Customer Reviews

The Essential Roy Acuff (1936-1949)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At a running time of just over 50 minutes, this one could've had a lot more added on to it. You get the bare-bones essential, gotta have type of stuff such as "Wabash Cannonball" & "The Great Speckled Bird", but missing are many of the selections that came from his long in print Greatest Hits CD such as "The Devil's Train", "Waiting For My Call To Glory" and many other fine selections.

"Lonesome Old River Blues" & "This World Can't Stand Long" are presented in alternate takes from their better known versions. I have always felt an "essential" set should provide the versions that were "hits" not alternate takes as this set would serve as an intro to Acuff's music-not an overview of alternate takes.

One plus is everything here is in it's original unaltered mono version-no fake stereo. In short, if you're not familiar with Acuff, this is not a bad set, but the Greatest Hits CD on Columbia offers a broader selection. Columbia, in the future, let Bear Family handle the alternate takes & stick with official versions on domestic releases.

Here's another fine offering by Columbia Country Classics; and this one covers the Father of the Grand Ole Opry. These are original recordings and considering the technology of the time, these are quite good. Of course, the set includes his signature "Great Speckled Bird" and "Wabash Cannonball", but there are other gems, including "The Precious Jewel", "Wreck on the Highway", and "Night Train to Memphis". To make the collection ever more interesting, is the inclusion of three previously unissued alternate takes of: "Steel Guitar Blues", "Lonesome Old River Blues", and "This World Cant Stand Long". Roy was never afraid to show a little emotion, and he never held-back when perfroming, and this CD showcases those talents. Country Music lost one of its greatest treasures with the passing of Mr Acuff; here's your chance to own a little of that magic.

Roy Acuff / The Essential Roy Acuff 1936-1949 / Columbia Country Classics: This great artist came to be the master of the Grand Ole Opry and was later to become the first living member inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. These 20 Great songs show why he was a favorite with the public. Five Stars

The CD is for those who want to know why Roy Acuff was called "The King of Country Music" for much of his life and why it has been reported that Japanese troops in the '40s, trying to anger U.S. combat troops into headlong attacks, broadcast insults to Roosevelt and Roy Acuff. This is not western swing such as was introduced by Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers. Four copies were ordered for my four adult chilren's Christmas stockings as Roy was a fourth cousin. One of the jewel cases arrived cracked but the disk was undamaged.

This brings back memories of 30's and 40's. Todays song writers should study words and composition, to bring back decent country music

I bought this for my father-in-law who really likes this music. We lost his wife this past year and listening to these old songs brings back precious memories of her.

I received the CD "The Essential Roy Acuff (1936-1949)" in just a few days after ordering. It had selections That I heard in the 1940's and my fokes had some of them on old 78 RPM records like "The Great Speckle Bird" "Wreck On The Highway" "Night Train To Memphis" "Fireball Mail" "Wabash Cannon Ball" "The Precious Jewel" and others. As with age the records bit the dust. Cracked, broken and just wore out. I was glad to fine some of these old country classics on CD's with very good sound quality.

THIS CD IS SO IS A CLASSICS OF ROY ACUFF I HAVE BEEN ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A
COUNTRY MUSIC FAN I JUST LOVE THE MUSIC
THANK YOU

It's really nice to be able to hear the songs my mother use to play when I was young with no skipping or cracking of the record player