Listmania!
Country Classics 101
By an Amazon.com customer
The Complete Hank WilliamsThe Complete Hank Williams by Sr. Hank Williams
Buy new: $98.97 / Used from: $84.49
Hank's the King in my list(you might disagree with some of my choices, but it isn't easy to narrow down the field)
Cup of Loneliness: The Classic Mercury YearsCup of Loneliness: The Classic Mercury Years by George Jones
Buy used from: $16.09
The reigning king of country-everybody else has passed on to the heavenly band!
The Essential Roy Acuff: 1936-1949The Essential Roy Acuff: 1936-1949 by Roy Acuff
Buy used from: $3.27
He's called the King-and he's one of them for sure (sidenote-Fred Rose, who didn't make this list but wrote great songs, teamed up with Acuff later to really get "country" music going)
Look What Thoughts Will DoLook What Thoughts Will Do by Lefty Frizzell
Buy new: $15.93 / Used from: $11.22
One of my all-time favorite's in any kind of music-one hell of a guy
The Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass BoysThe Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys by Bill Monroe
Buy used from: $9.49
You can't exclude the bluegrass guys, in my mind
The Essential Jimmie RodgersThe Essential Jimmie Rodgers by Jimmie Rodgers
Buy new: $8.98 / Used from: $5.32
This is who Hank was listening to-cowboy music
The Carter Family: 1927-1934The Carter Family: 1927-1934 by The Carter Family
Buy new: $25.99 / Used from: $20.99
THE classic country music family
The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 by Johnny Cash
Buy used from: $12.98
The best of the best of people
God's Honky Tonk Angel: The First Queen of Country MusicGod's Honky Tonk Angel: The First Queen of Country Music by Kitty Wells
Buy used from: $55.97
Aside from the Carter Family, she was the first real female voice in popular country and a great influence to other artists
The Ultimate CollectionThe Ultimate Collection by Patsy Cline
Buy used from: $9.37
Patsy Cline is not only one of the most beloved female country singers, she's reached out, much like Johnny Cash, to a broad audience of music fans
Red Headed StrangerRed Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $5.00
The next fifteen were impossible to pick, so I might have to make another list
When I Stop Dreaming: The Best of the Louvin BrothersWhen I Stop Dreaming: The Best of the Louvin Brothers by The Louvin Brothers
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $11.68
One of my favorites...These guys had harmony (I'm finding myself picking MY favorites)
Hot PickinHot Pickin by Merle Travis
Buy used from: $12.49
Finger-pickin'! Yeh, he's a guitar god AND a good singer/songster
Texas TroubadourTexas Troubadour by Ernest Tubb
Buy new: $25.98 / Used from: $9.20
One of my favorites of the mid-range-not-as-famous country classics-his voice and style are really what I think of as country
LegendaryLegendary by Hank Snow
Buy used from: $49.19
I have yet to really dig in to his stuff, but I know he deserves to be on this list
Take Me Back to TulsaTake Me Back to Tulsa by Bob Wills
Buy new: $25.98 / Used from: $13.82
King of the western swing and Texas-thing
Vintage CollectionsVintage Collections by Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys
Buy new: $5.98 / Used from: $1.25
He's got some classics
King Of The Road: The Genius Of Roger MillerKing Of The Road: The Genius Of Roger Miller by Roger Miller
Buy new: $28.47 / Used from: $15.00
Roger is hilarious and life is too short to not listen to his stuff
Coal Miner's DaughterCoal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn
Buy used from: $4.63
She's great...Her life has been a great inspiration to many, many people and the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter" is a classic, my girlfriend's favorite of all time
The Essential Carl Smith (1950-1956)The Essential Carl Smith (1950-1956) by Carl Smith
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $4.99
One of the most popular in the 50's-has a nice-tight Nashville sound
The Essential Ray Price (1951-1962)The Essential Ray Price (1951-1962) by Ray Price
Buy used from: $2.95
Has some of the most classic songs in country
The Stanley Brothers and The Clinch Mountain Boys: The Complete Mercury RecordingsThe Stanley Brothers and The Clinch Mountain Boys: The Complete Mercury Recordings by The Stanley Brothers
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $18.99
One of the great and classic bluegrass acts
The Essential Flatt & Scruggs: 'Tis Sweet to Be RememberedThe Essential Flatt & Scruggs: 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered by Flatt & Scruggs
Buy new: $15.93 / Used from: $7.64
Many actually prefer these two to their old pal, Bill Monroe-they ARE country, just think about the Beverly Hillbillies theme song, or Petticoat Junction
JoleneJolene by Dolly Parton
Buy used from: $2.88
We love you, Dolly...
Tears of Fire: The 25th Anniversary CollectionTears of Fire: The 25th Anniversary Collection by Tammy Wynette
Buy used from: $28.90
Had to fit her in...I left out some big ones-like Merle Haggard and Grandpa Jones- from this list, so look for another one soon