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The advent of rock'n'roll presented a challenge to the very survival of country as a mainstream music form (or so it is claimed) so the country divisions of the major labels decided to fight back, initially by going for a more easy listening style. This style dominated for the duration of this compilation, although Buck Owens led the fight back in 1963 with a more rootsy form of country music, albeit taking ideas from rock'n'roll. That fight back is beyond the scope of this compilation - and don't expect a compilation exploring it from the Proper label, because they focus on music recorded before 1963 for copyright reasons.Some of the music here was very controversial at the time, as some singers were accused of going pop - and as some of the music they made was more like the easy listening music of the era than (for example) Hank Williams or Roy Acuff, it's easy to understand those feelings. Yet country music has never really stood still. It only broke away from folk music in the early twentieth century and has continuously changed ever since. So here is a very strong collection of a particular period in country music, which despite the controversy at the time, sounds far more country than a lot of music recorded in the 21st century that is marketed as country.Here there are many big hits of the era, some by artists almost forgotten now, some by artists who remain popular, some in between. I don't think the two Dolly Parton tracks really belong here, but I understand the record label's desire to include them. Dolly was still some way from being more than just a promising name to watch at this point. Her presence here does not do her justice.With the size of country music collection I have, you might think I have all the songs here elsewhere. Not so, although I do have a lot of them, albeit some on other multi-artist compilations. I don't remember hearing Connie Hall before, but there is a CD of her music available and I have ordered it. I have heard Carl and Pearl Butler before but I'm still waiting for a CD to be released that includes a decent number of songs. They are represented here by Don't let me cross over, and they also did the original version of If teardrops were pennies. Both songs have also been covered by other artists. Charlie Walker is represented by three tracks including Pick me up on your way down, Again, I hope to buy some of his music, but choice is limited.For those whose collections are less extensive than mine, the presence of so many big names of the era is what matters - Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Don Gibson, Webb Pierce, George Jones, Marty Robbins, etc., etc. This box therefore contains something for everybody who has any interest in country music of this period.This is a great collection of country music recorded between 1955 and 1962.Track ListingsCD 11. Eddy Arnold - Cattle Call2. Marty Robbins - Singing The Blues3. Bobby Helms - My Special Angel4. Kitty Wells and Webb Pierce - Oh So Many Years5. Sonny James - You're The Reason I'm In Love6. Sonny James - Young Love7. Webb Pierce - It's My Way Of Loving You8. Bobby Helms - Fraulein9. Marvin Rainwater - Gonna Find Me A Bluebird10. The Browns - I Heard A Bluebird Sing11. Marty Robbins - A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)12. Jim Reeves - Four Walls13. Jimmy C. Newman - A Fallen Star14. Hank Snow - Tangled Mind15. Don Gibson - Oh Lonesome Me16. Don Gibson - I Can't Stop Loving You17. Marvin Rainwater - Whole Lotta Woman18. Floyd Cramer - Flip, Flop & Bop19. Ray Price - City Lights20. Charlie Walker - Pick Me Up On Your Way Down21. Stonewall Jackson - Waterloo22. Sonny James - Talk Of The School23. Charlie Walker - I'll Catch You When You Fall24. Eddy Arnold - Tennessee Stud25. Webb Pierce - I Ain't NeverCD 21. The Browns - Three Bells2. Kitty Wells - Amigo's Guitar3. Roy Drusky - Another (Just Like Me)4. Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go5. Charlie Rich - Lonely Weekends6. Eddy Arnold - I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)7. Skeeter Davis - Am I That Easy To Forget8. Don Gibson - Just One Time9. Charlie Walker - Who Will Buy The Wine10. Webb Pierce - Is It Wrong (For Loving You)11. Hank Locklin - Please Help Me I'm Falling12. Bill Anderson - The Tips Of My Fingers13. Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry14. George Jones - Window Up Above15. Johnny Tillotson - Poetry In Motion16. Ferlin Husky - Wings Of A Dove17. Skeeter Davis - (I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too18. Kitty Wells - Heartbreak U.S.A.19. Floyd Cramer - Last Date20. Brenda Lee - I Want To Be Wanted21. Marion Worth - I Think I Know22. The Browns - Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On23. Roy Drusky - Three Hearts In A Tangle24. Patsy Cline - I Fall To Pieces25. Johnny Tillotson - Jimmy's GirlCD 31. Faron Young - Hello Walls2. Burl Ives - A Little Bitty Tear3. George Jones - Tender Years4. Connie Hall - I'm As Lonely As Anyone Can Be5. Hank Locklin - You're The Reason6. Billy Walker - Funny How Time Slips Away7. Don Gibson - Sea Of Heartbreak8. Claude Gray - My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About9. Leroy Van Dyke - Walk On By10. Bob Moore - Mexico11. Slim Whitman - The Old Spinning Wheel12. Slim Whitman - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain13. Connie Hall - Loves Been Good To Me14. Patsy Cline - Crazy15. Willie Nelson - Touch Me16. Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John17. Hank Locklin - Happy Journey18. Stonewall Jackson - A Wound Time Can't Erase19. Hawkshaw Hawkins - I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye20. Don Gibson - Lonesome Number One21. Porter Wagoner - Misery Loves Company22. Jim Reeves - Losing Your Love23. Billy Walker - Charlie's Shoes24. Willie Nelson & Shirley Collie - Willingly25. Patti Page - Go On HomeCD 41. Jimmy Dean - The Cajun Queen2. Jimmy Dean - PT-1093. Patsy Cline - She's Got You4. Burl Ives - Call Me Mister In-Between5. George Jones - She Thinks I Still Care6. Leroy Van Dyke - If A Woman Answers (Hang Up the Phone)7. Claude King - Wolverton Mountain8. Patsy Cline - When I Get Thru You (You'll Love Me Too)9. Carl and Pearl Butler - Don't Let Me Cross Over10. Dolly Parton - The Love You Gave11. Dolly Parton - It's Sure Gonna Hurt12. Johnny Tillotson - It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'13. Ernest Ashworth - Everybody But Me14. Carl Belew - Hello Out There15. George Jones - Just A Girl I Used To Know16. Porter Wagoner - I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand17. Skeeter Davis and Porter Wagoner - There's Always One (Who Loves You A Lot)18. Skeeter Davis and Porter Wagoner - My Greatest Weakness19. Faron Young - The Comeback20. Marty Robbins - Devil Woman21. Glen Campbell - Too Late To Worry, Too Blue To Cry22. Glen Campbell - Long Black Limousine23. Skeeter Davis - The End Of The World24. Charlie Rich - Sittin' And Thinkin'25. Brenda Lee - All Alone Am I
