Essential Recordings 2CD

Red Foley • The Essential Recordings 2CD

Red Foley was a pioneering country singer whose rich, smooth vocals carried him from traditional ballads and gospel to blues, boogie and early rockabilly. The Essential Recordings celebrates his remarkable versatility with 40 original recordings across two CDs, capturing a major figure in country music whose influence extended well beyond Nashville and into the emerging world of rock ’n’ roll.

Highlights include the driving “Freight Train Boogie”, “Tennessee Saturday Night”, “Tennessee Border”, “Hot Rod Race” and the guitar-friendly “Sugarfoot Rag”. There is also the gospel favourite “Peace in the Valley”, the bluesy “Shake a Hand”, the country classic “A Satisfied Mind” and the lively “Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy”. Foley’s material crossed musical boundaries, with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis among the rock ’n’ roll artists who recorded his songs.

With 40 tracks covering country ballads, gospel, western swing, boogie and rockabilly-friendly rhythms, this two-CD collection is an excellent introduction to a hugely influential performer. Ideal for fans of classic country, vintage hillbilly music and the roots of rock ’n’ roll, The Essential Recordings offers a generous helping of the songs and sounds that helped connect country music with the next generation of popular music.