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Editorial Reviews

This excellent double-CD collection is the second installment in Ace's reissuing of Roy Acuff and Fred Rose's Hickory Records catalog on CD. Contained on these two discs are all of the Hickory singles issued by the label under the names of country-Cajun singers and songwriters Rusty and Doug Kershaw, totaling 39 cuts, 19 singles, and a bonus track. Also included are all the singles of mate Wiley Barkdull -- the killer bass voice on their records -- who adds another 16 titles. Among the Rusty and Doug tunes of note are the title cut, originally released in 1961, "Diggy Diggy Lo" from 1961, "Look Around (Take a Look at Me)" from 1955 with Wiley Barkdull, "Dream Queen," (1957), "Going Down the Road" with Carolee Cooper from 1957, "Hey Sheriff," from 1958, and the killer "Cajun Joe (The Bully of the Bayou)," from 1962. Barkdull's solo records were all recorded between 1955 and '57 and a pair of them, "Id Like To" and "He Made You for Me," were duets with Helen Carter. Ultimately, this is a fine set that showcases music that walked the line between traditional Cajun, hillbilly-boogie, honky tonk and early rock & roll -- though this is clearly not rock & roll. It's swampy, raw, crackling with energy and a wonderful naïveté that was quickly boiled out of the recording process in the Deep South. Highly recommended. Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

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