King of Country Music

• Track Listing

By the 1950s, Roy Acuff's crown was slipping. He wasn't the star that he had been, but he was still making great records as this collection of ultra-rare sides cut between 1953 and 1958 for Capitol, Decca and MGM shows. Roy was adapting to the changing face of country music, but still making music that was true to his original vision. He re-made some of his biggest hits, including Great Speckled Bird, Lonely Mound Of Clay, Wreck on The Highway, and Precious Jewel. He also recorded some surprisingly good new songs including Goodbye Mister Brown (with Kitty Wells) and I Closed My Heart's Door, which was as powerful a performance as any he ever made.

Credits