The Essential Roy Acuff [Columbia]

by Roy Acuff

Overview

Roy Acuff is a pivotal figure in country music, standing clearly at the crossroads of what had been termed hillbilly music and what would soon become modern country. A no more than adequate singer and fiddle player, Acuff still managed to hit just the right tone of sincerity with his spare and simple songs (most of which were carefully chosen covers), making him one of the first real stars of country music. This brief collection has his biggest hits, including the classic original versions of Reverend Guy Smith's "Great Speckled Bird," A.P. Carter's "Wabash Cannonball" (although actually sung by Dynamite Hatcher, one of the members of the backing band, "Cannonball" became Acuff's signature tune), and Dorsey Dixon's powerful and maudlin "Wreck on the Highway." Acuff's importance to the history of country music is huge, as much for his business and marketing acumen (which is still a viable career template for young stars today) as for his songs. Casual listeners will find this the perfect introduction to the first country superstar. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	09/07/2004
Label:	Legacy / Columbia/Legacy
UPC:	0827969090626
Rank:	136295

Tracks

1. Great Speckled Bird
2. The Precious Jewel
3. Wreck on the Highway
4. Night Train to Memphis
5. Fireball Mail
6. Low and Lonely
7. Pins and Needles (In My Heart)
8. Wait for the Light to Shine
9. Wabash Cannonball
10. Freight Train Blues
11. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
12. Tennessee Waltz
13. This World Can't Stand Long
14. I Saw the Light

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Roy Acuff   Primary Artist,Fiddle,Vocals
Bashful Brother Oswald   Dobro,Banjo
Clell "Cousin Jody" Sumney   Guitar (Steel)
Lonnie Wilson   Guitar
Beecher "Pete" "Bashful Brother Oswald" Kirby   Banjo,Dobro
Joe Zinkan   String Bass
Tommy Magness   Fiddle
Jess Easterday   Guitar,Mandolin,String Bass
Velma Williams   String Bass
Jimmy Riddle   Accordion
Red Jones   String Bass
Lonnie "Pap" Wilson   Guitar
Clell Summey   Guitar (Steel)

Technical Credits

Art Satherley   Audio Production,Original Recording Producer
Lonnie "Pap" Wilson   Group Member
Beecher "Pete" "Bashful Brother Oswald" Kirby   Group Member
Les Leverett   Photography
Matt Cavaluzzo   Disc Transfers
Stacey Boyle   A&R
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
B. Smith   Composer
Dorsey M. Dixon   Composer
Fred Rose   Composer
John Jackson   Project Director
Joe Zinkan   Group Member
Tommy Magness   Group Member
Jess Easterday   Group Member
Pee Wee King   Composer
Mark Wilder   Mastering
Marvin Hughes   Composer
Redd Stewart   Composer
Owen Bradley   Composer
A.P. Carter   Composer
Hank Williams   Composer
William Callaway   Original Recording Producer
Darren Salmieri   A&R
Gregg Geller   Compilation Producer
Velma Williams   Group Member
Roy Acuff   Arranger,Composer,Group Member
Jimmy Riddle   Group Member
Rich Kienzle   Liner Notes
Red Jones   Group Member
Andreas Meyer   Disc Transfers
Golden Stewart   Group Member
Ellen To   Design
Clell Summey   Group Member
Francis Tambourin   Group Member
John Lair   Composer
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction