Merle Travis was a significant personality and influential country music stylist as a singer, songwriter, and notably as a guitarist, to the extent that he had an instrumental technique named after him, called “Travis picking”, which many musicians who came after him sought to emulate, not least among them Chet Atkins. His music was rooted in his home state of Kentucky, with the lives of its inhabitants, most notably the mining community, providing him with a rich source of material for his songs - hits like “Sixteen Tons” and “Dark As The Dungeon” reflected those origins, providing hits for other artists as well as himself. He recorded a few sessions for different labels before he began recording for Capitol in 1946, and was with the company until the end of the 1960s.
This release shows a selection of Travis' A and B sides for Capitol during the initial decade or so of his time with the label and all of his top 20 chart hits. The recordings cover the gamut of country styles, showcasing his talents as singer, writer and guitarist, and includes his No. 1s “Divorce Me C.O.D.” and “So Round, So Firm, So Fully-Packed”, plus his other Top 5 hits “Cincinnati Lou”, “No Vacancy”, “Fat Gal”, “Missouri”, “Steel Guitar Rag”, “Three Times Seven” and “Merle’s Boogie Woogie”. This collection brings together a concise play list for one of modern country music’s true pioneers.
REVIEWS
Whether it's a novelty, a straight country song, ballad, story song, instrumental or blues, Travis delivers on every count. This 3CD set on Acrobat hits the spot and ideally demonstrates the major talent that was and remains Merle Travis. - Howard Cockburn (Now Dig This Issue 451)
“A handsome three CD collection spotlighting a most influential and enduring country music musician who sang, played guitar and wrote much of his repertoire. 84 tracks here which provide a comprehensive overview of the most fruitful period of his career. Although very much in the country music idiom of its period, his music has appeal beyond the confines of that genre and this is a collection which I am sure will find widespread acceptance, especially for those prepared to venture off the beaten track. It goes without saying, the usual attention to detail from Acrobat in presentation and an informative commentary by Paul Watts, who unfailingly always puts whatever music he is writing about in its proper context.” – Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 342)
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
No Vacancy |
Merle Travis |
2 |
Cincinnati Lou |
Merle Travis |
3 |
Missouri |
Merle Travis |
4 |
Divorce Me C.O.D |
Merle Travis |
5 |
Sweet Temptation |
Merle Travis |
6 |
So Round, So Firm, So Fulled Packed |
Merle Travis |
7 |
Three Times Seven |
Merle Travis |
8 |
Steel Guitar Rag |
Merle Travis |
9 |
I'm Sick And Tired Of You, Little Darling |
Merle Travis |
10 |
Lawdy, What A Gal |
Merle Travis |
11 |
John Henry |
Merle Travis |
12 |
Nine Pound Hammer |
Merle Travis |
13 |
Dark As A Dungeon |
Merle Travis |
14 |
Sixteen Tons |
Merle Travis |
15 |
Over By Number Nine |
Merle Travis |
16 |
That’s All |
Merle Travis |
17 |
Muskrat |
Merle Travis |
18 |
I Am A Pilgrim |
Merle Travis |
19 |
Sioux City Sue |
Merle Travis |
20 |
Fat Gal |
Merle Travis |
21 |
Merle's Boogie Woogie |
Merle Travis |
22 |
I Like My Chicken Fryin' Size |
Merle Travis |
23 |
Follow Thru |
Merle Travis |
23 |
Spoonin' Moon |
Merle Travis |
24 |
Too Much Sugar |
Merle Travis |
24 |
Information Please |
Merle Travis |
25 |
The Devil To Pay |
Merle Travis |
26 |
Kentucky Means Paradise |
Merle Travis |
|
|
|
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
When My Baby Double Talks To Me |
Merle Travis |
2 |
A Fool At The Steering Wheel |
Merle Travis |
3 |
Alimony Bound |
Merle Travis |
4 |
I’m A Natural Born Gamblin’ Man |
Merle Travis |
5 |
Crazy Boogie |
Merle Travis |
6 |
T For Texas |
Merle Travis |
7 |
Leave My Honey Bee Alone |
Merle Travis |
8 |
What A Shame |
Merle Travis |
9 |
Dapper Dan |
Merle Travis |
10 |
Get Along Blues |
Merle Travis |
11 |
Walkin' The Strings |
Merle Travis |
12 |
Fuller Blues |
Merle Travis |
13 |
Blue Smoke |
Merle Travis |
14 |
God Put A Rainbow In The Clouds |
Merle Travis & Wesley Tuttle |
15 |
It May Be Too Late |
Merle Travis & Wesley Tuttle |
16 |
Blues Stay Away From Me |
Merle Travis, Eddie Kirk and Tennessee Ernie Ford |
17 |
Philosophy |
Merle Travis, Eddie Kirk and Tennessee Ernie Ford |
18 |
I'm Pickin' Up The Pieces Of My Heart |
Merle Travis |
19 |
Petticoat Fever |
Merle Travis |
20 |
Start Even |
Merle Travis |
21 |
Cane Bottom Chair |
Merle Travis |
22 |
Guitar Rag |
Merle Travis |
25 |
El Reno |
Merle Travis |
26 |
Trouble, Trouble |
Merle Travis |
27 |
Wont'cha Be My Baby |
Merle Travis |
28 |
Dry Bread |
Merle Travis |
29 |
Boogie In Minor |
Merle Travis |
|
|
|
Disc 3 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Deep South |
Merle Travis |
2 |
Let's Settle Down |
Merle Travis |
3 |
Lost John Boogie |
Merle Travis |
4 |
Done Rovin' |
Merle Travis |
5 |
Faithful Fool |
Merle Travis |
6 |
Kinfolks In Carolina |
Merle Travis |
7 |
A Rainy Day Feeling |
Merle Travis |
8 |
Too Fast Past |
Merle Travis |
9 |
Ain't That A Cryin' Shame? |
Merle Travis |
10 |
Cannon Ball Rag |
Merle Travis |
11 |
I'll See You In My Dreams |
Merle Travis |
12 |
Bayou Baby |
Merle Travis |
13 |
Knee Deep In Trouble |
Merle Travis |
14 |
I'll Have Myself A Ball |
Merle Travis |
15 |
Green Cheese |
Merle Travis |
16 |
Shut Up And Drink Your Beer |
Merle Travis |
17 |
Gambler's Guitar |
Merle Travis |
18 |
Re-Enlistment Blues |
Merle Travis |
19 |
Dance Of The Golden Rod |
Merle Travis |
20 |
Jolie Fille |
Merle Travis |
21 |
I Can't Afford The Coffee |
Merle Travis |
22 |
Love Must Be Ketchin' |
Merle Travis |
23 |
Louisiana Boogie |
Merle Travis |
24 |
Cuddle Up A Little Closer, Lovey Mine |
Merle Travis |
25 |
Beer Barrel Polka |
Merle Travis |
26 |
If You Want It, I’ve Got It |
Merle Travis & The Whippoorwills |
27 |
Hunky Dory |
Merle Travis & The Whippoorwills |
28 |
Turn My Picture Upside Down |
Merle Travis |
29 |
Lazy River |
Merle Travis |