The next release that will be discussed in the 'Destination' series, has as its subject a destination where you do not want to end up, namely the prison or 'jail'. In American roots music, such as country, hillbilly and rock 'n' roll, there are many songs that can be placed in this context. In addition to life behind bars, these songs can also deal with gruesome crimes, escapes or remorseful confessions. Examples of this can be found galore on this compilation.
A mix of well-known and lesser-known artists provide formidable thematic country, rock 'n' roll and rockabilly. It's best to stay out of prison, but this album is definitely a winner.

​This album features 27 tracks distilled from the 2016 Bear Family 4-CD box set titled “The Knoxville Sessions, 1929-1930 : Knox County Stomp.” The recordings were made by the Brunswick and Vocalion labels and can be called historic in one word. Recordings that form the basis for Hillbilly and black Appalachian music. Some of these songs will certainly be known, whether or not in other versions, but here you get them in their 'primal form'. Just think of 'The Wabash Cannon Ball', 'Railroad Bill' or 'Vine Street Rag' to name just a few highlights. But also the germs of country and bluegrass, perhaps not so pronounced, can still be detected.
For those who want to discover the origins of many genres, this 'Satan Is Busy In Knoxville, The Knoxville Sessions 1929-1930' is certainly a first step.
The accompanying booklet with info about all the tracks, also contains new essays by Jack Neely and James 'Sparky' Rucker that describe the importance of these historic recordings for the further development of music. It is also wonderful that these recordings, which are almost a century old, were remastered by Marcus Heumann in 2022, so that they sound particularly clear and warm.

For centuries, stimulants have provided relaxing moments. However, stimulants that can also derail in 'Devils & Demons' if used excessively. In these cases, we initially think of alcohol and narcotics. But love is not so innocent either, as this compilation shows. With all this in mind, Mark Armstrong collected 28 tracks, recorded between 1949 and 1963, that have devils and demons as their subject. The album contains a number of lesser known and obscure songs, so that there is a lot to discover again.
'Hillbilly Devils & Demons' features top-level hillbilly and country folk, some of which can also be of service during Halloween. It's also nice that this album, like all the other Atomicat compilations, introduces you to songs that you didn't know they existed.

​Cliffie Stone made a career in the country, was one of the founders of rockabilly, was a talented songwriter, in-demand session musician and respected A&R man at Capitol Records. In the latter capacity he was the discoverer of Hank Thompson and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Cliffie also made recordings under his own name for the same label.
On this compilation released by Bear Family you get 31 tracks, all recorded between 1947 and 1955. In addition to songs he recorded with Bob Roubian, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Les Gotcher and Jeanne Gayle, this album contains a lot of songs that Cliffie recorded under his own name. Expect Western Swing, hillbilly boogie and rock and roll at the highest level. Naturally, an extensive booklet with information about the artist and the recordings is included.

​The Canadian power trio goes back to their beginnings more than ever on their seventh album. After all 20 years ago, singer / guitarist Paul Pigat already proved not to extinguish the fire of roots music.
Buckle up those seat belts, start the engine and enjoy the hellish ride these hillbilly rockers take you on. Recommended!

​With ‘Wild Man Rock’, volume 5 in the ‘Hillbilly And Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ series, we dive back into the rich past of these genres. The treasury of hillbilly and rockabilly still contains countless recordings, which not only give a beautiful picture of this music, but which also still pleasantly surprise us today. Mark Armstrong once again looked for 28 songs that are defined as authentic hillbilly or rockabilly. The boundary between these genres is often filter-thin and the influences of the country often make it more difficult to say exactly which song belongs to which genre. All this poses a problem for box thinkers. A problem that does not exist for music lovers with an ‘open mind’. Just like us, they will love these songs. Like the previous 4 releases in the 'Hillbilly and Rustic Rockabilly Bop' series, this volume again contains superior American roots music.

​Most likely, the name Cliffie Stone does not immediately evoke any association. And yet this legendary artist on the double bass had an influence that should not be underestimated. Stone was not only a giant on the upright bass, he also earned his spurs behind the microphone. Perhaps most importantly, he was invaluable to Capitol Records as a session musician and arranger.
The emphasis here is on recordings between 1947 and 1958. The first 8 tracks show Cliffie with his own band or solo. The other tracks highlight his collaboration with others. 30 uptempo tracks that all put Cliffie's talent in the spotlights. Hillbilly, country boogie, instrumentals and fragments of rock and roll that have lost nothing of their strength after more than half a century.
This collector of Cliffie Stone’s work for Capitol is an unmissable release. Lovers of the other hillbilly albums released by Atomicat, don’t miss this one!

​The attention that the Atomicat label pays to hillbilly and rockabilly bop through this series certainly fills a gap in the market. With the exception of a few other labels, these genres are treated poorly. Moreover, all Atomicat releases invariably boast a sublime sound quality, as does this volume. Again, Western Swing, based on a bop beat, is on the menu.
‘The Barnyard Hop’ again features 28 hillbilly and rockabilly related high flyers. "Hillbilly and Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ is a treasure chest filled with awesome songs.

​It has often been said that hillbilly is the basis of rockabilly. The merging of hillbilly and rock and roll clearly manifests itself in volume 3. The typical instruments related to the classic hillbilly, such as fiddle, acoustic guitar and steel guitar, remain present, but the electric guitar from the rock and roll moves away effortlessly between. That of course provides a good dose of Western Swing on a boppin 'beat and that is what you get on this album in the most infectious forms. Whether they lean towards more authentic hillbilly or rather rockabilly bop, the fact is that all 28 tracks are very swinging. The ‘Hillbilly and Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ series has with "Rattlin" Daddy "a wonderful follow-up to the previously released volumes.

