Ultimate Collection- Whiskey & Rhinestones [IMPORT]

Marty Stuart (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Msi Music/Super D
• ASIN: B001441M0S
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,362 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

UK 2008 collection of recordings from the Country Music great. Marty Stuart, one of only a handful of genuine neo-traditionalists, is steeped in Country Music history. Unlike the modern Jones, Fusing Honky Tonk with a gritty Rockabilly backbeat and a fondness for Bluegrass - ominous and soothing, distracting and rekindling, the record captures moments many thought modern Nashville had buried in the sands of time. Marty Stuart is without doubt Country Music's Renaissance Man, who may be as progressive as any artist out there but his country roots run deep and wide as can be found throughout this stunning collection. Humphead.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant showcasing of Marty's talents, June 25, 2008

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

With eighteen studio recordings and two live tracks, this is the most comprehensive collection yet released of Marty Stuart's music. Rooted in traditional country but with an injection of rockabilly and bluegrass, Marty's brand of country music is distinctive and edgy. The compilation is in chronological order, beginning with two tracks each from his first four albums (Hillbilly Rock, Tempted, This One's Gonna Hurt You, Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best). As four of Marty's biggest hits came from Tempted, you'll realize that this is not a greatest hits compilation. One country top ten hit (Burn me down) and another country hit that didn't quite make the top ten (Til I found you) are missing. Also missing is his big duet with Travis Tritt (The whiskey ain't workin') although a live solo recording is included later in the compilation.

Although Marty's fifth album yielded three country hits, two of them didn't even make the top fifty, but all three are included here. His concept album, The Pilgrim, is represented by just one track, Red red wine and cheatin' songs. That was the only single taken from the album and it was only a very minor country hit. After that, Marty was dropped by MCA, who clearly decided that his hit-making days were past. Marty resurfaced four years later on the Columbia label, where he recorded a couple of albums in the eighties. His solitary album for that label this time around, Country music, is not represented here. Two minor hits presumably didn't impress Columbia so Marty moved on.

Marty switched to Universal South, where he recorded the first of three albums represented here, gospel album, Souls' Chapel, generously represented by four tracks. Two tracks each from Badlands (an album about the Sioux tribe) and Live at the Ryman complete the compilation.

While this is clearly not a greatest hits collection, it nevertheless fairly represents Marty's music from 1991 to 2005 in all its diversity. The missing big solo hits can be found on 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marty Stuart, although that compilation only contains four tracks that aren't included here. A better alternative (unless you're into downloading), if you buy this, might be to search for the original albums that contain the missing hits. Although long out of print, used copies are available. You may have to buy a Travis Tritt album to obtain the duet version of The whiskey ain't workin'. Still, if you enjoy Marty's music, you'll probably enjoy listening to Travis Tritt, too.

Yes, this is an excellent compilation of Marty's music, even despite my favorite albums of his (Tempted and Hillbilly Rock) being under-represented.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crowboy, June 17, 2008

By	M. R. Warner "Crowboy" (Roswell, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My appreciation for Marty Stuart continues to grow with every new song I find. His recent blast of creativity is amazing...from The Pilgrim, to Badlands, Live at the Ryman, and Souls' Chapel. His new compilation Whiskey and Rhinestones is a group of great songs from these CDs and others. Hard to pick a best from the group.