22 songs from Warren Smith, Wade & Dick, Jim Williams, Ray Harris, Carl Perkins, Edwin Bruce, Billy Riley, Tommy Blake, Hayden Thompson, Barbara Pittman, and Bill Justis. (Rock, Folk/Country) CD

A beautiful solo set from John Hulburt – a little-known Chicago guitarist in the early 70s, and almost our city's answer to the beauty of John Fahey at his best! Hulburt's music is a bit more straightforward, and his tunes a little shorter – but the overall sense of conception is equally imaginative – and we love the way he can spin out these wonderful lines on acoustic guitar, seeming to wrap together a hundred years' worth of musical history, but coming across with a very fresh, personal vision throughout! John's way more than a folk artist, and also isn't one of the precursors of the new acoustic movement to come – and instead, he's got this sound that's incredibly moving and powerful, but in very subtle ways. Titles include "Libby", "Inner Garden", "Evil Olive Waltz", "Guitar On My Knees", "Inside & Otherwise", "All Night Waitress", "Freak On The Black Harley", and "Clark Street". CD

Maybe one of the coolest country Christmas collections we've ever heard – but then again, we'd expect no less from the folks at Bear Family! There's a lot of great original tunes here – which are mixed with country-fied takes on more popular Holiday songs from the midcentury years – often served up here by singers that were the bigger names of their generation, caught in a very special setting for the month of December! As usual with Bear Family, the presentation is great – vivid images inside and out – and notes on every single track – supporting a selection of 27 titles that include "I'll Be Walking The Floor This Christmas" by Ernest Tubb, "Senor Santa Claus" by Jim Reeves, "Christmas Dinner" by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Snowdeer" by Carl Smith, "They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose" by Johnny Horton, "Santa Claus Jr" by Eddi Cletro, "It's Christmas Every Day In Alaska" by Hank Thompson, "It Was Jesus (undubbed)" by Johnny Cash, "Reindeer Boogie" by Hank Snow, "The Christmas Boogie" by Davis Sisters, "I'm Your Private Santa Claus" by Eddie Arnold, "I'm Gonna Tell Santa Claus On You" by Faron Young, "Captain Santa Claus" by Bobby Helms, "Santa's Big Parade" by The Louvin Brothers, and "Christmas In My Hometown" by Sonny James. (Holiday Music, Folk/Country) CD

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