​Hillbilly boogies are very melodic and very danceable. You get a nice example of this specific genre on this 26-track compilation. The seeds of the later country and rockabilly were certainly sown by the hillbilly. The resemblance with these genres is therefore legion. Anyone who bought the previous Atomicat releases about hillbilly, gets a valuable addition with this ‘Hillbilly Deluxe’.

​‘Lookin 'For The Green’ features another 28 tracks with the cream of the crop of hillbilly and rustic rockabilly, expertly compiled by DJ Mark Armstrong. An album that will soon be continued with volume 3 'Rattlin' Daddy '. And let's point once again that fantastic contemporary sound that all Atomicat releases offer. Not to be missed!

​In the 1950s guitarist Grady Martin made a not to be underestimated contribution to swinging country, hillbilly jump, rockabilly and rock and roll. This album contains 30 sublime tracks. The first 10 are by Grady and The Slew Foot Band or as a solo artist. The following 20 show his beautiful guitar parts as session musician of well-known and lesser-known artists.
‘Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves and Hot Guitar’ rightly puts Grady Martin's unique guitar style in the spotlight. Well done Mark Armstrong!

​On this first album, an impressive cast of artists serves up 30 hillbilly Christmas songs. With 'Come On Baby It's Christmas, More Hillbilly Christmas' this album gets an awesome sequel.
Both albums ensure that, despite the strange times we are currently in, an authentic white Christmas from better times is not far away.

​As promised in the review of ‘Christmas Time's A-Comin’, A Hillbilly Christmas’, it now features sequel ‘Come On Baby It's Christmas, More Hillbilly Christmas’. A formidable successor that bathes in the same atmosphere. A large number of artists who have graced ‘Christmas Time's A-Comin’, A Hillbilly Christmas’ can also be found on ’Come On Baby It's Christmas, More Hillbilly Christmas’. Although they are two CDs, you can consider them as a double album. If you would like to buy one, it is best to choose both, because they complement each other beautifully and so you get a complete picture of what hillbilly has to offer in the Christmas spirit. And that's a lot. Happy Christmas!

​The 26 tracks that contain a beautiful mix of traditional country, western swing and hillbilly will give you the ultimate feeling of a nostalgic country Christmas. And just like we did with ‘Headin 'For The Christmas Ball’, we once again can conclude that ‘Christmas On The Range’ can also be played without a corresponding Christmas tree.

​With volume 1, subtitled ‘A Real Cool Cat’, the Atomicat label starts the ‘Hillbilly And Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ series, which will contain a total of five albums. The target group of songs that can be heard on this once formed the perfect soundtrack to fill the wooden dance floors of the Honky Tonk dance halls. All 28 tracks are of superior sound quality and this album makes us look forward with great curiosity to the next four releases.

​On this edition with pearls from the archives of Decca and Coral we get an impressive number of artists. Some well-known names such as Hank Penny, Grady Martin and Jimmie Davis, but also a number of completely obscure artists. And that is precisely the strength of compilation albums like this one. Not only do you make a lot of discoveries, but the question also arises, why these artists are not better known, because the quality of their songs could not possibly be the cause of this. They are not inferior to the repertoire of the big names.
In short, country, honky tonk and hillbilly that made the dancehalls shake to their foundations at the time. Music that also lost none of its strength and charm. Dancehalls may be a thing of the past, but this album certainly creates ambiance in the living room.

​The Jasmine label pays a nice tribute to this talented artist on this 32 track compilation. Rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country and hillbilly can always be found in the songs. Most of the songs are from Gunter's hand and show a super songwriter, who in addition to a beautiful voice also was a gifted guitarist.

On the second volume in 'The Hank Williams Songbook', hillbilly artists present not only songs once sung by Hank himself, but also original songs inspired by the musical spirit of the great Williams, as well as some formidable tribute songs. Great album!

With once again delicious hillbilly and catchy rockabilly and rock 'n' roll of volume 5, the formidable series 'Hillbilly Boogie and Jive' unfortunately comes to an end.
Don't worry though, because you can be sure that compiler Mark Armstrong is already working on new series. We will keep you informed!

​Hillbilly, both authentic and in a more rock 'n' roll way, fill this  67 minutes compilation. That Mark Armstrong once again did his utmost best in compiling volume 4 in the sublime ‘Hillbilly Boogie And Jive’ serie is certainly true. Congratulations!

​Beautiful collector with the hits of the 'singing fisherman' Johnny Horton. Rockabilly, hillbilly, country & western and honky-tonk, you will find it all on this handsome compilation. Recommended!

​Forget the ‘Cowboy and Indians’ stories often made as B-movies and indulge in ‘Way Out West’. Take off your cowboy boots, take a sip of whiskey and insert this album in your player and enjoy, enjoy …….. and enjoy!

​The third volume in the handsome 'Hillbilly Boogie And Jive' series, entitled 'Juke Box Boogie', again contains 28 awesome hillbilly songs, including a number of sublime boogies.

​Hillbilly, authentic or with the addition of Western Swing or rock from the past century, you get it all beautifully and in excellent sound quality served on this compilation. It is becoming a habit, but we cannot help it that this album also deserves a place in your collection.