(Rock, Folk/Country) CD

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A fantastic run of records – music that firmly established John Prine as one of the most inventive singer/songwriters of the 70s! Prine rose up out of the Chicago folk scene of the 60s – but he soon became something different than just a folk or country singer – even though he was admired strongly by both worlds of music. Instead, John's songs took on this new sense of wit and bite learned from folk, but delivered in a style that was maybe less preachy – but also not as rural as the vibe of country tunesmiths who were changing things up at the time. There's definitely echoes of the work of Kris Kristofferson or Shel Silverstein in Prine's words – but the execution is completely his own, and transforms wonderfully over the course of these records – at a level that shows just how much the singer was able to keep ahead of the pack, and keep his contributions relevant over the years. The box features the full albums John Prine, Diamonds In The Rough, Sweet Revenge, Common Sense, Bruised Orange, Pink Cadillac, and Storm Windows – in LP replica sleeves, with new notes, and poster inserts too. CD

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28 tracks from Haywood Blevins, Glenn Ohrlin, Frazer & Patterson, Wilson Douglas, Oscar & Eugene Wright, Asa Martin, Dorothy Rorick, Jim Herd, Fields Ward & more. CD

Music from Mac Wiseman, Red Smiley, Raymond Fairchild, Hylo Brown, Curly Fox, Lee Moore, Vassar Clements, JE Mainer, Clarence Jackson, Jim Greer, and more – 21 songs in all. CD

Haunting traditional country-inspired songwriting a la Carter Family, Louvin Brothers, etc from Freakwater – one of their great early 90s albums on Thrill Jockey. The were young-ish and urban-ish at the time, but they are absolutely the real thing. Aching harmonies, dusty melodies and good damn songs. It can't be overstated how unique Freakwater was in an early-to-mid 90s indie rock atmosphere, either. Includes "Crazy Man", "Pale Horse", "My Old Drunk Friend", "Amelia Earhart", "Are You Ready", "Lullaby" and more. CD

A really special album in the career of the great Merle Haggard – a moment when he really started looking back to give credit to those who inspired him – and when he was also really able to express himself in a longer format too! Part of the credit might go to Capitol Records, who trusted Merle so much they not only let him record a concept album, but a 2LP set as well – plenty of space for Haggard to deliver some great spoken passages about the great Jimmie Rodgers, his life, and music – then move into some of Jimmie's classics, but updated nicely with a vibe that's very much Merle's own! Given the way that Hag was stretching out his vocal skills tremendously at the end of the 60s, there's a sense of inflection that's perfect for the bluesy currents of the songs – on titles that include "Blue Yodel No 4", "Waitin For A Train", "Mother The Queen Of My Heart", "My Old Pal", "No Hard Times", "Travelin Blues", "Down The Old Road To Home", "Jimmie's Texas Blues", "Train Whistle Blues", and "Mule Skinner Blues" – plus the classic train song "Hobo Bill's Last Ride". CD

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Piano and violin come together beautifully here – the former by Barbara Higbie, the latter by Darrol Anger – who also plays mandolin and cello as well! There's an acoustic balance here that's more jazz than some of the other Windham Hill albums of the time – especially in the music's sense of rhythm and phrasing – and the rich acoustic tones of both players get wonderfully past some of the new age cliches that are too-often wrongly associated with the label – and remind us that at their best, records like these offer up a key flowering of the acoustic underground of the 70s. Mike Marshall plays guest mandolin on one title – and tracks include "Movie", "Tideline", "Above The Fog", "True Story", "Onyame", and "Gemini". CD