Dim Lights, Thick Smoke & Hillbilly Music: Country & Western Hit Parade 1955

Listening to this CD was like visiting a foreign country for me. I was born in 48, started listening to RnR with Elvis, started listening to Blues and Jazz in the 60s. I never had a good thing to say about country. I don't really like almost any of the country that has come out in the last 30 years or so. Just don't get it. I have purchased the entire Bear Family history of RnB from 1946 through 1970. Much of that, especially the older stuff was new for me. I was a Chicago Blues fan in particular and a lot of that old RnB escaped my notice. But Bear Family got me into a whole new musical love.So I was hoping for the same by trying one of the ones in the Country series. Thought I'd start with the most recent first; at least I'd recognize a few songs. I've got to say that many of these remind me of old blues stuff from the early 50s: simple arrangements with room to breath, understated songs of great emotional power. I've considered for several years trying to find a good country collection from the 50s and early 60s and I think this is it. I'll buy backwards from 55 and for sure buy the next batch when it comes out. Lots of fun here. This one is loaded up on my Ipod next to John Coltrane, Charlie Patton, the Rolling Stones and Muddy Waters.

My wife thought I was nuts for buying this, but I have been in love with music ever since I got my first record from my father. (It was a 45 rpm copy of Elvis Presley's Jail House Rock / Treat Me Nice.) That song isn't on this CD, but many of the songs on here have special meaning for me. This takes me back to when I was a kid and first realized that I really liked music! This is a fantastic collection of songs from the early 50's. It is a GREAT compilation!

Bought it as a gift- the recipient loved it!! Great sound quality.

This a great collection. You have everything from an updated Jimmy Rogers recording made in the 30s, with new instrumentation overdubbed by the Hank Snow band, to an early Elvis Sun cut. But the highlight of the CD is the original unabridged version of George Jones first Starday single "Why Baby Why". This cut was originally issued on a 45RPM single and probably also on a 78 RPM single. Shortly, after the single was issued Starday decided to put it on a low budget Dixie 45 RPM Extended Play (EP) album. They put 3 cuts on each side including "Why Baby Why". However since a 45 could only hold about 11 minutes of music "Why Baby Why" was abbreviated. A piano riff, in a musical bridge, was eliminated and there was a quick fade out at the end where none had existed on the original. About 23 seconds of recording time was eliminated. All subsequent reissues of the 1955 "Why Baby Why", whether on 45 or 33 vinyl, cassette or CD were the abbreviated version. Now for the first time in 55 years, Bear Family has issued the unabridged version. Good for them. It should have been done years ago. Good for you Bear Family!

The music is mainly hits from 1955.But it also includes rare songs that are of historic interest.All songs are perfect digitally restored.The sound is so good that you may think that these recordings was recorded just yesterday.George Jones great hits Why baby why is released here for the first time in an long uncut version.Buy it and enjoy the great music and read about it in the great good looking cd sleeve.A super good release.