Columbia Country Classics, Vol. 3: Americana

Columbia Country Classics (Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 29, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002721
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,381 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What became of Ellie May? Did she enter a convent?, January 24, 2001

By 

Joseph Haschka (Glendale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Columbia Country Classics, Vol. 3: Americana (Audio CD)

Columbia has released a series of CDs paying tribute to the Country Classics, volume 3 of which is entitled AMERICANA and contains twenty-five so called "saga songs", i.e. numbers which put to music stories of good vs. adversity.

This disk features a veritable posse of legendary artists. Johnny Cash is the most represented ("Don't Take Your Guns to Town", "Tennessee Flat Top Box", "A Boy Named Sue", "Highwayman" - the last with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson). Others with more than one track are Marty Robbins ("Big Iron", "El Paso"), Hawkshaw Hawkins ("Twenty Miles from Shore", "Soldier's Joy"), and Stonewall Jackson ("Life to Go", "Waterloo").

Then, there are my favorites:

"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" (Fess Parker) makes me yearn for the coonskin cap I had as a kid. It'd look mighty fine at the big management meeting. (Actually, I think it was rabbit fur.) I'd probably run afoul of PETA, though. And who needs that hassle?

"Big Bad John" (Jimmy Dean) reminds me of the hero I once aspired to be. Unfortunately, real, everyday life is pretty much mundane. Besides, there are no mines locally, and sewer work doesn't have quite the same cachet.

Even though I love just about everything British (except Lemon Shandy), "The Battle of New Orleans" (Johnny Horton) is a real toe-tapper. Makes me want to dump tea into Los Angeles harbor. In your eye, Tony!

The next time I have to pay my IRS taxes, perhaps playing for them "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" ("Little" Jimmy Dickens) would get a more warm `n' fuzzy response. Hmm ... maybe not.

Lastly, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" (Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys) brings to mind Ellie May sunbathing out by the CEEment Pond. Let's dwell on that vision for a long moment. Dang, Uncle Jed! (If you haven't a clue as to what I'm blathering on about here, then forget it, as you're too young to appreciate this CD anyway.)

My only regret concerning this collection of down-home favorites is that the catchy theme from "Green Acres" isn't included. Pity. I was hoping to sing along.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great CD -- want volumes I & II now!, November 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Columbia Country Classics, Vol. 3: Americana (Audio CD)

This CD has lots of old ballads and great country music singers. These lyrics bring back lots of memories and chuckles; also, songs that have been forgotten through they years. It's great to put this CD in the the CD player and kick back and relax or to hit the road with it! My husband and I both think it's great and so do our friends and family that have had the pleasure of listening to it! Great for anyone that likes classic western movies, too!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Understand Western America Listen Up!, March 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Columbia Country Classics, Vol. 3: Americana (Audio CD)

This album has it all. Bring it on a road trip!