"This will be short and sweet---Jimmy Driftwood is a unique performer and writer. He has no equal. His songs are served up like a feast hot off the bar-b-que grill of Ozark Arkansas/Missouri. The unique sound of his home-made guitar and his picking bow are a delight for any folk music fan. The three CDs in this set capture a large chunk of his even larger song list. Jimmy was the driving force that ignited the folk movement in not only Mountain View, Arkansas, but helped influence the start and spread of other places, including Branson, Missouri and Dollywood. What a loss folk music has suffered at his passing!"
Great Collection
J. B. Barton | Saint Petersburg, FL | 09/01/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I grew up with the album from which the cover comes and never forgot it. As an adult I still sang Tennessee Stud, Razorback Steak, and Maid of Argenta. Ever get a strange song in your head? The only way to get it out is to hear it. Honestly, I would have been happier with smaller installments ... but this set is simply fantastic. Often, I only really like a few songs from a given artist so I would never have made this kind of expenditure, not knowing more than I did of his music. This set though is great because I like all of the songs. Tennessee Stud, Razorback Steak and Maid of Argenta are indicative of all of the rest of the songs. If you like them, you will like all of the set. Btw, the packaging is great. The three CD's come in a very durable box that looks like a really thick LP. Inside, they are nestled in three cut outs that hold the individual CDs. :) It makes a WONDERFUL gift!"
If you are feeling blue than this is for you
Christopher Langham | USA | 04/02/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I listened to all 82 of these songs(about three and a half hours worth) over and over again for about six months grinning the whole time. I don't think I had a bad day the whole time. This comprehensive box set is a culmination of all of Jimmie Driftwoods RCA/Victor recordings. These recordings were done between 1958-1962 which before this box set was released could only found on the seven following record albums: EARLY AMERICA FOLK SONGS 1958, WILDERNESS ROAD 1959, HOW THE WEST WAS WON 1959, WESTWARD MOVEMENT 1960, TALL TALES IN SONG 1960, SONGS OF BILLY YANK AND JOHNNY REB 1961, DRIFTWOOD AT SEA - SEA SHANTIES 1962, and a couple of singles --- These albums are still sought after and are hard to find. They can sell for anywhere from $20.00 to $120.00 each. For the price of this box set it is a steal plus they are all remastered on CD for the best sound quality. It comes with a 23 page booklet with some old pictures, bio and commentary by Jimmie Driftwood. If you want material from his several other albums from other than RCA, then all I can say is happy hunting. I've spent about two years and $300.00 buying the records and converting them to CD's.
"
True gems from an underappreciated American talent
R. T. Watkins | Rex, GA USA | 04/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These three CDs are a treasure chest of American folk songs from singer/songwriter Jimmie Driftwood. Although "Battle of New Orleans" is his most widely-known song, there are dozens of other great tunes that really deserved airplay, too. Driftwood could mix humor, emotion, and history like no other. Tunes from six of his albums are faithfully reproduced here. This is sing-along, feel-good music from one of America's little-known troubadors. Highly recommended."
Driftwood lives
Noel Kaufmann | Santa Fe | 02/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"How wonderful to see this collection; though I haven't heard it yet (great first line for a review? Dohh!!) About 15 years ago I got 5 or 6 cassette tapes of Jimmy Driftwood, I think from the Folk Center there in Mountain View, AR; can't remember. I played the [whatever] out of several of them, so inspired by the character of his voice and the quality of the story-telling through song. I hadn't even known there were words for Soldier's Joy! And I really loved the Civil War album he did, so I'm glad to see my two favorites on this collection, Billy Yank and Johnny Reb and Won't You Come Along and Go.
What a truly wonderful, enlightened, intriguing man he was. Imagine having a teacher like him in school! I wish we could see ALL his music (he did at least one great one for children) on CD. For that matter, I'd like to find out if there's any video footage of him singing; there must be.
If you haven't heard Driftwood, do so!! You'll be moved to imagine, to reminisce, to foot-tap and smile. The selections here are a great comprehensive start."