Everything you'd ever want by Tex Carman is contained on this great reissue from John Fahey's wonderful indie label Revenant. Twenty-two tracks (three versions of "Hillbilly Hula"), including an entire 15-minute radio show recorded for a program called Country Music Time, which was produced as an extended advertisement for the U.S. Air Force, make this a hoot and a half. Carman's guitar playing is not nearly as bad as many have said; in fact, he's a vernacular virtuoso, approaching the instrument with a completely original mindset, especially when it comes to tempo, phrasing, and soloing. His voice ain't much either, but none of these alleged shortcomings will deter from the total enjoyment of this wonderfully rambunctious music. Some might call this crude and unsophisticated music, but that's precisely part of its charm and greatness. None of the new breed of country performers coming out of Nashville are what Tex was: an American original. ~ John Dougan, All Music Guide
Bruce Nemerov (Transfers), Cary Ginell (Transfers), Jeff Hunt (Art Direction), Keith Miller (Transfers), Cary Ginell (Research), Susan Archie (Design), Cary Ginell (Liner Notes), Susan Archie (Layout Design)
