Rating 5.0
Best Country Album Compilation Available!This was the first album to be released under "The Best of Austin City Limits" from their vast library of classic country music. It delivers the best country album compilation I've ever heard. With the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Feel Lucky" (and you will if you own this great album) to Waylon Jennings "I've Always Been Crazy" and Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man", all the great country music venues are explored here. From slow, tender love songs to foot-stompin' tunes, the minutes race by like an old iron horse headed west into the sunset as you listen to your favorite hits. It all ends too soon, but lively, with "Boogie Back to Texas" by Asleep At The Wheel. If you don't own this album, get it. Then do someone else a favor--share it!Great CompilationFrom the familiar first words, "Its Austin City Limits" followed by the unmistakeable voice of Merle doing "Silver Wings", this CD captures what the show is all about. I listen to this CD at least once a week! Just buy it.Who had to choose the best of??"Austin City Limits" has been on the air since 1976. How does somebody arrive at the 16 best performances from those 24+ years! Anybody who watches ACL regularly is aware that it certainly isn't just country music; some of the best acts I've seen have been Stevie Ray Vaughan, Danny Gatton, John Mayall, The Neville Brothers. This collection, however, definitely leans toward "country" acts. (I believe there's a "blues best of" compilation as well.) With so much material available, something would definitely be wrong if there were a dud performance in a 16-cut collection, and there's not. (The disc is a mere 51 ?? minutes - why not 20 or 25 minutes more?) Some of my favorites: a rockin' "Blue Side of Town" by Patty Loveless, "Baby Now That I've Found You" by Alison Krauss, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones. I'd really like to be able to purchase my favorite ACL programs from over the years, either video or audio, but alas, they blame licensing / royalty complications. So I guess these "Best of" compilations will have to do. And this one does nicely. |
