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I liked some songs, I really liked some songs and I didn't like some songs
Marty Robbins had a fantastic soulful voice, highly underrated, and this set shows his amazing versatility as he goes from old country with Smokin' Cigarettes and Drinkin' Coffee Blues, folk with Beautiful Dreamer, early rock 'n' roll with Unchained Melody to standards, such as All The Way, and he does each one perfectly. Sure, I was familiar with some of his hits like Devil Woman and A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation), but he kind of flew under the radar otherwise. I had no idea I was a Marty Robbins fan. The sound quality on this set is excellent. I do love all genres of music so my friends laugh as I listen to jazz one minute, hip-hop the next and now Marty Robbins, sampling anything and everything to find the best. And this box set is among the best. There are 50 tracks and I want 50 more. I now recognize Marty Robbins is a true music pioneer and major talent.
Both are in this box set. With the exception of Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, and Johnny Cash, no other Country artist had as big an impact on the more lucrative Billboard Pop singles charts than Marty Robbins, as no less than 24 times did he crack the Top/Hot 100, with another eleven just missing by making the "bubbling under" charts. In addition, he had 78 other Country Top 100 singles.So, yes, it would be rather difficult to put together a set containing 50 selections and not leave off SOMETHING of significance. And among that 24, four were Hot 100 hits only as Cap & Gown [# 45 in 1959], Is There Any Chance. and Ballad Of The Alamo [# 31 and # 34 respectively in 1960], and I Told The Brook [# 81 in 1962] did not make the Country charts.He had, to his credit, SIXTEEN # 1 Country hits, beginning with his very first for Columbia way back in 1952 [I'll Go On Alone] and ending in 1976 with Among My Souvenirs. In my case, for example, I would have loved to see Ballad Of The Alamo included.But hey, what is here is worth the price because, not only does it contain 24 charted hits, they are fully detailed in the 22-page booklet that accompanies the 2 CDs. This also contains informative liner notes written by Rich Kienzle in July 1991 along with many great photos of Marty over the years, as well as album cover reproductions (including his first), and personal appearance/movie poster reproductions.For once Columbia did something right.
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