An absolutely indispensable series, Smithsonian's Classic Country line of discs covers the music with great care and historical savvy. This first volume kicks things off with 25 tracks ranging from early string band sides (Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers) and the first country classics (the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers), to the mountain genius of Roy Acuff and popular cowboy-centric hits by Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, and the Sons of the Pioneers. And hinting at things to come, the collection wraps things up with a taste of ...
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An absolutely indispensable series, Smithsonian's Classic Country line of discs covers the music with great care and historical savvy. This first volume kicks things off with 25 tracks ranging from early string band sides (Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers) and the first country classics (the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers), to the mountain genius of Roy Acuff and popular cowboy-centric hits by Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, and the Sons of the Pioneers. And hinting at things to come, the collection wraps things up with a taste of Bob Wills' Western swing and Ernest Tubb's early honky tonk. So, from the '20s through the '40s, and with a bevy of milestones to hear along the way, this ride through hillbilly history is not to be missed. ~ Stephen Cook, Rovi
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