History of Country & Western Boxed Set

stephwills · May 15th, 2008, 12:11 AM

Does anyone have History of Country & Western (Amazon link)? If so, is it any good? It's 20 CDs and, even as an import, is priced at approximately $60. That's like $3 per CD. But crap is crap, no matter how you paint it, so I though I'd ask here before breaking open the wallet. The full track listing (398 songs) is at CD Universe.

Thanks!

Scott McCray · May 15th, 2008, 01:09 AM

That's the country wayback machine! If you want to listen to some ROOTS country, this is one heckuva package.

Probably worth the price of admission just for the Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Travis, Delmore Brothers and Bob Wills...

Thanks for the heads up, by way of a question!

Looking at the track listing - there will be no regrets...

Scott

woodman · May 15th, 2008, 01:42 AM

no, i don't have it, but now that i know about it, odds are i will before too long!

garytelecastor · May 15th, 2008, 02:41 AM

These compilation CD's are put out by small record companies that buy the rights to a few older, lessor known artists, they split up their works on 4-5 CD's and sell it like you are getting a whole slew of artists.
Go on the link and hit the "see all 99 tracks" link. There are maybe 5-6 or whatever artists on there. They just are doing several tracks.

stephwills · May 15th, 2008, 10:00 AM

Gary, fyi, the Amazon track listing is incomplete. The link to CD Universe has the full 398 songs.

stephwills · May 15th, 2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McCray

That's the country wayback machine! If you want to listen to some ROOTS country, this is one heckuva package.

Oh yeah, no doubt. I'm familiar with most of the artists on the compilation. I guess I didn't ask the right question. I'm more interested in the quality of the supposed "remastering". Don't get me wrong. I don't have any illusions as what can and cannot be done, but I've heard some really bad remastering jobs in the past.

Scott McCray · May 15th, 2008, 11:36 AM

I suspect the remastering will kinda be "warts and all" - at least I would hope so - that's a big portion of the magic of the old recordings. It's going on my wish list!

Scott

OutlawSteph1975 · May 15th, 2008, 11:57 AM

I have it. The sound quality is as good as can be expected in recordings this old. It's actually better than most. The liner notes are not complete. There's a booklet with some country music history, but not detailed notes regarding what you are listening to or who is playing on the track. But you can have fun figuring that out for yourself.

Seriously, to have so much history in one box is really worth $60. There's a lot of western swing, hillbilly and some rare cowboy ballads too. It's a weak on bluegrass though. The recordings from the late 20s and early 30s were something I wasn't familiar with before I bought this but it's very useful to hear the banjo and guitar styles in vogue before the Monroe Brothers and of course Flatt and Scruggs. Some of the early folk and hillbilly styles are actually quite inspiring... you gotta hear BF Shelton.

jhundt · May 15th, 2008, 12:28 PM

Man, that looks like a great collection! I was sold when I looked at the track listing and saw these selections:

21. How Many Biscuits Can You Eat - Dr Humphrey Bate
23. My Wife Died Friday Night - The Crook Brothers
24. Ham Beats All Meat - Dr Humphrey Bate

and that was just the beginning... there is some crazy-name songs on there and I just gotta hear 'em!

stephwills · May 15th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Thanks, OutlawSteph1975! That's just what I needed to know.

cowboytwang · May 15th, 2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garytelecastor

These compilation CD's are put out by small record companies that buy the rights to a few older, lessor known artists, they split up their works on 4-5 CD's and sell it like you are getting a whole slew of artists.

Your almost correct, except that in Germany (and most of Europe) their copyright law considers any recording over 50 years old as public domain.
So there is no "Buying of Rights". They can put any song on a CD (that's over 50 years old) and sell it for whatever they want and don't have to pay any kind of royalties or licensing fees.

Tim Bowen · May 16th, 2008, 12:38 AM

As a reference source, this looks to be invaluable for my needs. It goes on the list immediately.

garytelecastor · May 16th, 2008, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephwills

Gary, fyi, the Amazon track listing is incomplete. The link to CD Universe has the full 398 songs.

Thanks, didn't know. Boy do I have egg on my face.

stephwills · May 16th, 2008, 12:42 AM

Mmmm ... eggs ...

garytelecastor · May 16th, 2008, 01:20 AM

Would you like them scrambled, fried, or over easy?
You also get a side order of toast and either ham, sausage, or bacon.
Can I warm up your coffee??

smitty54017 · May 17th, 2008, 08:21 PM

For that price, you can't go wrong. And good luck finding a lot of those songs on other CD's.

It would be nice if you could hear previews. I've gotten leery of buying without hearing. I bought a CD at Wal Mart a few months ago and the package wasn't accurate. There was one song missing, one on the CD that wasn't listed on the case, and a one that was supposed to be performed by Buck Owens, but clearly wasn't. At $5.99, it didn't even make a good coaster.

And I will refrain from commenting on the artist's name for track #36.

OutlawSteph1975 · May 17th, 2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty54017

And I will refrain from commenting on the artist's name for track #36.

There was a business card on my manger's desk today from "Richard Head".

I will also refrain from anymore sophomoric humor.

Gary, I always like a cooked breakfast on Sunday morning. Scrambled with smoked bacon or ham is fine!

stephwills · May 17th, 2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty54017

And I will refrain from commenting on the artist's name for track #36.

