Even when isolated from the gargantuan 26-disc box set Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century, the 51-track Country: The American Tradition is impressive. Columbia was one of the biggest labels in the early days of the record industry, as is evident from the beginning of this collection, which features cuts by Fiddlin' John Carson, Charlie Poole, Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers, and the Carter Family. What's more impressive is that the label -- and later, its subsidiaries -- captured the sound of each era. A glance at the featured artists -- Gene Autry, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, the Byrds, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, and the Dixie Chicks are among them -- gives a sense of not only how the label developed, but how country music did as well. Some major artists are missing -- they didn't sign everyone, after all -- as are some trends, but the overall effect is overwhelming. This set traces the history of country music in the 20th century, offering a terrific educational experience while also being entertaining. It's a feat that's difficult to pull off, let alone by concentrating on one group of labels, which is why it's all the more impressive. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Lester Flatt (Guitar), Flatt & Scruggs (Performer), Josh Graves (Dobro), Bill Monroe (Mandolin), Bill Monroe (Vocals), Earl Scruggs (Banjo), Ricky Skaggs (Fiddle), Ricky Skaggs (Mandolin), Ricky Skaggs (Vocals), Ricky Skaggs (Performer), The Stanley Brothers (Performer), Ralph Stanley (Banjo), Ralph Stanley (Vocals), Clarence White (Guitar), Roy Acuff (Fiddle), Roy Acuff (Vocals), Roy Acuff (Performer), Lynn Anderson (Vocals), Lynn Anderson (Performer), Gene Autry (Guitar), Gene Autry (Vocals), Gene Autry (Performer), The Carter Family (Performer), Johnny Cash (Vocals), Johnny Cash (Performer), Rosanne Cash (Performer), Floyd Cramer (Piano), Rodney Crowell (Guitar), Rodney Crowell (Producer), Rodney Crowell (Performer), Little Jimmy Dickens (Guitar), Little Jimmy Dickens (Vocals), Little Jimmy Dickens (Performer), Joe Diffie (Vocals), Joe Diffie (Vocals (Background)), Joe Diffie (Producer), Joe Diffie (Performer), Ray Flacke (Guitar), Lefty Frizzell (Vocals), Lefty Frizzell (Performer), Johnny Gimble (Fiddle), Johnny Gimble (Mandolin), Merle Haggard (Guitar), Merle Haggard (Performer), John Hartford (Fiddle), Chris Hillman (Bass), Chris Hillman (Vocals), Johnny Horton (Guitar), Johnny Horton (Vocals), Johnny Horton (Performer), David Houston (Vocals), David Houston (Performer), George Jones (Vocals), George Jones (Performer), Kris Kristofferson (Vocals), Kris Kristofferson (Performer), Patty Loveless (Vocals), Patty Loveless (Performer), Joe Maphis (Guitar), Skeets McDonald (Bass), Patsy Montana (Vocals), Patsy Montana (Performer), Willie Nelson (Guitar), Willie Nelson (Vocals), Willie Nelson (Performer), Johnny Paycheck (Guitar), Johnny Paycheck (Vocals), Johnny Paycheck (Performer), Ray Price (Guitar), Ray Price (Vocals), Ray Price (Performer), Charlie Rich (Vocals), Charlie Rich (Performer), Marty Robbins (Guitar), Marty Robbins (Vocals), Marty Robbins (Performer), Carl Smith (Performer), The