RCA Country Legends (CD - 2002)

Personnel includes: Porter Wagoner (vocals, guitar, bass); Grady Martin Herschel "Speedy" Haworth, Dave Kirby, Jimmy Capps (electric guitar); George Rhodes, Hank Garland, Jackie Phelps, Benny Williams (guitar); Pete Drake, Bryan "Doc" Martin (steel guitar); Tommy Jackson (violin); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); John Greubel, Buddy Harman, Jerry Carrigan (drums); Anita Kerr, Anita Carter, Dottie Dillard, Jan Howard, Priscilla Reed, Don Warden, Horace Ben Williams (background vocals).

Producers: Si Siman, Porter Wagner, Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson, Stephen H. Sholes.

Compilation producer: Rob Santos.

Includes liner notes by Rich Kienzle.

Personnel: Porter Wagoner (vocals, guitar); Don Warden (vocals, guitar, steel guitar, background vocals); Jerry Stembridge, George McCormick, George Rhodes, Hank Garland, Jackie Phelps, Jimmy Day, Ray Edenton, Rusty Kershaw, Velma Smith, Benny Williams (guitar); Buck Trent (electric guitar, electric banjo); Grady Martin, Jerry Reed, Jimmy Capps, Wayne Moss (electric guitar); Pete Drake, Hal Rugg (steel guitar); Harold Morrison (banjo); Cecil Brower (violin); Audie "Buster" Fellers, Mack Magaha, Buddy Spicher (fiddle); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano, organ); Floyd Cramer, Paul Mitchell, Bill Pursell, Jerry Whitehurst (piano); John W. Greubel, William Paul Ackerman, Jerry Carrigan, Buddy Harman (drums); Bill Mount (wood block); Dolores Edgin, June Page, Winifred S. Breast, Mary Greene, Horace "Benny" Williams, Jan Howard, Anita Kerr, Ray C. Walker, Sandy Posey, Dottie Dillard, Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Hurshel Wiginton, Millie Kirkham, Joe Babcock (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Rich Kienzle.

Recording information: KWTO, Springsfield, MO (09/11/1954-04/08/1971); RCA Victor, Nashville, TN (09/11/1954-04/08/1971).

The RCA Country Legends series -- previously on the reactivated Buddha label, but as of 2002, showing up on BMG Heritage, since Buddha no longer exists -- stands out because the compilers don't open up Joel Whitburn's Billboard chart books and copy down the 16 biggest songs. Instead, they alter their choices slightly, skewing it to a particular sound or style, usually telling a better story about the actual sound and intent of the artist than if they were just concerned with hits. That's even true with Porter Wagoner's volume of RCA Country Legends -- it may be missing a number of big hits (how could it not be; he was one of the biggest stars of his era, continually hitting the charts for year upon year), but it has the biggest hits, surrounded by selections that give a good idea of who Wagoner was as an artist and entertainer. No, not every big song is here, but no other CD-era compilation gives a better idea of what Porter Wagoner was all about than RCA Country Legends, which is why it's an essential addition to any comprehensive country library. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize