Johnny Horton/Billy Barton - Country Treasure Series 1 (CD)

All Music Guide

U.K. label Stampede's Country Treasure Series, Vol. 1 collects 34 tracks from country legend Johnny Horton' s early years, 26 of which have never been released. The collection focuses primarily on Horton's honky tonk material, not on the historical narratives like "Battle of New Orleans," "North to Alaska," and "Sink the Bismarck" that brought him fame later in his career. Of the songs here, two of them ("Go and Wash Those Dirty Feet" and "I'll Fill a Drunkard's Grave") include alternate takes, making this anthology a sharp one for collectors, but not a sufficient entry point for newbies. Horton novices would be better off with Columbia/Legacy's excellent Honky Tonk Man: The Essential Johnny Horton 19561960.

- James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide