A special all-country edition of the Oxford American's annual issue devoted to music of the south – and one that's overflowing with the kind of wonderful writing that's always set the publication apart from the mainstream music press! These aren't simple articles on the histories of big stars or records – and instead, each piece is a much more complicated musical portrait – really getting at the kind of complexity that you'll find in the best sounds of the south! This time around, articles include a look at Rackback Tom by John Jeremiah Sullivan, links between country and hip hop by Imani Perry, the country drumming of Buddy Harman by John Lingan, the rightful place of Tanya Tucker by Jason Kyle Howard, the high lonesome cry examined by Holly Haworth, and the "mostly true" legend of Hank Williams by David Ramsey. There's lots more too – articles on Pasty Cline, Pointer Sisters, Millie Jackson, Solange, Trio, Johnny Paycheck, Ralph Stanley, and plenty more – all as expertly done as the main features. Plus, the issue comes with a full bonus CD of music – work from The Miller Brothers, Lesley Riddle, Trio, Rhiannon Giddens, The Judds, Wanda Jackson, The Deslondes, Brother James Anderson, Margo Price, and others. A heck of a great deal for the price! Magazine

CD is filled to the brim with music that includes "I've Got Dreams To Remember (rougher dreams)" by Otis Redding, "Moon River (1961 demo)" by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini, "Brass Buttons" by Gram Parsons, "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye, "Ohoopee River Bottomland" by Larry Jon Wilson, "Sweet Picking Time In Toomsboro GA" by Tut Taylor, "Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects" by Sharon Jones, "I Want The Lord To Do Something For Me" by Straight Street Holiness Church Choir, "Awake" by Smoke, "Potter's Field" by Alice Swoboda, "Recent Title" by Pylon, and "Diamond Joe" by Bessie Jones. CD

The music of Bob Dylan, taken in completely new directions – served up here by a host of 60s British singers who offer up versions of the tunes that are quite different than American covers of the time! There's definitely a fair bit of folk in the mix here, but there's also some freer, trippier styles too – and many of these numbers have very different vocal phrasing than the originals – which keeps the material from being slavish copycat tunes, and instead really shows the way that the influence of Dylan was subtly developed as the 60s moved on, to a point where groups might have drawn a big inspiration from the man's songs, but also then opened the door to lots of new territory. But if you're a fan of Dylan's originals, don't worry – there's also plenty here to love – as the craft of the man himself really shines through, and shows that in the right creative hands, his style was not watered down, but augmented in great ways. As usual with Ace, the package is superb – 22 tracks, complete with detailed notes – on titles that include "Love Minus Zero" by Noel Harrison, "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" by The Fairies, "One Too Many Mornings" by Julie Felix, "Down Along The Cover" by Cliff Aungier, "Tears Of Rage" by Country Fever, "Lay Lady Lay" by Sandie Shaw, "To Ramona" by The Alan Price Set, "Visions Of Johanna" by The Picadilly Line, "Tom Thumb's Blues" by Alex Campbell, "Oxford Town" by Three City Four, "If You Gotta Go Go Now" by Manfred Mann, "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" by The Cops N Robbers, "Absolutely Sweet Marie" by The Factotums, and "I'm A Lonesome Hobo" by Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger & The Trinity. CD

Unreleased material from the farther reaches of David Bowie's 90s years – some surprisingly great work that really stands out! The set features two great live tracks recorded at the Shakespeare Festival in New York in 1995 – "My Death" and "A Small Plot Of Land" – plus an alternate single mix of "I Have Not Been To Oxford Town", and the early song "Johnny Downloader" – which later transformed into "I'm Afraid Of Americans". CD