Includes liner notes by Chuck Young.

Roy Acuff was called The King Of Country Music back when such honorifics actually meant something. The rural Tennessee native was both an influential singer and a standout fiddle player, and both of these qualities are emphasized throughout this 20-track set. Opening with his first recorded song, 1938's "Great Speckled Bird," and continuing on through 19 more classic country and gospel songs--from "Wabash Cannonball" to "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again"--this is bedrock country music. No line dances, no choirs, no orchestras, just a bunch of good ol' boys and their music. Traditional country doesn't get any better than this.