LOL! That guy needs his own comic book.

markinlondon · May 18th, 2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty54017

For that price, you can't go wrong. And good luck finding a lot of those songs on other CD's.

It would be nice if you could hear previews. I've gotten leery of buying without hearing. I bought a CD at Wal Mart a few months ago and the package wasn't accurate. There was one song missing, one on the CD that wasn't listed on the case, and a one that was supposed to be performed by Buck Owens, but clearly wasn't. At $5.99, it didn't even make a good coaster.

And I will refrain from commenting on the artist's name for track #36.

The chances of finding those tracks on other CDs is pretty good since I have most of what's listed there on other disks from labels like County and Yazoo but I paid a lot more than $60 for the privilege. I hope the groups' full names are listed elsewhere. I'd hate to think Dr Humphrey Bate was appearing without his Possum Hunters or that the Williamson Brothers had fired Curry. Now, where's that smartass icon?

May 15th, 2008, 12:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
stephwills Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 257	History of Country & Western Boxed Set Does anyone have History of Country & Western (Amazon link)? If so, is it any good? It's 20 CDs and, even as an import, is priced at approximately $60. That's like $3 per CD. But crap is crap, no matter how you paint it, so I though I'd ask here before breaking open the wallet. The full track listing (398 songs) is at CD Universe. Thanks! __________________ steph Think I'll just stay here and drink ...

May 15th, 2008, 01:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Scott McCray Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte (and Cullowhee), NC Age: 49 Posts: 295 21 Photos	That's the country wayback machine! If you want to listen to some ROOTS country, this is one heckuva package. Probably worth the price of admission just for the Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Travis, Delmore Brothers and Bob Wills... Thanks for the heads up, by way of a question! Looking at the track listing - there will be no regrets... Scott __________________ You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. -- Frank Zappa

May 15th, 2008, 01:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,897	no, i don't have it, but now that i know about it, odds are i will before too long! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

May 15th, 2008, 02:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,586 18 Photos	These compilation CD's are put out by small record companies that buy the rights to a few older, lessor known artists, they split up their works on 4-5 CD's and sell it like you are getting a whole slew of artists. Go on the link and hit the "see all 99 tracks" link. There are maybe 5-6 or whatever artists on there. They just are doing several tracks. __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Would you mind holding this bag while we go through the custom shop????? Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

May 15th, 2008, 10:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
stephwills Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 257	Gary, fyi, the Amazon track listing is incomplete. The link to CD Universe has the full 398 songs. __________________ steph Think I'll just stay here and drink ...

May 15th, 2008, 11:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Scott McCray Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte (and Cullowhee), NC Age: 49 Posts: 295 21 Photos	I suspect the remastering will kinda be "warts and all" - at least I would hope so - that's a big portion of the magic of the old recordings. It's going on my wish list! Scott __________________ You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. -- Frank Zappa Last edited by Scott McCray; May 15th, 2008 at 11:39 AM. Reason: capitalization

May 15th, 2008, 11:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
OutlawSteph1975 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,849 7 Photos	I have it. The sound quality is as good as can be expected in recordings this old. It's actually better than most. The liner notes are not complete. There's a booklet with some country music history, but not detailed notes regarding what you are listening to or who is playing on the track. But you can have fun figuring that out for yourself. Seriously, to have so much history in one box is really worth $60. There's a lot of western swing, hillbilly and some rare cowboy ballads too. It's a weak on bluegrass though. The recordings from the late 20s and early 30s were something I wasn't familiar with before I bought this but it's very useful to hear the banjo and guitar styles in vogue before the Monroe Brothers and of course Flatt and Scruggs. Some of the early folk and hillbilly styles are actually quite inspiring... you gotta hear BF Shelton.

May 15th, 2008, 12:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 54 Posts: 2,989 9 Photos	Man, that looks like a great collection! I was sold when I looked at the track listing and saw these selections: 21. How Many Biscuits Can You Eat - Dr Humphrey Bate 23. My Wife Died Friday Night - The Crook Brothers 24. Ham Beats All Meat - Dr Humphrey Bate and that was just the beginning... there is some crazy-name songs on there and I just gotta hear 'em!

May 15th, 2008, 12:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
stephwills Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 257	Thanks, OutlawSteph1975! That's just what I needed to know. __________________ steph Think I'll just stay here and drink ...

May 16th, 2008, 12:38 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,300	As a reference source, this looks to be invaluable for my needs. It goes on the list immediately. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

May 16th, 2008, 12:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
stephwills Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 257	Mmmm ... eggs ... __________________ steph Think I'll just stay here and drink ...

May 16th, 2008, 01:20 AM	#15 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,586 18 Photos	Would you like them scrambled, fried, or over easy? You also get a side order of toast and either ham, sausage, or bacon. Can I warm up your coffee?? __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Would you mind holding this bag while we go through the custom shop????? Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

May 17th, 2008, 08:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
smitty54017 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Richmond, WI Age: 36 Posts: 373	For that price, you can't go wrong. And good luck finding a lot of those songs on other CD's. It would be nice if you could hear previews. I've gotten leery of buying without hearing. I bought a CD at Wal Mart a few months ago and the package wasn't accurate. There was one song missing, one on the CD that wasn't listed on the case, and a one that was supposed to be performed by Buck Owens, but clearly wasn't. At $5.99, it didn't even make a good coaster. And I will refrain from commenting on the artist's name for track #36. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------- Happy cows (and Packer fans) come from Wisconsin!