King of Country Music

Roy Acuff | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 1993)
• Original Release Date: May 5, 1993
• Label: Bear Family (Ger)
• ASIN: B000001B02
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,262 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Tied Down

2. What Will I Do

3. Is It Love or Is It Lies

4. Lonesome Joe

5. Sweep Around Your Own Back Door

6. Don't Say Goodbye

7. Swamp Lily

8. Sixteen Chickens and a Tambourine

9. Rushing Around

10. Whoa Mule

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. That's What Makes the Juke Box Play

2. Little Moses

3. What Do You Think About Me

4. Oh Those Thumbs

5. Come Back Little Pal

6. Fireball Mail

7. I'm Building a Home (In the Sky)

8. The Great Titanic

9. Goodbye Mr. Brown

10. Mother Hold Me Tight

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

(2-CD set with 48-page booklet) By the 1950s, Roy Acuff's crown was slipping. He wasn't the star that he had been, but he was still making great records as this collection of ultra-rare sides cut between 1953 and 1958 for Capitol, Decca and MGM shows. Roy was adapting to the changing face of country music, but still making music that was true to his original vision. He re-made some of his biggest hits, including Great Speckled Bird, Lonely Mound Of Clay, Wreck On The Highway, and Precious Jewel. He also recorded some surprisingly good new songs including Goodbye Mister Brown (with Kitty Wells) and I Closed My Heart's Door, which was as powerful a performance as any he ever made. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King of the Hillbillies!, June 23, 2004

By 

Kevin Fontenot (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: King of Country Music (Audio CD)

Considering his importance in the history of Country Music it is rather surprising that this is the first significant box set dedicated to Roy Acuff. These are original recordings (1930s-1950) of his hits including "Wabash Cannonball," "Precious Jewel," and "Great Speckled Bird." Also included are some hot string band recordings, which might surprise fans who only remember the older Acuff singing ballads. Acuff's band included some excellent players instrumental in moving Country music from an old time sound (like Charlie Poole) to the style now considered "classic." Other listeners will be surprised by the inclusion of one cut from the "Bang Boys," Acuff's nom de disc for recording risque titles (included here is "Doin It the Old Fashioned Way"). A nice box, good sound, and a needed reissue. Hopefully Bear Family is already preparing a systematic reissue of Acuff, if anyone deserves it, he does.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Acuff !!!, December 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: King of Country Music (Audio CD)

This 2 cd set covers the years of 1954 to 1958. Although this is past his glory years of WWII, there is still enough to attract the ardent fan. Many of the songs on this set are rerecordings of his Columbia classics. The tempo's are a little slower on most and the band is more relaxed. These recordings are probably in the style that most fans would remember from his 50 + years on the Grand Ole Opry

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really Good, but............, September 25, 2003

By 

Cory L. Schwent (Bloomsdale, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King of Country Music (Audio CD)

This is awesome. Pure mountain music in huge amounts.

But, don't look at the track listing and think you are getting a sampling of his greatest hits. Well you are...sorta.

These are his recordings from the 1950's when he was on Decca and Capitol. Fantastic recordings, but the big songs, like "Wabash Cannonball" and "Great Speckle Bird" are all remakes. Fantastic remakes, but remakes.

The sound is crystal clear. And the notes are worth the price alone (maybe not that good!).

Now not all of these songs are remakes. For example, there are two songs with Kitty Wells that for some reason never hit the charts, and plenty of singles for Acuff in the 50's that never charted.

This looks to be out of print now, so if you see this, grab it.