Old-Time Country / Cowboy / Western Swing (Reference)

The reference list includes records that have been obtained and/or rated (in blue) as well as many other records that have been recommended from various sources.

Roy Acuff (1903–92)

The King of Country Music (1936–1947) [1936–47, ASV]
The Essential Roy Acuff (1936–1949) [1936–49, Columbia/Legacy], A–
The Essential Roy Acuff [1936–49, Columbia/Legacy], A–
Columbia Historic Edition [1936–51, Columbia], B+
Steamboat Whistle Blues [(1985), Rounder]
The King of Country Music [(1994), Bear Family, 2 CD]
King of Country Music [(2004), Proper, 4 CD]

Rex Allen (1922– )

Voice of the West [(1994), Bear Family]
Lonesome Letter Blues [(1996), Collectables]
The Last of the Great Singing Cowboys [(1999), Bloodshot]

The Allen Brothers [1927–1934]

Allen Brothers, Vol. 1: 1927–1930 [1927–30, Document]
Allen Brothers, Vol. 2: 1930–1932 [1930–32, Document]

Clarence Ashley (1895–1967)

Greenback Dollar: The Music of Clarence "Tom" Ashley 1929–1933 [1929–33, County], A–

Gene Autry (1907–98)

Blues Singer 1929–1931: Booger Rooger Saturday Nite [1929–31, Columbia/Legacy], B+(**)
The Essential Gene Autry (1933–1946) [1933–46, Columbia/Legacy], B
The Essential Gene Autry [1931–51, Columbia/Legacy, 2 CD], B–
Back in the Saddle Again [(1996), ASV]
Sing, Cowboy, Sing: The Gene Autry Collection [(1997), Rhino, 3 CD]
Singing Cowboy, Chapter One [(1997), Varese]
Gene Autry with the Legendary Singing Groups of the West [(1997), Varese]
20 Greatest Movie Hits [(1999), Varese]

The Bailey Brothers

Early Days of Bluegrass, Vol. 6: Have You Forgotten? [(1990), Rounder]

The Blue Sky Boys

There'll Come a Time / Can't You Hear That Nightbird [1936, Blue Tone]
Within the Circle / Who Wouldn't Be Lonely [1937–38, Blue Tone]
Blue Sky Boys on Radio, Vol. 1 [1946–47, Copper Creek]
The Blue Sky Boys in Concert 1964 [1964, Rounder]

Dock Boggs (1898–1971)

Country Blues: Complete Early Recordings (1927–29) [1927–29, Revenant], B+
His Folkways Years (1963–1968) [1963–68, Smithsonian/Folkways, 2 CD], B

Bill Boyd (1910–77)

Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers [1934–50, RCA Bluebird]

Milton Brown (1903–36)

Milton Brown and the Musical Brownies: The Complete Recordings of the Father of Western Swing 1932–1937 [1932–37, Texas Rose, 5CD], A–

Cliff Bruner (1915–2000)

Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers [1937–44, Texas Rose]
Cliff Bruner and His Texas Wanderers [1937–50, Bear Family, 5CD], B+(***)

Bill Carlisle (1908–2003)

The Best of Bill Carlisle [(1966), Hickory]

Cliff Carlisle (1904–83)

Blues Yodeler and Steel Guitar Wizard [(1996), Arhoolie]

Jenks Tex Carman (1903–68)

Hillbilly Hula [1951–53, Bear Family]
Chippeha! The Essential Dixie Cowboy (1947–1957) [1947–57, Revenant]

Fiddlin' John Carson (1868–1949)

The Old Hen Cackled [(1976), Rounder]
Fiddlin' John C [(1990), Rounder]

Wilf Carter (1904–96)

Montana Slim: The Dynamite Trail! [1954–58, Bear Family]

The Carter Family [1926–1943]

