Hillbilly Blues

Various Artists - Swingbillies: Hillbilly & Western Swing On Modern/Colonial/Flair 1947-52 (2003) {Ace Records CDCHD 893}
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© 1947-52, 2003 Modern / Colonial / Flair / Ace Records | CDCHD 893
West Coast Western Swing / Hillbilly / Country / Honky Tonk / Boogie

Ace Records first-ever exploration of the late 1940s hillbilly & western swing masters issued (& in many cases unissued) by Modern/Colonial/Flair Records. Drawing on material recorded in Texas, Louisiana, & Hollywood, 'Swingbillies' offers many important early recordings by young hopefuls who, in many cases, went onto become major country singers & musicians in the 50s & 60s - among them Jimmy Bryant, Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan, Jimmy C. Newman, Link Davis & of course Bill Woods, the godfather of Bakersfield country. 28 tracks.

Various Artists - Shreveport High Steppers: RAM Rockabilly & Hillbilly (2001) {Ace Records CDCHD818 rec 1957-1974}
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© 1957-74, 2001 Ram Records / Ace Records | CDCHD 818
Rockabilly / Country / Hillbilly

The Shreveport, LA-based Ram label put out a cartload of rock, blues, and country records in the 1950s without ever establishing itself as a major indie. This 26-track compilation of, as the title promises, rockabilly and hillbilly sides from the decade is definitely for the "let's clean out the vault 'cause it's there'" kind of enthusiasts. That's not to say that it's terrible, just that it's a pretty unremarkable collection of minor leaguers, the biggest name – and she's hardly a big one – being Margaret Lewis. A couple of guys not primarily known for work under their own name make early appearances.

Various Artists - Strut My Stuff: Obscure Country & Hillbilly Boppers (2019) {Modern Harmonic MHCD-051}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 230 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 180 Mb
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© 1950's, 2019 Modern Harmonic | MHCD-051
Country / Honky Tonk / Hillbilly / Country Boogie

For every successful hit act that cracked the charts in the early 50s to mid 60s, there were thousands of obscure artists exhibiting genuine country numbers free from mainstream oversight. Strut My Stuff rounds up such enigmas as the hectic hillbilly bopper “You’ve Been Honky Tonkin’,” the shotgun-wedding scenario of “My Inlaws Made An Outlaw Out Of Me,” and many more farm-raised rarities!

Various Artists - The World Is A Monster: Columbia Hillbilly 1948-1958 (2010) {Omni Recording OMNI-140}
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© 1948-58, 2010 The Omni Recording Corporation | OMNI - 140
Hillbilly / Country / Honky Tonk

Another fantastic compilation from the seemingly infallible Omni Recording Corporation, this one focusing on hillbilly music, specifically from the vaults of Columbia Records, between 1948 and 1959, and all focused around a Dallas recording studio run by a man named Jim Beck, and had the winds of fortune blown a little bit differently, and had Beck not died prematurely, then perhaps the recording industry in Nashville would have actually ended up based in Dallas. It's an interesting story, told in great detail in the copious liner notes, as are the stories of all the artists and their songs, and oh, what an awesome collection of singers and players, most of which we'd never before heard or even heard of.

Al Terry - Hickory's Cajun Hillbilly (2007) {Ace Records CDCHD1159 rec 1954-1960}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 162 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 133 Mb
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© 1954-60, 2007 Ace Records | CDCHD 1159
Cajun / North American Traditions / Country / Hillbilly

Though not well remembered decades after his heyday, Al Terry had some success in the mid-'50s with his laid-back brand of Cajun-flavored hillbilly music, helping to establish Hickory as one of the first independent labels to experience success in the country field. This British compilation has 26 tracks he released between 1954 and 1958, all but two of them (the 1954 single "Promise Made, Promise Broken" and "Shoot Me a Line," which appeared on Champion) from Hickory singles. Terry's brand of '50s hillbilly is more warm and engaging than exciting, with Cajun music present more as an influence than a dominant force.