Honky Tonk Girl: Collection [Box] (CD - 1994)

Personnel includes: Loretta Lynn (vocals); Ray Edenton, Bill Hullet (acoustic guitar); Thomas Grady Martin, Pete Wade (electric guitar); Harold Morrison (guitar, banjo); Leon Rhodes, Johnny Russell, Dave Thornhill (guitar); Buddy Charleton, Harald Rugg (steel guitar); Harold Hensley (fiddle); Charley McCoy (harmonica); Floyd Cramer, Hargus Robbins (piano); Roy Huskey, Jr., Joe Zinkan (bass); Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass); Murrey Harman, Jr., Willie Ackerman (drums); Curtis Young (background vocals).

Producers: Dan Grashey, Owen Bradley.

Compilation producer: Jimmy Guterman.

Recorded in Los Angeles, California; Nashville and Mt. Juliet, Tennessee between February 1960 and December 1987. Includes liner notes by Jimmy Guterman.

Digitally remastered by Hollis Flatt.

Personnel: Loretta Lynn (vocals); Nashville Sounds, The Jordanaires (vocals, background vocals); Conway Twitty, Curtis Young, Ernest Tubb, Anita Kerr Singers (vocals); Fred Carter, Jr., Wayne Moss (guitar, electric guitar); Jerry Stembridge, Dale Sellars, Harold Morrison, Jerry Kennedy, Johnny Russell , Kelso Herston, Leon Rhodes, Pete Wade, Roy Lanham, Teddy Wilburn , Billy Sanford, Jerry Shook (guitar); James Capps, Ray Edenton, Bill Hullett (acoustic guitar); Herman Wade, Grady Martin, Reggie Young (electric guitar); Don Helms, Harold Rugg, Lloyd Green, Speedy West, John Hughey, Buddy Charleton (steel guitar); Cecil Brower (violin); Harold Hensley, Johnny Gimble (fiddle); David Briggs , Floyd Cramer, William Whitney Pursell, Jerry Smith, Matt Rollings, Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); William Paul Ackerman, Tommy Markham, Muddy Berry, Eddie Bayers, Roy Harte, Jack Green (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Hollis Flatt.

Audio Remixers: Alan Stoker; Glenn Rieuf.

Liner Note Author: Jimmy Guterman.

Recording information: Bradley Recording Studio, Nashville, TN (02/??/1960-12/08/1987); Bradley's Barn, Mr. Juliet (02/??/1960-12/08/1987); Columbia Studio, Nashville, TN (02/??/1960-12/08/1987); Los Angeles, CA (02/??/1960-12/08/1987); Music (02/??/1960-12/08/1987).

Unknown Contributor Roles: Sheldon Kurland; Harold Bradley.

Arranger: David Briggs .

The definitive Loretta Lynn career retrospective, and liable to remain so. All the hits are here, plus rarities and overlooked tracks, and the three CDs are sequenced more or less chronologically, from her self-promoted 1960 breakthrough "Honky Tonk Girl" (recorded, in mono, under somewhat primitive conditions) to 1987's "Who Was That Stranger" (state-of-the-art digital), with Lynn's undiminished vocal powers supplying the continuity. Besides the signature songs, particularly noteworthy cuts include duets with country legend Ernest Tubb, and "Who Says God Is Dead," from an overlooked 1968 gospel album. Bottom line: If this isn't all the Loretta Lynn you'll ever need, it's darn close. minimize