Anchored in Love: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1927) [1927, Rounder], A
My Clinch Mountain Home: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1928–1929) [1928–29, Rounder], A–
When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1929–1930) [1929–30, Rounder], A–
Worried Man Blues: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1930) [1930, Rounder], B+
Sunshine in the Shadows: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1931–1932) [1931–32, Rounder], A–
Give Me the Roses While I Live: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1932–1933) [1932–33, Rounder], B
Gold Watch and Chain: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1933–1934) [1933–34, Rounder]
Longing for Old Virginia: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1934) [1934, Rounder], A–
The Decca Sessions, Vol. 1 [1936, Catfish]
The Decca Sessions, Vol. 2 [1936–38, Catfish]
Country Music Hall of Fame Series [1936–38, MCA], B+
On Border Radio, Vol. 1 [1939, Arhoolie], B
Clinch Mountain Treasures [1940, County], B+
Can the Circle Be Unbroken? Country Music's First Family [1935–40, Sony], A–
Last Sessions: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1934–1941) [1934–41, Rounder], A–
Diamonds in the Rough [1941, Copper Creek], B
Keep on the Sunny Side [1964, Columbia]
Sara and Maybelle Carter: Sara and Maybelle Carter [1966, Bear Family]
The Best of the Best of the Original Carter Family [(1998), Koch]
Across Generations [2019, Reviver Legacy], B

Carter Sisters

Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle With Chet Atkins [1950, Country Routes], A–

The Chuck Wagon Gang [1936– ]

Columbia Historic Edition [1936–60, Columbia]

Spade Cooley (1910–69)

Shame on You: The Western Swing Dance Gang [1944–45, Bloodshot]
Spadella: The Essential Spade Cooley [1945–46, Columbia/Legacy], B–

Coon Creek Girls [1937– ]

Early Radio Favorites [(1982), Old Homestead]

Stoney Cooper (1918–77)

w/Wilma Lee Cooper: Classic Early Recordings [1949–53, County]
w/Wilma Lee Cooper: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper [1976, Starday]
The Carter Family's Greatest Hits [(1994), Hollywood]

Wilma Lee Cooper (1921– )

Wilma Lee Cooper [1981, Rounder]
Classic Country Favorites [(1996), Rebel]

Cowboy Copas (1913–63)

Tragic Tales of Love and Life [1960, King]
Opry Star Spotlight [1962, Starday]
The Unforgettable Cowboy Copas [1963, Starday]
The Legend of Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins [(1964), King]

Ted Daffan (1912–96)

The Daffan Records Story [1955–71, Bear Family, 2 CD]
Country Hit Maker of the 1940s [(1999), Cattle]

Vernon Dalhart (1883–1948)

The Wreck of the Old '97 and Other Early Country Hits [(1999), Old Homestead], B+

Darby and Tarlton [1920– ]

On the Banks of a Lonely River [1928–30, County], B
Complete Recordings [1927–33, Bear Family, 3 CD], B+

Jimmie Davis (1902–2000)

Nobody's Darling But Mine [1926–37, Bear Family, 5 CD]
You Are My Sunshine [1937–46, Bear Family, 5 CD]
Country Music Hall of Fame [1934–54, MCA], B+

The Delmore Brothers [1926–1952]

Weary Lonesome Blues [1931–39, Old Homestead]
Brown's Ferry Blues [1933–41, County], B+
Sand Mountain Blues [1944–49, County], A–
w/Wayne Raney: When They Let the Hammer Fall [1946–49, Bear Family]
Freight Train Boogie [1946–51, Ace]
Lonesome Yodel Blues [(1985), Old Homestead]
Early Sacred Songs [(1985), Old Homestead]

Al Dexter (1902–84)

Pistol Packin' Mama [1942–49, ASV], A–

Dorsey Dixon (1897–1968)

Babies in the Mill [1963, HMG], B+

Tommy Duncan (1911–67)

Texas Moon [(1996), Bear Family]
Beneath a Neon Star in a Honky Tonk [1951–56, Bear Family], B

Hugh and Karl Farr

Texas Stomp 1934–1940 [1934–40, Country Routes]

Benton Flippen (1920– )

