Various Artists - Rhythm & Western 2: Your Cheatin' Heart (Various Artists) (CD)

We're kicking off with a fabulous version of Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" by Clyde McPhatter, right before getting to "Whiskey, Women & Loaded Dice" by Joe Liggins. Damita Jo gives us an up-tempo version of Hank Williams's classic "Jambalaya" and Ike Turner goes back to his Country & Western roots in "Going Home." Bobby Hebb delivers a cool version of the C&W standard "Night Train To Memphis" penned and first recorded by Roy Acuff but also recorded by Red Foley, Grandpa Jones, Webb Pierce, Floyd Cramer, and a myriad of other artists. Low Rawls & The Pilgrim Travelers with "If He Holds Your Hand" are the perfect example of how much Country & Western was influenced by Black Gospel. The infamous Hank Penny Western Swing tune "Catch Em Young, Treat Em Rough, Tell Em Nothin'" is cleverly revisited here by Mabel Scott. I think Cecil Gant's version of "Goodnight, Irene" is one of my favourites. More bronze hillbilly ditties by Billy Bland and Little Mac followed by an incredible version of "Got You On My Mind" by Brook Benton (a song also recorded by Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kitty Wells, Buck Owens and a buttload of other singers). More greatness from Ray Charles with his take of "It Makes No Difference Now" (Gene Autry, Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb etc.) and Ivory Joe Hunter with his "I Almost Lost My Mind". A change of pace with the Lovers ("I Wanna Be Loved") and a nice R&B rendition of Jimmie Davies's classic "You Are My Sunshine". Lazy Lester gives a swamp blues treatment to "I Hear You Knocking" (originally written as a C&W song by his producer JD Miller) and Little Esther magically turns Jim Reeve's Country hit "Am I Easy To Forget" into R&B without really changing much. Arthur Alexander is next with an excellent version of Johnny Bond's "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" a song also recorded by Hank Snow, The Louvin Brothers, Porter Wagoner, Flatt & Scruggs, Ernest Tubb, Bill Monroe, and many, many more.