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Editorial Reviews

Leave it to Germany's Bear Family label to release the most representative compilations on the planet when it comes to country artists. While the imprint's box sets are the world-class standard with their excellent sound, utterly complete track listings, and coffee table-style books with exhaustive essays and discographical details, their single-disc issues are no less attractive or definitive. Take this 31-cut volume on legendary steel guitarist Leon McAuliffe, who made his name as a member of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys from 1935-1942 before going solo. These sides were cut between 1949 and 1955 for Columbia. Before that he recorded for the Majestic label, which went broke in 1948. This disc represents more than half of McAuliffe's 59 sides for Columbia. In addition to his lone hit, "Panhandle Rag," for which he will always be remembered, it also includes a treasure trove of other sides, including his anthem "Tulsa, Straight Ahead," the burning fingerpop of "Rag Mop," and other minor hits such as "Cimarron Rag," "Mr. Steel Guitar," and of course, "Blue Guitar Stomp." In addition to these representative cuts, Bear Family has featured a number of non-released performances, including another version of "Pan Handle Rag" and the first and much more intense reading of the classic "Hard-Hearted Girl." For fans of Western swing, this single-disc comp is absolutely stellar. There isn't a dud track on the set, and Kevin Coffey's historical essay is exhaustive, perhaps even unprecedented on this kind of reissue, and as always, there is complete discographical information. Highly recommended. Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

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