Old Time, New Times [1970, Rounder], B+(***)

Harmonica Frank Floyd (1908–84)

The Missing Link [1979, Memphis International], B+

Curley Fox (1910– )

18 Old Time Country Favorites [(1998), Rural Rhythm]

Grayson and Whitter [1927–1930]

Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Vol. 1: 1927–1928 [1927–28, Document]
Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Vol. 2: 1928–1929 [1928–29, Document]
The Recordings of Grayson and Whitter [1928–30, County], A–

Rex Griffin (1912–59)

The Last Letter [1935–55, Bear Family, 3 CD]

Jack Guthrie (1915–48)

Oklahoma Hills [(1991), Bear Family]

Kelly Harrell (1889–1942)

Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1925–1926) [1925–26, Document]
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1926–1929) [1926–29, Document]

Hi-Flyers

Hi-Flyers [1937–41, Krazy Kat], B+

Adolph Hofner (1916– )

South Texas Swing [1938–2005, Arhoolie], B

Hoosier Hot Shots [1936–1942]

Rural Rhythm, 1936–1942 [1936–42, Columbia], B+
The Definitive Hoosier Hotshots Collection [(2003), Collector's Choice, 2 CD]

Frank Hutchison (1891–1945)

Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1926–1929) [1926–29, Document]

Aunt Molly Jackson (1880–1960)

Library of Congress Recordings [(1990), Rounder]

Tommy Jackson (1926–79)

Greatest Bluegrass Hits [(1962), Dot]
Good Old Fiddle Music [(1995), MCA]

Tommy Jarrell (1901–85)

w/Fred Cockerham: Best Fiddle and Banjo Duets [(1994), Country]

Buddy Jones (1919– )

Louisiana Honky Tonk Man [1935–41, Texas Rose]

Grandpa Jones (1913–98)

Country Music Hall of Fame Series [1956–59, MCA], B
16 Sacred Gospel Songs [(1963), King]
Live [1969, Sony]
Everybody's Grandpa [(1996), Bear Family, 5 CD]
An American Original [(1998), CMH]
28 Greatest Hits [(1998), King]
16 Greatest Hits [Hollywood]

Buell Kazee (1900–76)

Buell Kazee Sings and Plays [Smithsonian/Folkways]

Clark Kessinger (1896–1975)

The Legend of Clark Kessinger [1964, County]
Clark Kessinger: Fiddler [1966, Smithsonian/Folkways]
Clark Kessinger [(1984), Rounder]

Bradley Kincaid (1895–1989)

Favorite Old-Time Songs [(1984), Old Homestead]
Old Time Songs and Hymns [(1998), Old Homestead]

Pee Wee King (1914–2000)

Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys [(1995), Bear Family, 6 CD]
Pee Wee King's Country Hoedown [(1999), Bloodshot, 2 CD]

Lulu Belle and Scotty

Sweethearts of Country Music [1963, Starday]
Early and Great, Vol. 1 [(1999), Old Homestead]

Uncle Dave Macon (1870–1952)

Country Music Hall of Fame Series [1926–34, MCA], B+
Go Long Mule [1926–34, County]
Travelin' Down the Road [1935–38, Country]

J.E. Mainer (1898–1971)

1935–1939: The Early Recordings [1935–39, JSP]
Classic Sides 1937–1941 [1937–41, JSP]
Run Mountain [1963, Arhoolie]
18 Gospel Favorites [1967–69, Rural Rhythm], B+(**)
20 Old-Time Favorites [1967–69, Rural Rhythm]

Leon McAuliffe (1917–88)

Sam McGee (1894–1975)

Grand Dad of the Country Guitar Pickers [1963, Arhoolie], A–
Country Guitar [1969–70, Arhoolie]
w/Kirk McGee: Old Time Songs and Guitar Tunes, Vol. 1 [Old Homestead]

Emmett Miller (1900–62)

The Minstrel Man From Georgia [1928–29, Columbia/Legacy], A

Polk Miller (1844–1913)

