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Lots of detail on printed pages inside the CD but in tiny print since it was condensed (apparently) from vinyl size pages. Excellent content not readily available elsewhere.
Beatifuly packaged with excellently written booklet, colorful illustration.I just wanted to support the prevailing opinion. Others have elloquently said it already - this is great music; I'm basically a jazz fan and I can really appreciate this blend of country, jazz, blues, pop and everything else that matters in american music from the first half of 20th century.
A BARGAIN PRICE, I HAVE A FEW BOX SETS IN THIS SERIES (THE PROPPER LABEL) AND THEY ARE ALL FANTASTIC PRODUCTIONS AND VALUES. ADMITTEDEDLY, THE EARLIEST STUFF DOESN'T QUITE "SWING" AS MUCH AS THE LATER RECORDINGS, BUT THE MUSIC IS STILL GREAT AND IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR HOW THE MUSIC EVOLVES OVER TIME. WHAT OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED AS THAT WESTERN SWING IN MANY WAYS WAS A PRECURSOR TO ROCK AND ROLL, ALONG WITH R&B "JUMP BLUES" (AT LEAST TO MY EARS, ANYWAY). IF SOMEBODY PUT TOGETHER THIS COMPILATION OF SONGS FOR A MASTER'S THESIS ON THE HISTORY OF WESTERN SWING MUSIC, THEY COULDN'T HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB THAN THIS. THIS IS A FOUR CD BOX SET WITH INFORMATIVE BOOKLETS IN EACH CD WITH LOTS OF PICTURES AND BIOGRAPHICAL INFO.
Most interesting was that the Crystal Springs Ramblers from Ft. Even if you're not a fan of country music, you may enjoy this one. Crank it all the way up, pop open a cold one and all of sudden it's 1938 and you're in a Dallas honky tonk. This is without a doubt the best buy for any fan of this genre.
Western swing fans will be dancing in the streets over this brilliant box set. Worth were a favorite of Bonnie and Clyde's at a popular dance hall down there. By the way, the liner notes in the booklet are outstanding with dates, pixs, stories. It features 99 cuts dating from 1932 through the late 40's.
It is timeless fun. Great job by Proper Records. They run chronologically and features all the great architects of western swing: Milton Brown & his musical Brownies, Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, Light Crust Doughboys etc. It is genuine feel-good, stomping music with honkytonk pianos, fiddles, drums, guitars and even saxes.
Buy this set - at this price you can't afford not too. As the Great Bill Monroe stated "That junk ain't part of nothing",(I saw that on a FH video that was being played on cabel TV). Keep in mind that this music ain't for everybody.If you like spending time listening to the likes of a feuding Toby with the Dixie Chicks then this real Roots Music ain't for you. I said all that to say this: If you love WesternSwing like I do then you will love this set - it really has a lot of good stuff and takes you back to the days of Bob, Milton,Tommy,Leon, Spade and many other outstanding Western Swing artists.
I read some of the other reviews and I can apperciate a lot what other folks are saying. While you are at it do what I did and get the "Proper Records - Bob Wills/Take Me Back To Tulsa" also - you will be Blessed. But if you would be willing to sell your top coon hound to get the money to get tickets to see "Asleep at the Wheel" then you might be a fan that can apperciate what was started by Bob & Milton way down in Texas back in the early 30's.While I type this review I'm listening to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys perform "Faded Love" on my computer so I'll cut it short. I really agree with the one who said that todays Country Music makes them sick.
This set was a real welcome to my Swing Collection. "ENJOY" Joe Kopeck / Parkville,MD. What in the name of God does a naked Faith Hill rolling around a bed under the sheets singing some half baked so called Modern Country have to do with the music that I was raised on and grown to love. What a moral let down, instead of appearing as one of our Country Stars she looks a lot more like a B-girl- that's where we are today.
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