Sons of the Pioneers (Performer), Gid Tanner (Fiddle), Floyd Tillman (Guitar), Floyd Tillman (Vocals), Floyd Tillman (Performer), Paul Warren (Fiddle), Tammy Wynette (Vocals), Tammy Wynette (Performer), Chuck Wagon Gang (Performer), The Byrds (Performer), The Collins Kids (Performer), Gram Parsons (Guitar), Gram Parsons (Vocals), Eddie Lang (Guitar), Matt Rollings (Piano), Wayne Johnson (Clarinet), Wayne Johnson (Saxophone), Larry Collins (Guitar), Larry Collins (Vocals), Sonny Curtis (Guitar), Pete Drake (Guitar (Steel)), Donnie Fritts (Vocals (Background)), Chris Gantry (Guitar), Steve Gibson (Guitar), Lloyd Green (Guitar (Steel)), Roy Hall (Guitar), Billy Swan (Vocals (Background)), Buck White (Piano), Leon McAuliffe (Guitar (Steel)), Lew DeWitt (Tenor (Vocal)), Bill C. Malone (Essay), Glen Duncan (Fiddle), Jimmy Day (Guitar (Steel)), Grady Martin (Guitar), Bill Pursell (Piano), Chubby Wise (Fiddle), Bobby Wood (Keyboards), Bobby Wood (Vocals (Background)), Johnny Bond (Guitar), Riley Puckett (Guitar), Riley Puckett (Vocals), Riley Puckett (Performer), Fiddlin' John Carson (Fiddle), Fiddlin' John Carson (Vocals), Emmett Miller (Performer), Goebel Reeves (Guitar), Goebel Reeves (Vocals), Goebel Reeves (Performer), North Carolina Ramblers (Performer), Mother Maybelle Carter (Guitar), Mother Maybelle Carter (Vocals), Al Dexter (Guitar), Al Dexter (Vocals), Dixie Chicks (Performer), Hugh & Karl Farr (Fiddle), Hugh & Karl Farr (Guitar), Red Jones (Bass), Billy Altman (Compilation Producer), Billy Altman (Discography), Billy Altman (Annotation), Billy Altman (Editorial Director), Jesse Ashlock (Fiddle), Earl Ball (Piano), Eddie Bayers (Drums), Barry Beckett (Keyboards), Benmont Tench (Organ (Hammond)), Adam Block (Project Manager), Bruce Bouton (Guitar (Steel)), John Boylan (Producer), Harold Bradley (Banjo), Cleoma Breaux (Guitar), The Statler Brothers (Performer), Tony Brown (Producer), Dennis Burnside (Piano), Rosemary Butler (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Carrigan (Drums), Mary Chapin Carpenter (Guitar (Acoustic)), Mary Chapin Carpenter (Producer), A.P. Carter (Vocals), Sara Carter (Autoharp), Sara Carter (Vocals), Mark Casstevens (Guitar), Curly Chalker (Guitar (Steel)), Blake Chancey (Producer), Charlie Daniels (Fiddle), Charlie Daniels (Vocals), Jack Clement (Guitar), Jon Corneal (Drums), Billy Crain (Guitar), Tom Crain (Guitar), Walt Cunningham (Keyboards), Glen D. Hardin (Piano), Joel "Taz" DiGregorio (Keyboards), Hank DeVito (Guitar (Steel)), Jimmy Dean (Vocals), Jimmy Dean (Performer), Jimmy Dorsey (Clarinet), Jimmy Dorsey (Sax (Alto)), Stuart Duncan (Fiddle), Tommy Duncan (Vocals), Bobby Dyson (Bass), Ray Edenton (Guitar), Fred Edwards (Drums), Bobby Emmons (Keyboards), Joseph Falcon (Accordion), Joseph Falcon (Vocals), Joseph Falcon (Performer), Fred Foster (Producer), Paul Franklin (Guitar (Steel)), Sonny Garrish (Guitar (Steel)), Vince Gill (Vocals (Background)), Bob Glaub (Bass), Emory Gordy (Bass), Emory Gordy (Producer), Emory Gordy (String Arrangements), Marshall Grant (Bass), Buddy Harman (Drums), Bobby Hicks (Fiddle), Tommy Jackson (Fiddle), John Jennings (Guitar), John Jennings (Vocals (Background)), John Jennings (Producer), Frank Jones (Producer), Jeff Jones (Executive Producer), Kevin Kelley (Drums), Jerry Kennedy (Guitar), Buddy Killen (Bass), Kathryn King (Editorial Production), Millie Kirkham (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Kroon (Drums), Russ Kunkel (Drums), Don Law (Producer), Mike Leech (Bass), Lloyd Maines (Guitar (Steel)), Jay Dee Maness (Guitar (Steel)), George Marinelli (Guitar), James Marshall (Drums), Brent Mason (Guitar (Electric)), Bill McElhiney (Trumpet), Bill McElhiney (String Arrangements), Jerry McGee (Guitar), Roger McGuinn (Guitar), Roger McGuinn (Vocals), Clayton McMichen (Fiddle), Robert McNally (Saxophone), Chips Moman (Guitar), Greg Morrow (Drums), Wayne Moss (Guitar), Tiny Mott (Saxophone), Andy Newmark (Drums), Ernie Newton (Bass), Mark O'Connor (Fiddle), Jody Payne (Guitar), Luther Perkins (Guitar), Charlie Poole (Banjo), Charlie Poole (Vocals), Charlie Poole (Performer), Norbert Putnam (Bass), Michael Rhodes (Bass), Tom Roady (Percussion), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (Piano), Dick Roberts (Guitar (Steel)), Billy Sanford (Guitar), Arthur Schutt (Piano), Leonard Seago (Vocals), Eldon Shamblin (Guitar), Billy Sherrill (Producer), Jerry Shook (Guitar), Johnny Slate (Producer), Jimmy Smith (Guitar), Preston Smith (Vocals (Background)), Ralph Smith (Piano), Steuart Smith (Guitar), Bee Spears (Bass), Carter Stanley (Guitar), Carter Stanley (Vocals), Henry Strzelecki (Bass), Al Stricklin (Piano), Tanya Tucker (Performer), Gary Usher (Producer), Pete Wade (Guitar), Billy Joe Walker, Jr. (Guitar (Acoustic)), Cheryl Warren (Vocals (Background)), Biff Watson (Guitar), Howard Watts (Bass), Sharon White (Vocals (Background)), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Bob Wills (Fiddle), Lonnie Wilson (Percussion), Lonnie Wilson (Drums), Glenn Worf (Bass), Paul Worley (Guitar), Paul Worley (Producer), Bob Wray (Bass), Reggie Young (Guitar), Joe Zinkan (Bass), W.S. Holland (Drums), Buddy Buller (Guitar), Woody Carter (Fiddle), Freddy Courtney (Accordion), Ted Daffan (Guitar (Steel)), Ted Daffan (Performer), Louis Dunn (Drums), Lowell Frisby (Bass), Salty Holmes (Guitar), Chick Hurt (Mandola), Son Lansford (Bass), Charlie McCoy (Harmonica), Fate Norris (Banjo), Jack Pruett (Guitar), Darold Raley (Fiddle), Leo Raley (Mandolin), Dick Reinhart (Guitar), Posey Rorer (Fiddle), Madge Sutee (Piano), Gerald Tomlinson (Guitar), Bob Moore (Bass), Sam Pruett (Guitar), Lee Bogan (Vocals (Background)), Blackie Crawford (Guitar), Karl Garvin (Trumpet), Charlie Hayward (Bass), John Barlow Jarvis (Piano), Tubby Lewis (Trumpet), David McGee (Essay), Pee Wee Reid (Bass), Ken Robertson (Audio Restoration), Tex Atchison (Fiddle), Samantha Bumgarner (Fiddle), Samantha Bumgarner (Vocals), Samantha Bumgarner (Performer), Anna Carter (Alto), Lorrie Collins (Guitar), Lorrie Collins (Vocals), John Jackson (Research), Larrie Londin (Drums), Bob Nolan (Vocals), Lloyd Perryman (Bass), Lloyd Perryman (Vocals), The Prairie Ramblers (Performer), Don Reid (Tenor (Vocal)), Harold Reid (Bass), Floyd Robinson (Guitar), Floyd Robinson (Harmony Vocals), Paul Sells (Accordion), Leonard Slye (Guitar), Leonard Slye (Vocals), Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (Performer), Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys (Performer), The Charlie Daniels Band (Performer), Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers (Performer), Al Dexter and His Troopers (Performer), Caroline Greyshock (Photography), Nedra Olds-Neal (Producer), Don Hunstein (Photography), Marc Kirkeby (Research), Nat Brewster (Research), Jess Easterday (Guitar), Jake Tullock (Bass), Fred Whiting (Bass), Janet Boye (Art Direction), David Katzenstein (Photography), Randall Martin (Label Design), Leo McConville (Trumpet), Charlie Sarrica (Graphic Design), Poppa John Gordy (Piano), Sandy Lorenzo (Marketing), Clell Summey (Guitar (Steel)), Norman Woodlieff (Guitar), Michael Brooks (Research), Rosemary Mulligan (Marketing), Michael Ochs Archives (Photography), Marion Z. "Pee Wee" Adams (Drums), Jabbo Arrington (Guitar), Pee Wee Lambert (Mandolin), Pee Wee Lambert (Vocals), Martie Seidel (Fiddle), Martie Seidel (Mandolin), Martie Seidel (Vocals), Red Taylor (Fiddle), Artie Yeranian (Graphic Design), Natalie Maines (Vocals), Tommy Nash (Guitar), Patti Matheny (Project Coordinator), Shawn King (Photography), Bobby Charles, Jr. (Bass), Joe Chernay (Bass), Emily Robison (Banjo), Emily Robison (Dobro), Emily Robison (Guitar), Emily Robison (Vocals), Carl Smith (Guitar), Carl Smith (Vocals), Seth Foster (Mastering), Joe Osborn (Bass), Jack "Happy Jack" Taylor (Bass), Ilene Bellovin (Photo Research), Lori Berkowitz (Photo Research), Jenny Friel (Photo Research), Ron Juliano (Graphic Design), Greg Lord (Photography), Tina McCarthy (Research), Christopher Ottaunick (Photography), Jeffrey Peisch (Series Producer), Erik Ryding (Research), Tracy Sham (Photography), Laura Lee Spence (Research), Joel Staniszewski (Photography), Dianne Spoto Shattuck (Marketing), Lester Woodie (Fiddle), Marni Elliott (Marketing), Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys (Performer), Roy Hall & his Blue Ridge Entertainers (Performer), Sons of the Bandit (Performer), Victor Battista (Bass), Marguerite Hisen (Marketing), Jimmy Lenner, Jr. (Photography), David Parker "Dad" Carter (Tenor (Vocal)), Eva Davis (Banjo), Phil Baisley (Baritone), Clato Buchanan (Banjo), Bob Hopson (Guitar), Johnny Johnson (Bass), Everett Collection (Photography), Coy Crank (Guitar (Steel)), Ernest "Jim" Carter (Bass), Lewis E. "Louie" Tierney (Saxophone), Joe Callahan (Guitar), Williams Campbell (Photography), Johny Christopher (Guitar), Johny Christopher (Vocals (Background)), Carter Cotner (Fiddle), Williams "Smokey" Dacus (Drums), Frank Collection Driggs (Photography), Dan Fitch (Voices), Craig "Flash" Fletcher (Vocals (Background)), Wilmot "Holly" Hollinger (Trumpet), Lindley "Spike" Jones (Drums), Rose Carter Karnes (Soprano), Michelle Kerrigan (Marketing), Stan Kind (Drums), Arnold Levin (Art Direction), Tommy Mahness (Fiddle), Doug McKeown (Marketing), Hale Owens (Drums), Mickey Ralphael (Harmonica), Tanya Rucker (Vocals), Darren Salmeiri (Copy Coordination), Johnny Seibert (Guitar (Steel)), Sony Music Archive (Photography), J.D. Standbee (Guitar (Steel)), Evrett Stover (Trumpet), Clifton Howard "Van Howard" Vandevender (Guitar), Clifton Howard "Van Howard" Vandevender (Harmony Vocals), Watts Design (Design)