Polk Miller and His Old South Quartette [1909–28, Tompkins Square]
w/The Old South Quartette: Music of the South [1909–28, Flaherty], A–

Patsy Montana (1914–96)

The Best of Patsy Montana [1935–40, Collectors' Choice], B+
Columbia Historic Edition [(1984), Columbia]
The Cowboy's Sweetheart [1988, Flying Fish], B
The Golden Age of the Late Patsy Montana [(1998), Cattle]

Tex Owens (1892–1962)

Cattle Call [1934–54, Bear Family]

Leon Payne (1917–69)

I Love You Because [1949–53, Bear Family]

Hank Penny (1918–92)

Flamin' Mamie [1938–41, Krazy Kat], B+
Hollywood Western Swing: The Best of Hank Penny (1944–1947) [1944–47, Krazy Kat], A–
Rompin' Stompin' [(1983), Bear Family]
Crazy Rhythm: The Standard Transcriptions [1951, Bloodshot], B+

Charlie Poole (1892–1931)

Old-Time Songs [1925–30, County], A–
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, Vol. 2 [1926–30, County], A
The Legend of Charlie Poole, Vol. 3 [1926–30, County], A
Charlie Poole With the North Carolina Ramblers and the Highlanders [1926–30, JSP, 4 CD]
You Ain't Talkin' to Me: Charlie Poole and the Roots of Country Music [1902–40, Columbia/Legacy, 3 CD], A

Riley Puckett (1894–1946)

Red Sails in the Sunset [1939–41, Bear Family]

Red Fox Chasers [1928–1931]

I'm Going Down to North Carolina: The Complete Recordings of the Red Fox Chasers (1928–31) [1928–31, Tompkins Square, 2CD], B+(**)

Blind Alfred Reed (1880–1956)

Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order (1927–1929) [1927–29, Document], A–
Appalachian Visionary [1927–29, Dust-to-Digital], A–

Goebel Reeves (1899–1969)

The Legendary Texas Drifter, Vol. 1 [(1972), CMH]
The Legendary Texas Drifter, Vol. 2 [(1973), CMH]
Hobo's Lullaby [(1994), Bear Family]

Jimmie Revard (1909– )

Oh! Swing It [1936–38, Rambler]

Lesley Riddle (1905–80)

Step by Step: Lesley Riddle Meets the Carter Family: Blues, Country and Sacred Songs [1965–78, Rounder], A

Riders in the Sky [1977– ]

Three on the Trail [1979, Rounder]
The Cowboy Way [1982, MCA]
The Best of the West [(1988), Rounder]
Cowboys in Love [1994, Epic]
Public Cowboy #1: The Music of Gene Autry [1996, Rounder]
A Great Big Western Howdy from Riders in the Sky [1998, Rounder]
Saddle Pals [Rounder]
The Best of the West Rides Again [Rounder]

Tex Ritter (1905–73)

Country Music Hall of Fame [1935–39, MCA]
Blood on the Saddle [1932–47, Bear Family, 4 CD]
High Noon [1942–56, Bear Family]
The Capitol Collectors Series [1942–73, Capitol], B
Greatest Hits [(1990), Curb]
Singin' in the Saddle [Bear Family]

Jimmie Rivers

Brisbane Bop: Western Swing 1961–64 [1961–64, Joaquin], B

Eck Robertson (1887–1975)

Old Time Texas Fiddler: Vintage Recordings 1922–1929 [1922–29, County], A–

Carson Robison (1890–1957)

Home, Sweet Home on the Prairie: 25 Cowboy Classics [(1996), ASV]

Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933)

First Sessions 1927–1928 [1927–28, Rounder]
The Early Years 1928–1929 [1928–29, Rounder], A–
On the Way Up 1929 [1929, Rounder], B+
Riding High 1929–1930 [1929–30, Rounder]
America's Blue Yodeler 1930–1931 [1930–31, Rounder], A–
The Essential Jimmie Rodgers [1927–31, RCA], A–
Down the Old Road 1931–1932 [1931–32, Rounder], B
No Hard Times 1932 [1932, Rounder]
Last Sessions 1933 [1933, Rounder]
The Singing Brakeman [1927–33, Bear Family, 6 CD]
RCA Country Legends [1927–33], A
Train Whistle Blues [(1992), ASV]

