The Reader's Digest Country and Western Songbook

The book is a compendium of country and western songs from the turn of the century to the present. You will find the parlor songs of the 1900’s, the first commercial favorites of the 1920’s, the railroading and prison songs so popular in the ‘30s, the lost love and cheating songs of the ‘40s, the ballads and rockability hits of the ‘50s, the saga songs and novelties of the ‘60s and, finally, the more mature and even philosophical products of the ‘70s. An entire section, section 1, is devoted to songs either written or made popular by Hank Williams. Another section draws on the Western classics that via films and recordings made Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and the “The Sons of the Pioneers latter-day American heroes. Each of the 95 songs in this book has an interesting lyric, and many were inspired by equally interesting incidents or circumstances. The editors have tried to provide additional insight into each song in the annotations that accompany the words and music. This terrific collection is spiral bound so that it stays flat when opened. The last page includes photos of the nine immortal stars included in the Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells, Gene Autry, Jim Reeves, Jimmie Rodgers, and Hank Williams INDEX TO SECTIONS *Hank Williams hits *New country classics *Country hits of the ‘60s *Country hits of the ‘50s *Golden memories of the ‘40s *Western classics *All time old time favorites *The touch for God’s hand Read more