12 Stars Best of the Best/ Various - Best Of The Best Vol. 1 (Various Artists)

12 Stars, Best Of The Best is Gusto Records' new 24-volume collector's set. Each volume includes 12 songs by country music's biggest stars. Cal Smith kicks off volume one with his signature baritone vocals on his #1-hit from 1974, "Country Bumpkin." Smith was named Most Promising Male Artist and his hit won the CMA and AMA Song of the Year. Conway Twitty had more #1-hits during his lifetime than any other recording artist in history. A prolific songwriter, Twitty wrote 11 of those #1-hits. Here Twitty sings "Southern Comfort." Del Reeves excelled as a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, impressionist, and stand-up comic. He was deemed the "Dean Martin of Country Music" due to his good-time persona and upbeat recordings such as his #12-hit from 1967, "A?Dime At A Time," Ernie Ashworth's first success came from writing songs for the likes of Carl Smith, Little Jimmy Dickens, Johnny Horton, and Wilma Lee Cooper. Ashworth's "Talk Back Trembling Lips" was his own huge #1-hit recording in 1963, and it stayed on the charts for 36 weeks. Mel Street was one of country music's all-time great vocal stylists. Sadly, Street's unt imely death at age 45 cut short the life of one of country music's most promising stars. Mel Street is at his best on "You Make Me Feel More Like A Man." Claude Gray, at 6-foot-5-inches tall, is known as the Tall Texan. In 1961 Gray recorded one of his biggest hits ever. "I'll Just Have A Cup Of Coffee (Then I'll Go)" launched up the record charts and became a million-seller. Carl Belew wrote and recorded unforgettable classics such as "Am I That Easy To Forget." In addition to being a #9-hit for Belew in 1969, the song was also recorded by Jim Reeves, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Leon Russell. Here Belew sings "Lonely Street." David Allan Coe is the original Country Music Outlaw with unforgettable hits such as "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile" and "The Ride." Coe sings Hank Williams' hit, "Mansion On A?Hill." B.J. Thomas' recordings were so profound they helped to define an era. His unmatchable and deeply expressive vocals never sounded better than on "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Gene Watson's hard-country vocal styling on hits such as "Love In The Hot Afternoon" inspired many acts in country music today. Watson sings his version of Ray Price's hit, "A Way To Survive." Faron Young recorded 84 hit songs during his illustrious career. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. Faron Young sings his #1-hit from 1961, "Hello Walls." George Jones' vocals are still the gold standard in country music. He charted more hits than any other recording artist. Jones sings Jim Reeves' classic #1-hit, "Blue Side Of Lonesome."