The Country & Western charts published in Billboard during 1957 were restricted to 15 places, and this collection comprises every record which appeared in the Best Sellers, Most Played by Disc Jockeys, and Most Played in Juke Boxes charts during the year. Because of the brevity of the recordings, we were able to include not only those records which had already charted and peaked during 1956, but also those which were listed as tag-along B sides. For reasons of space we have omitted a few tracks which charted in the lower reaches of the airplay chart and which peaked in 1958, so appear in that collection.

The charts were a fascinating mixture of material as the established traditional country stars like Eddy Arnold, Webb Pierce, Ray Price and Kitty Wells found themselves fighting for elbow room with not only new crossover acts like Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash but with the big rock n roll hits of the era which crossed into the country and R&B charts. With an in-depth 10-000+ word booklet with background notes on every record, it gives a solid overview of the most popular country music of the year.

REVIEWS

A fascinating time, not to be missed! -  (fRoots)