Born and bred in the Cajun region of Louisiana, Tibby Edwards was a rockabilly pioneer whose name and music were completely overshadowed by Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and their contemporaries. A country crooner with a backbeat and an edge, Edwards rocked and rolled with a unique Louisiana flavor, and as a result has developed a devoted cult following among roots music enthusiasts. This set, which compiles his lone LP, singles, and his recordings for the Mercury label, represents his entire output.

Although he ended up being viewed by much of the public as more of a caricature than a true country innovator (thanks, no doubt, to his years as one of the comedic hosts of Hee Haw), Buck Owens was at heart a top-notch honky tonker who, along with Merle Haggard and Owens' fiddle player turned guitar player Don Rich, helped establish the bright, rock-inflected Bakersfield sound in the mid-'60s. This two-disc set has all the commercial essentials, including versions of "Act Naturally," "My Heart Skips a Beat," "Under Your Spell Again," "Streets of Bakersfield," and "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail," making this an OK introduction to Owens' singular and impressive country legacy. ~ Steve Leggett