Roy Rogers (1911–98)

Country Music Hall of Fame Series [1937–42, MCA], B+(*)
Roll On Texas Moon [1945–52, Bear Family], A–
w/Sons of the Pioneers: Pecos Bill [1964, RCA]
Columbia Historic Edition [(1984), Columbia]
Happy Trails: The Roy Rogers Collection 1937–1990 [1937–90, Rhino, 3CD]
The Best of Roy Rogers [(1990), Curb]
w/Dale Evans: 16 Great Songs of the Old West [(1998), Drive Archive]

The Skillet Lickers

Old Time Fiddle Tunes and Songs from North Georgia [1926–31, County], A

Fiddlin' Arthur Smith (1989–71)

Hobart Smith (1897–1965)

In Sacred Trust: The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes [1963, Smithsonian Folkways], A–
Blue Ridge Legacy (The Alan Lomax Portrait Series) [1942–63, Rounder]

Lynn Chirps Smith

Old Time String Band with Vocal Accompaniment [1997, Marimac]
Prairie Dog and other Fiddle Tunes from the Midwest [Marimac]

The Sons of the Pioneers [1934– ]

Songs of the Prairie [1934–36, Bear Family, 5 CD]
Cool Water [1959, RCA], B+
Trail Dust [1963, RCA]
Legends of the West [1965, RCA]
Columbia Historic Edition [(1982), Columbia]
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: The RCA Victor Years, Vol. 1 [(1989), RCA]
Country Music Hall of Fame [(1991), MCA]
Wagons West [(1996), Bear Family, 4 CD]

Carl T. Sprague (1895–1978)

Classic Cowboy Songs [(1988), Bear Family]

Ernest V. Stoneman (1893–1968)

1928 Edison Recordings [1928, County], A–

The Stoneman Family [1956– ]

Stoneman's Country [1967, MGM]
First Family of Country Music [1981, CMH]

Stringbean (1915–73)

Old Time Pickin' and Singin' [1961, Starday]
Salute to Uncle Dave Macon [1963, Starday]

Gid Tanner (1885–1960)

The Kickapoo Medicine Show [(1988), Rounder]

Tut Taylor (1923– )

Friar Tut [1972, Rounder]

Jimmy Wakely (1914–82)

Vintage Collections [(1996), Capitol]
Jimmy Wakeley Collectors Edition [(1998), Simitar]
The Very Best of Jimmy Wakely [(1998), Varese]

Fields Ward (1911–87)

Fields and Wade Ward [Biograph]

Tex Williams (1917–85)

On the Air 1947–1949 [1947–49, Country Routes], B
Vintage Collections [1946–63, Capitol], B–

Billy Jack Wills (1926–91)

Billy Jack Wills and His Western Swing Band [1952–54, Joaquin], B
Crazy, Man, Crazy [1952–54, Joaquin], B+

Bob Wills (1905–75)

The Bob Wills Anthology [1935–41, Columbia]
Fiddle [1935–42, Country Music Foundation]
The Golden Era [1936–45, Columbia]
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 1 [1946–47, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 2 [1946, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 3 [1946–47, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 4 [1946–47, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 5 [1946–47, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 6: Sally Goodin [1946–47, Rhino], B+
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 7: Keep Knockin' [1946–47, Rhino], A
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 8: More of the Best [1946–47, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 9: In the Mood [1946–47, Rhino], A–
The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol. 10: The McKinney Sisters [1946, Rhino], B
The Tiffany Transcriptions [1946–47, Collectors Choice, 10 CD]
The Essential Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys [1935–47, Columbia/Legacy], A
Take Me Back to Tulsa [1932–50, Proper, 4CD], A
Harmony Park Airshots, January 1953 [1953, Country Routes]
Boot Heel Drag: The MGM Years [1947–54, Mercury, 2 CD], B+
Hall of Fame: Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan [1960–61, DCC], B+
Longhorn Recordings [1964–65, Bear Family], C+
Country Music Hall of Fame Series [1955–67, MCA]
For the Last Time [1973, Capitol], B
Anthology 1935–1973 [1935–73, Rhino, 2 CD], A
Legends of Country Music [1932–73, Columbia/Legacy, 4 CD], A

Johnnie Lee Wills (1912–84)

The Band's A-Rockin' [1941–51, Krazy Kat], B+
Reunion [1978, Flying Fish]

Smokey Wood (1918–75)

The Houston Hipster [1937, Rambler]

Various Artists

Altamont: Black String Band Music from the Library of Congress [1942–49, Rounder], B+
American Epic: The Best of Country [1927–34, Third Man/Columbia/Legacy], A–
Are You from Dixie: Great Country Brother Teams of the 1930's [(1988), RCA], A–
Arkansas at 78 RPM: Corn Dodgers and Hoss Hair Pullers [1928–37, Dust-to-Digital], A–
Bloody War: Songs 1924–1939 [1924–39, Tompkins Square], A–
The Bristol Sessions [(1991), Country Music Foundation, 2 CD], A–
Classic Old-Time Music: From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings [1958–85, Smithsonian/Folkways], B+
Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys: The Golden Years of Western Swing [1932–47, Proper, 4 CD], A–
Flowers in the Wildwood: Women in Early Country Music [1923–39, Trikont], A
Good for What Ails You: Music of the Medicine Shows [1926–37, Old Hat, 2 CD], A
Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats [(1995), ASV]
Jitterbug Jive: Hot Texas Swing 1940–1941 [1940–41, Krazy Kat]
Jive and Smile: Kings of Western Swing [(1998), Charly, 2 CD]
Man of Constant Sorrow and Other Timeless Mountain Ballads [(2002), Yazoo], B+
Memories of Jimmie Rodgers [(1997), Bear Family]
Mississippi String Bands: Volume Two [1927–35, County], B+
My Rough and Rowdy Ways, Vol. 1 [1920, Yazoo], B+(**)
My Rough and Rowdy Ways, Vol. 2 [1924–38, Yazoo], B+
Nashville, 1928 [1928, Document]
Nashville: The Early String Bands, Volume One [1926–38, County], B+
Okeh Western Swing [1927–50, Columbia], A–
Old-Time Mountain Ballads [(1995), County]
Old-Time Mountain Guitar [1926–30, County]
Old-Time Music from West Virginia (1927–1929) [1927–29, Document]
Ragged But Right: Great Country String Bands of the 1930's [1930, RCA], A–
The Rose Grew Round the Briar: Early American Rural Love Songs, Vol. 1 [1920, Yazoo], B+(***)
The Rose Grew Round the Briar: Early American Rural Love Songs, Vol. 2 [1920, Yazoo], A–
The Rough Guide to the Roots of Country Music: Reborn and Remastered [1926–33, World Music Network], B+(***)
Rounder Old-Time Music [(1988), Rounder]
Seven Come Eleven: Texas Swing on Radio & TV, 1946–64 [1946–64, County Routes], B
Stompin' Western Swing: Roots of Rock 'n' Roll Vol. 2 [1936–41, President], A–
The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of [1926–32, Shanachie, 2 CD], B+(***)
Tarheel Swing [1946–53, Krazy Kat], B+
Under the Double Eagle: Great Western Swing Bands of the 1930's, Vol. 1 [(1990), RCA], B+
Western Swing and Country Jazz: An Expertly Selected Package [1935–40, JSP, 4 CD], B+(***)
When I Was a Cowboy, Vol. 1 [(1996), Yazoo]
When I Was a Cowboy, Vol. 2 [(1996), Yazoo]

Introduction