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This release continues the series of 4-CD sets which comprises selected annual collections of the biggest US country hits of each year, and this expanded edition provides a fuller picture of the than our existing 2-CD set devoted to 1956 (ADDCD3027) This great-value 116-track collection covers the year of 1956, during which time Billboard published three charts devoted to Country & Western Records - Best Sellers, Most Played in Juke Boxes and Most Played by Disc Jockeys - and it comprises every record which peaked in those charts during the year, excluding a few records which are unavailable for copyright reasons. The pop landscape was changing rapidly at this time with the advent of rock 'n' roll, with Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" making its big impact this, and Elvis, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent and Johnny Cash of the rock 'n' roll and rockabilly cohort, all of them having their roots in country, make their initial impressions on the established order in the country market during this year, although the familiar names still dominated the scene, some of them having long-running No. 1s during the year. There were other new and recent arrivals, like George Jones, Charlie Walker and Don Gibson, adding new strands to the music with the development of the smoother "new Nashville" sound around this time, with vocal choruses instead of fiddles and steel guitars. Needless to say there are also one or two highly collectable obscurities among the many one-hit wonders. It's a fascinating and entertaining musical snapshot of the country scene as the music industry entered a dynamic new musical era, and with an in-depth 12,000+ word booklet with background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information, it gives a solid overview of the most popular country music of the year.

Track Listing

Press Quotes

What is startling about this anthology is that the vast majority of the songs have aged so well, even Webb Pierce’s “Teenage Boogie” sounds more fresh that 90% of today’s sounds, and Kitty Wells, as on “No One But You” or “You and Me” with Red Foley are as fresh as the flowers in the Texas Hill Country.

     —George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly