For Country Music Collectors, post your latest acquisitions

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I'm not what you'd like to call a country collector, 'cause I hate to limit myself to one genre. Here's one of my latest additions:

'The Blade' - Ashley Monroe . (US Warner/Nashville - 549777-1; 2015)

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This is an incredibly great album! . ​

 

I have considered Jimmie Rodgers because he is so important a figure. Problem is, when I listened to samples, I wasn't crazy about all the yodeling he does. It seems that is a large part of his music. Is my impression correct?

 

Wonderful new album by coal miner's daughter!!

 

Kind of. He takes a few listens, but when you really listen deep to him, his guitar playing is awesome as are his lyrics. You have to get to know him, and realize he is doing this almost with no influences from the beginning. He is extraordinary. It took me years and years of trying to get into him and the last month I listen almost daily.

Muleskinner Blues, California Blues, Any Old Time and others are essential. Try to find his Bear Family set cheap on eBay so you have the book too.

 

Some of my favorites are Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Marty Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle.

There are inexpensive single disc compilations available for each of these artists. Enjoy the musical exploration!

 

I found Donna Fargo's second album at a thrift store.

 

I have pretty much everything in the Merle Haggard discography, but my trauma over his passing led me to try to scoop up every last album I didn't have. To wit, I went on an Amazon spree and grabbed up the following CDs:

• Merle Haggard/Chester Smith – California Blend, one of the boutique releases Merle put out about ten years ago where he partnered with one of the musical heroes of his youth
• Merle Haggard – 20 Hits: I don't know precisely when this was recorded (late '80s?) but it's one of those "greatest hits...rerecorded!" records that just about every country musician of a certain antiquity and money troubles has in their catalogue. I'm a completist, what can I say?
• Merle Haggard/Bonnie Owens – Just Between the Two of Us: Used to have this classic, but somewhere along the way lost it. Finally getting it back.
• Three BGO 2-fers by Merle: It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)/If We Make It Through December, My Love Affair With Trains/The Roots of My Raising, Hag/Let Me Tell You About a Song.

I also stumbled upon a used copy of Willie's Electric Horseman soundtrack on CD for $30. Last time I saw it priced that low was about 10 years ago and I've regretted ever since not jumping on it. Needless to say, the CD better be legit!

 

I do have one Johnny Cash CD, but it is from his early Sun Records rockabilly days. Same with Jerry Lee Lewis, but I have 3 CD's from that time. I never ventured to get either one of their recordings from the more country part of their careers. But I love when Jerry Lee covers Hank Williams.

 

You can't go wrong with The Killer, it's all good.

 

New artist Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter

 

The SUN material for Cash and Lewis is excellent. However, for Lewis, I was thinking of his late 60's Mercury/Smash country material. There are a few single disc collections of this material available, one is called "Killer Country", which I can strongly recommend.

 

This arrived today. His son sells these on ebay for cheap, includes original recordings.

 

These are excellent compilations. At one point, Ernie's son had some autographed copies left as well. Ernie had the artwork creatively designed with an area so he could autograph those limited edition versions after concerts. Since his passing in 2009, it's very surprising that Bear Family Records or another comparable label have not released a comprehensive box set focusing on Ernie's recorded output. The material Ernie recorded for Decca and Hickory is of a very high quality, in terms of song selection, production and of course performance by Ernie and the excellent players on those sessions.

 

These are my most recent country music purchases (disregard the bottom row )

 

Conway's superb, and that Moe Bandy cover is a favourite of mine - mmmm beer.

 

For years, I have considered myself burned out on Willie Nelson. I don't care for his new recordings where he constantly revives his older songs. I have been watching the complete first season of "Lost" for the first time lately, and I heard Willie singing "Are You Sure" in one of the episodes. This is the only set that contains that song, so I paid $15 on amazon for a nice copy. Wow, I totally love it and recommend it to anyone. Good luck finding it though.



So now, I also got this one. Totally amazed it took me 25 years of collecting to really get into Willie's early years. I definitely am thinking about picking up the Bear set "Nashville Was the Roughest."

 

It seems Ace will be issuing another C&W compilation in their Golden Age of American Popular Music series

Various Artists (Golden Age of American Popular Music) - The Golden Age Of American Popular Music - More Country Hits - Ace Records »

 

I've got that Hayes Carll in hand, you won't be disappointed.

 

Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits and Live at The Opry arrived yesterday, 24p each, pretty reasonable prices although I haven't listened to them yet!

I notice the Live cd is a Country Music Foundation one, the others I have in that series, Louvin and Paycheck, are excellent.

 

You might enjoy this thread;

Amazing 1,000+ LP score last weekend »

 

My last substantial purchase was the Porter & Dolly Bear Family set.

I have recently rediscovered Jessi Colter, so I having been buying some of her albums.

I was also just in the Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville this past weekend. Picked up a few things there as well.

 

I was just in PhonoLuxe Records in Nashville. I spent a few coins on some sweet items. Didn't find much country though.

I was really bummed to discover that Lawrence Records on Music Row is no longer there.

 

I went last year when the exhibition was on with Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis stuff.

Did you go to the George Jones museum, they had some great displays?

Back on topic, the Patsy Cline CD's are excellent, brief but all first rate. The live is more 'country' with some nice steel and fiddle whereas the 12 Greatest is Nashville Sound, nicely done though.

 

Just bought a copy of "And Stood There Amazed" as a birthday gift for a friend of mine who is a fan of folk and classic country. This will be his first Ian Tyson album (excluding the albums with Ian and Sylvia he owns) and hopefully not his last.

 

I didn't make it to the George Jones one. Ran out of time for everything. Maybe next time.

I plan to go back when the Nudie Suits museum and bar opens up. They are supposed to have a lot of memorabilia and some of the classic suits on display.