Rating:
Genre:
Country
Release Date: 10/20/2009
The concept behind this 24-track CD is a little quirky, as the first 12 songs gather a dozen examples of
the Maddox Brothers & Sister Rose's rhythmic honky tonk-cum-pre-rockabilly sound, followed by a dozen of their sacred songs. It's not a bad way to get an overview of the group's considerable contribution to the evolution of country music, but it's not as good as it could or should be. For there's not a single recording or original date in sight in the packaging, though it's apparent from the varying sound quality alone that the tracks were drawn from a period spanning several years at a minimum. Make no mistake, this is excellent music, with top-flight harmonies, tight arrangements, and vivacious playing that epitomizes the best of country swing and early honky tonk, as well as anticipating some of the flavors of rockabilly and rock & roll. Indeed, one of the two
Rose Maddox solo tracks,
"My Little Baby," is a pretty decent bona fide rocker, and
"Death of Rock and Roll," an apparent takeoff on
"I Got a Woman," rocks pretty hard in spite of its title. And while the sacred songs don't sparkle as much as the more uptempo and raucous tunes, they're not at all devoid of the traits that made their more secular material so lively. If you had to make do with just one
Maddox Brothers & Sister Rose disc, this wouldn't be a bad one at all. But as there are of number of compilations of the group with better packaging, it's not recommended for those trying to collect their work with more thoroughness or discrimination.
~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
;)
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