HILLBILLIES IN HELL: COUNTRY MUSIC’ TORMENTED TESTAMENT 1952-1974 VOLUME 9.

dereksmusicblog ♦ October 4, 2019 ♦ Leave a comment

 Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9

Label: Iron Mountain Analogue Research.

Nowadays, not many compilations series’ are still going strong after nine volumes, which is a remarkable achievement and testament to the label and compiler. After all, most compilation series seem to last no more than a few volumes. Part of the problem is constantly finding new or suitable material. Especially with compilations that focus on a specific genre of music or have a theme.  That isn’t the case with the Iron Mountain Analogue Research  label’s  Hillbillies In Hell compilation series.

 Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9 was recently released, and is the second instalment in the series to be released during 2019. The previous instalment was released on Record Store Day 2019, as a limited edition of 666 and was much in demand. Just five months later, and the followup Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9 can be found on the shelves of record stores. Is this latest compilation of the usual standard, or one volume too many?

Side One.

Looking at the track listing to Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9, there’s many familiar   faces on the compilation . This includes the Texas Troubadour Ernest Tubb who opens side one with Saturday Satan, Sunday Saint. It’s a memorable and  catchy track that gives way to Gentleman Jim Reeves and It’s Nothing To Me. This is a reminder if any were needed of one of the true legends of country music.  The quality continues on The First Mrs Jones a heart-wrenching tale of betrayal from Porter Wagoner. Eddie Noack’s The Memories Are Restless Tonight is another track that tugs at the heartstrings. Quite different is The Carter Family and Cathy’s Singing Shouting Praying which is an uptempo track from one of country music’s greatest abd most influential groups.

Side Two.

Dolly Parton is one of country music’s most successful female vocalists, and Down From Dover opens side two. Her emotive  vocal is accompanied by a weeping  guitar and harmonies, which are the perfect accompaniment. Bonnie Guitar’s hurt-filled vocal on Dark Moon is best described as soul-baring. Then on Dark Day In Dallas Tommy Durden tells the story of  that tragic day in  November 1963  when the 35th president of the United States was assassinated during a visit to the Lone Star state. Very different is Swanee River Boys’ Not Necessarily which is a reminder of a different musical age.  So is the Sunshine Boys Quartet’s Goodbye World Goodbye, which for many people was a golden age for country music. It’s the perfect way to close Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9, which is welcome addition to this long-running and critically acclaimed compilation series.

Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9 is a welcome addition to this lovingly curated compilation series that began four years ago in 2015. Since then, each volume has been of the highest quality. That is testament to the compiler and everyone at the Iron Mountain Analogue Research  label who consistently release compilations that are a cut above the competition. 

That is the case with Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9, which feature familiar faces, new names and country music legends.They all play their party in the success of Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9 which is captivating collection of songs that is of  the highest quality and are proof that this is compilation series that is going to run and run.

Hillbillies In Hell: County Music’s Tormented Testament 1952-1974 Volume 9.