Honky Tonk Man: The Essential Johnny Horton 1956-1960

by Johnny Horton

Overview

This 36-track double-CD set, running just under an hour and a half, effectively chronicles Johnny Horton's Columbia Records career. The first disc, which is in mono, traces Horton's honky-tonk work of 1956-1957, starting with "Honky Tonk Man." Though lacking the crossover appeal of his later work at the time, this is the material on which his reputation stands today, with people like Dwight Yoakam resurrecting it. The end of the first disc and the beginning of the second (which is in stereo) present the stylistic fishing expedition of Horton's commercially unsuccessful middle period, as be goes looking for a bit. He finds it, of course, with the martial rhythms and historical theme of "The Battle of New Orleans," a chart-topping novelty that leads to a string of similar productions. By the end, in songs like "The Mansion You Stole," Horton seems headed toward the lush, string-filled Nashville Sound, though he died before it gained dominance. Along the way, all of Horton's Country chart singles and most of his pop chart singles are included, along with two tracks, previously unreleased in the U.S. Of course, the set could have been considerably longer (or, better yet, shaved by a few tracks and fit onto a single disc), but nothing essential is missing. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	04/24/2020
Label:	Jasmine Records
UPC:	0604988376227
Rank:	141372

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Horton   Primary Artist,Vocals

Technical Credits

Colin Escott   Liner Notes,Photography
Lee Emerson   Composer
Richard Taylor "Dick" Nash   Composer
Howard Hausey   Composer
Debra Parkinson   Mastering
Lisa Sparagano   Artwork
Amos Boyd   Composer
Ken Fredette   Artwork
C. Adams   Composer
Donnie Bowshier   Composer
Julian Peploe   Design,Art Direction
Michael Ochs   Photography
Tex Atchison   Composer
Bob Irwin   Compilation Producer
Autry Inman   Composer
Billy Jones   Composer
Chris Eaton   Composer
Frank Driggs   Photography
Claude King   Composer
Ferlin Husky   Composer
Frank Jones   Producer
Eddie Hazelwood   Composer
Johnny Horton   Composer
Scotty Harrell   Composer
Jimmie Driftwood   Composer
Mark Wilder   Mixing
Merle Kilgore   Composer
Leon Payne   Composer
George Richey   Producer
Moon Mullican   Composer
Tillman Franks   Composer
Tommy Blake   Composer
Hank Snow   Composer