"If you want to hear country music like it used to be, in the great era of the 1950's and 1960's, this is the set for you. Disc 4 is particularly outstanding with classic but little known songs like "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" and the great prison song "Life To Go." It doesn't get much better than this, both as to songs and Pierce's unique style. A clear illustration as to how the style of country music has drastically changed over the past 40 years - for the worse, I would say! If you want total immersion in classic country music, buy this boxed set."
An great collection of early hits from a honky tonk legend
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 12/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A big, fat, honkin' four-CD box set representing the holy grail of Webb's work that's actually in print. The LP-sized package includes 113 tracks and a lavish booklet with great liner notes by Webb-ologist Otto Kitsinger, as well as a complete discography of Webb's Decca sessions, giving info on side musicians, writers, producers, etc. Plus, there's over an album's worth of this material which had never been released before! ... So why do I so seldom actually listen to these discs? Well, slowly I find myself coming to the conclusion that Bear Family might do better off if they made single CD "economy" versions of some of their fabuloso box sets... The multi-disc boxes are great fetish items, but somewhat pricey and a bit daunting to delve into once you actually shell out the cash and drag one home. Don't get me wrong, though -- this collection is ace bunny killer. Not a bad track on it. Worth every pfennig. And the second that Bear Family puts out a follow-up collection of stuff from the late-'50s and early-'60s, I'll be standing in line to pick up my copy."
"If you were me and I was you"
Darlene Baxter | Paris Texas | 02/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Webb Pierce music was playing on radio and juke boxes through out the fiftys and sixtys and it is just as good today as it was then, if you are a true country fan you have to have this album because this is the roots of country,"dont do it darling"and "how long will it take"are among my favorites and of course "wondering" is the song that gave him the name Wondering Boy.. this album is an important part of country music'and a "must Have"for country collectors"
Real country
Robert E VandenHeuvel | Verona Beach, New York United States | 09/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Thus is a great boxed set, which reveals Webb as being the closest country artist to Hank Williams stylistically. A few songs have some odd percussion-almost sounding like coconut shells being banged against a table. A few other songs-although good-suffer from the intrusive piano found on numerous Nashville songs of the time. But, all in all, this is a great collection from a man who belongs in the Country music hall of fame and like most Bear Family boxed sets-a little expensive but worth the cost."