song by Kay Adams and BRS-59, and existential spiritual questionsthat we all ponder as we trek across theopen road, "Will There BeBig Rigs in Heaven" by Buck Owens and His Buckaroos.A great musthear album.Makes a great gift for anyone who has driven over eight hoursto get somewhere.Check it out! ... Read more

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

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (3)

Driving my life away
I thought the movie had good points (the action was dead on as to what can sometimes happen with trucks and cars in accidents) and bad (the theme not all drivers are bad).I'm a trucker and sometimes other drivers don't think before they do things or worse they figure that we have all those wheels so we have to have more brakes. not true. I liked the movie because it gave people a different perspective.The sound track has gotten me through many long miles and long hours. "Highway Junkie" being my favorite because as my trucking uncle and my dad say once the diesel gets in your blood you can't get it out.

For those long hours on the road.....
It's ironic really that I hated the movie "Black Dog" but yet I LOVE the soundtrack. "Black Dog" is one of the coolest country soundtracks ever. There are a few love songs on the CD, but the lot consists mainly of trucker anthems, which coincides with the movie's theme.And with people like Lee Ann Womack ("A Man With 18 Wheels), Gary Allan ("Highway Junkie"), Randy Travis ("My Greatest Fear") and Patty Loveless ("On Down The Line") adding their talent, you know you're getting something worthy. A Focus On The Life Of A Truck Driver
This good collection of contemporary country music focuses on the life of truck drivers. This C.D. taught me to like country. The best song on the album is "My Greatest Fear" by Randy Travis. Buy it to listen toon your next road trip. ... Read more

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

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

Features

• Original recording reissued

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Bluegrass Collections    3. Pop    4. Progressive Bluegrass    5. Rock    6. Tribute Albums   

Reviews (2)

Great trail songs.
This is a fun cd to listen to while travelling the Lewis and Clark trail. The songs really set the mood and make you feel like its 1804. I love the fiddlin tunes and Keith Bear as always is awesome ...

Corps of Discovery
This CD has music that sounds very much like the music that was played inearly 1800's.Listening to this CD is like being on the expedition withLewis & Clark.It has a large variety of music, from classical toIndian drums/singing, also fiddle like the one on the trail.This is myfavorite music related to Lewis & Clark. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Big Band    2. Country Collections    3. Folk & Traditional    4. Miscellaneous    5. Pop    6. Swing   

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Club/Dance    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Country & Western    6. Neo-Traditionalist Country    7. Pop    8. Progressive Country   

Editorial Review

The best tribute albums take well-known material and reinvent it as new--albeit with care and respect for the original intent. On that level, Read more

Reviews (4)

A well done tribute to real country music
This is a excellent cd . I can put it on and never have to skip one track . That's a rarity now days . A slightly woozy notion of "tradition" has some success
Twelve great artists of today! Twelve classic songs of yesterday! Putting aside the hint of self-congratulatory back-patting and slightly woozy notion of "tradition," a great singer plus a great song stillequals a great spin, and this disc features several. There is no such thing as "too country"!
I am writing this review before I own this album--I heard it tonight for the first time, and the Doug Stone cut blew me away!Gone Out of My Mind brings to mind "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and a lot of othersad country songs I've heard over the years.Since I don't own the CDyet(I'm ordering it right now!!), I don't even know who wrote thissong--but anybody that's ever cried over a good Merle or George song canappreciate the emotions behind the lyrics of this song.I also loved TraceAdkins' version of "I Never Go Around Mirrors".This album isnot perfect, and it may have been conceived by a marketing major, but thethrust behind the music on this album is unchanged and unaltered from thedays when "country" music was actually different from all therest.As a lover of all music, especially a good sad song--I recommendthis album as a primer for young fans of "new" country.Theyhave already shown some taste, now we just have to urge them on in theright direction.Thanks for listening to me, and thanks in advance forlistening to really great music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Contemporary Bluegrass    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Country & Western    6. Country Collections    7. Country-Folk    8. Country-Pop    9. Country-Rock    10. Honky Tonk    11. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    12. Neo-Traditionalist Country    13. New Traditionalist    14. Pop    15. Progressive Bluegrass    16. Traditional Bluegrass    17. Traditional Country   

Reviews (3)

Great for weddings
Just like it says.Nice soft slow music for weddings.I'm going to have it played while our guests are arriving to church.Very romantic music.Definitely recommend.

Romantic
It brought great memories of our marriag

One of the Best Wedding Song Collections!
Although I am already married, I truly love the songs on this CD.They're soft, romantic.The kind of music to mellow you out, make you want to slow dance or just cuddle with the one you love.And just because it's aWedding Album doesn't mean we can't listen to it for years to come!Ireally enjoyed being able to sample the music online.If there are anydoubts as to whether to buy it or not, this feature definitely helps setthe mood to want to buy it.My personal favorites are All I Have- by BethNielson Chapman and, of course, Crystal Gayle (who is, incidently, alsofrom Kentucky!) and my all-time favorite artist--Eddie Rabbitt. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 80's    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Country-Pop    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Soft Rock    8. Urban Cowboy    9. Wedding Music   

Reviews (2)

Great songs, mostly in a traditional country style
Rounder have released several excellent compilations of train songs, covering folk, blues, country and bluegrass styles, each including comprehensive liner notes from Norm Cohen, who wrote a book about trains songs (long out of print, unfortunately). Another solid collection from Rounder
There's not a clunker on here, and it's good to see "City Of New Orleans", what Johnny Cash calls "the best damn train song ever written."Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Bluegrass    2. Contemporary Folk    3. Country Boogie    4. Country Collections    5. Country-Folk    6. Country-Pop    7. Cowboy    8. Folk & Traditional    9. Honky Tonk    10. Instrumental Country    11. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    12. Old-Timey    13. Pop    14. Progressive Bluegrass    15. Progressive Country    16. Rockabilly    17. Traditional Bluegrass    18. Traditional Country    19. Western Swing