{"product_id":"the-picking-pioneer-1946-49-lp-vinyl","title":"The Picking Pioneer: 1946-49 LP (vinyl)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eMerle Travis • The Picking Pioneer: 1946-49 LP (vinyl)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Picking Pioneer: 1946-49\u003c\/em\u003e shines a spotlight on the early career of \u003ca href=\"\/search?q=Merle+Travis\"\u003eMerle Travis\u003c\/a\u003e, one of the most influential guitarists and singer-songwriters in American Country music. Travis was the pioneer of the fingerpicking technique that became known as \"Travis picking\", a distinctive approach to guitar playing whose influence has spread far beyond its Country and Hillbilly roots. These 16 recordings capture one of the most productive periods of his career, combining superb guitar work with strong songwriting and the earthy character of post-war American roots music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThere's an impressive selection of Travis classics here, including \u003cem\u003eNo Vacancy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCininatti Lou\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eDivorce Me C.O.D.\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eDark As A Dungeon\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNine Pound Hammer\u003c\/em\u003e, alongside the enduring \u003cem\u003eSixteen Tons\u003c\/em\u003e. The instrumental side of Travis's talent is equally well represented, with \u003cem\u003eSteel Guitar Rag\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMerle's Boogie Woogie\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCrazy Boogie\u003c\/em\u003e showing just how effortlessly he could move between Country, Western Swing, Boogie and guitar-led instrumental music. The collection also includes material self-penned by Travis alongside songs arranged from traditional sources, giving a particularly good overview of the breadth of his early work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eFor anyone fascinated by the roots of Country, Hillbilly and early Rock 'n' Roll, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Picking Pioneer: 1946-49\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a particularly worthwhile LP. Travis's influence on generations of guitarists makes this much more than a collection of period Country recordings, while the 16-track selection provides plenty of great music in its own right. A fine choice for collectors who appreciate the pioneering musicians whose playing and songwriting helped lay the foundations for so much of the American roots music that followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTracklist\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide A:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo Vacancy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCininatti Lou\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMissouri\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDivorce Me C.O.D.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSweet Temptation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSo Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark As A Dungeon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNine Pound Hammer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide B:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSixteen Tons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFat Gal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Times Seven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteel Guitar Rag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMerle's Boogie Woogie\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKentucky Means Paradise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrazy Boogie\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat A Shame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"quick-actions-wrapper\" data-manual-position=\"false\" style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483646; pointer-events: auto; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.15s; left: 121.42px; top: 36.4062px;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"deepseek-quick-action-buttons light-mode\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box !important; height: 40px !important; padding: 4px 10px !important; opacity: 1; position: static;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Merle Travis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55161143558473,"sku":"ACRSLP1688","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1008\/3427\/9753\/files\/0824046168827.jpg?v=1787915700","url":"https:\/\/www.raucousrecords.com\/products\/the-picking-pioneer-1946-49-lp-vinyl","provider":"Raucous Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}