 | The Complete Hank Williams by Sr. Hank Williams
Buy new: $98.97 / Used from: $65.00 I'll be digesting (and enjoying) these songs for the rest of my life. Whatever compilation you currently own is not enough. This box set is worth the money.
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 | Queen of Country Music by Kitty Wells
Buy used from: $87.99 Thank you Bear Family. This music should live forever. My second favorite country singer after Hank Williams.
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 | The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers by The Stanley Brothers
Buy used from: $6.98 These hamonies are unreal. This is the Stanley Brothers to get first.
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 | The Carter Family: 1927-1934 by The Carter Family
Buy new: $25.99 / Used from: $25.34 Buy this and volume 2 and you have everything the Carter Family recorded. I can't think of a better way to spend $50.
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 | Texas Troubadour by Ernest Tubb
Buy new: $25.98 / Used from: $12.61 This budget box set is, I believe, everything you need by Ernest Tubb.
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 | Look What Thoughts Will Do by Lefty Frizzell
Buy new: $15.93 / Used from: $11.22 Like Sinatra or Holiday, he believes every word he sings.
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 | Vintage Collections by Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys
Buy new: $5.98 / Used from: $1.74 At this price there's plenty left for a six pack to help you enjoy this.
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 | The Essential Ray Price (1951-1962) by Ray Price
Buy used from: $2.65 A friend of Hank Williams who adroitly explored similar territory.
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 | Anthology 1935-1973 by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
Buy new: $24.96 / Used from: $6.85 There's some more complete box sets out there, but this anthology really got me into Bob Wills.
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 | The Essential Carl Smith (1950-1956) by Carl Smith
Buy used from: $6.44 This is the pure honkey tonk sound I love so much (even if I've never exactly visited a "honkey tonk").
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 | Best of Floyd Tillman by Floyd Tillman
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $11.49 A graceful singer of ballads that puts a smile on my face.
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 | The Essential Hank Snow by Hank Snow
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $5.32 Perhaps the best introduction to this pure country singer from Canada.
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 | Recordings 1927-1933 by Jimmie Rodgers
Buy new: $25.99 / Used from: $19.48 Everything you need from Jimmie Rodgers for reasonable price. Life is good.
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 | When I Stop Dreaming: The Best of the Louvin Brothers by The Louvin Brothers
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $14.05 Mostly religious music even a non-believer like me can get into.
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 | Walkin' the Strings by Merle Travis
Buy used from: $29.93 One of the great guitarists of this music. If you like this, Chet Atkins is also worth seeking out.
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 | Moonshine Jamboree by Moon Mullican
Buy new: $19.99 / Used from: $13.96 I'm not sure if this is the best Moonshine Muligan comp, but I am sure I like these songs a lot.
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 | Are You Mine by Tom Tall
Buy used from: $157.53 Obscure but very enjoyable country duets.
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 | The Essential Roy Acuff: 1936-1949 by Roy Acuff
Buy used from: $2.75 An uplifting and unaffected country sound.
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 | Freight Train Boogie by The Delmore Brothers
Buy new: $19.99 / Used from: $8.00 Influential early-country performers who took the Appalachian sound in different directions.
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 | The Very Best of Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys by Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys
Buy used from: $4.97 The best introduction to the inventor of bluegrass music.
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 | RCA Country Legends by Hank Locklin
Buy used from: $2.93 An important and creative honkey tonk singer in the tradition of Hank Williams.
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 | Absolutely the Best by Faron Young
Buy used from: $6.16 Essential country / proto-rock.
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 | Pistol Packin' Mama by Al Dexter
Buy used from: $9.00 Great early country that swings.
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 | The Essential Flatt & Scruggs: 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered by Flatt & Scruggs
Buy new: $15.93 / Used from: $6.99 Don't neglect the most famous of the former Bill Monroe pickers. I also wanted to include the excellent DVD High Lonesome - The Story of Bluegrass Music.
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 | Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Capitol Recordings, 1952-1964 by Jean Shepard
Buy used from: $25.48 Sadly except for a couple budget comps of low quality, everything by this great singer is out of print. Halfway between Kitty Wells and Wanda Jackson.
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