Reviewed by Dave Brassington

Coming as a timely tribute to country music's most revered entertainer (but well into the planning stages prior to his death on November 23, 1992), Bear Family's 57 track appraisal of Roy Acuff's music covers his work with Capitol, Decca and MGM (1953-1958), following on from his long association with Columbia Records. The Capitol recordings were the more substantial, totalling 37 tracks and included the re-recording of several of his most famous titles from his earlier days, such as "The Great Speckled Bird", "Wabash Cannonball" and "The Wreck On The Highway". Among his other offerings for the label were a diverse range of 'newer' songs like "Sweep Around Your Own Backdoor", "I Closed My Heart's Door, "That's What Makes The Jukebox Play", "Please Daddy Forgive" and "Don't Judge Your Neighbour" with his association concluding with Pop Stoneman's classic "The Great Titanic". Throughout Acuff was in superb, powerful vocal form and well complimented by members of his Smoky Mountain Boys, all giving fine instrumental performances. Roy Acuff's association with the other two labels were far briefer. His days with Decca amounted to just two sessions, during which he was accompanied by Nashville session musicians and included two duets ("Goodbye Mr Brown" and "Mother, Hold Me Tight") with the 'Queen Of Country Music', Kitty Wells. Then, in early 1958, he recorded a fine set of gospel tracks with the Smoky Mountain Boys which saw the light of day on MGM Records although, by then, he had moved on to Hickory Records, the label created by Acuff-Rose Music. This fine collection comes complete with a 48 page booklet written by Otto Kitsinger, covering biographical aspects of Roy Acuff's career as well as a good selection of rare photographs and full discography information.

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