Various Artists - American Music: The Hightone Records Story [4 CD + DVD]

HighTone Records is a standard-bearer label for all things alt.country, blues, folk and singer-songwriters. American Music: The Hightone Records Story features 79 tracks by 60 acts across 4 CDs plus a DVD of classic video clips. The boxed set takes its name from the Blasters' song that opens the 'Rock' disc.

Buddy Miller, Joe Ely, Tom Russell and Dave Alvin in particular are well represented, and and the set includes a few rarities as well as better-known tracks from the eclectic mix of artists featured in this comprehensive history of the label's many successes.

A 124 page boklet is included, but most self-respecting fans of Americana music will know the songs and the artists well enough anyway, but in the 5 discs there are enough gems buried away for everyone to find something new and interesting, as well as enjoying the great music from a golden age of Americana.

Disc 1: Blues

• Phone Booth - Robert Cray Band
• Stone Cold And Blue - Frankie Lee
• Tore Up - Otis Rush
• Smoking Gun - Robert Cray Band
• 747 - Joe Louis Walker
• Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark - Phillip Walker
• I Want To Do Everything For You - King Cotton & His Swamp Coolers
• I'll Get To Heaven On My Own - Joe Louis Walker
• Moaning And Groaning - Johnny Shines
• They Call Me Sundown - Lonesome Sundown
• Sugar Bee - Chris Gaffney
• Devil's Livin' There - James Armstrong
• Going Down South - R.L. Burnside
• It's A Minor Thing - Redd Volkaert
• Fast Food Slow Death - Clarence Brewer
• Eyesight To The Blind - Kim Wilson
• Miss Ida B - Pinetop Perkins
• How Could You Do it - Henry Gray
• September 11th Blues - Louisiana Red
  

Disc 2: Rock

• American Music - Blasters
• Lord Of The Highway - Joe Ely
• Flattop Joint - Sonny Burgess & Dave Alvin
• Blue Collar Blues - Billy Lee Riley
• Lickin' Stick - Loved Ones
• California Sun - Dick Dale
• Sparking City - Ted Roddy
• I Ain't Lyin' - Skeletons
• Lonely Guy - Big Sandy
• Telewacker - Redd Volkaert
• Bullet From A Gun - Teddy Morgan & The Pistolas
• Open The Door To Your Heart - Little Willie G
• Honky Tonk Wine - Carl 'Sonny' Leyland,
• Saturday Jump - Kim Lenz
• Hot Rodder's Lament - Deke Dickerson,
• Rockabilly Funeral - Twangbangers & Bill Kirchen
• Fourth Of July - Dave Alvin
• Hollywood Bed - Blasters
• Little Bitty Kiss - Buddy Miller
• Jug Hustler Blues - Seth Kauffman
• Eve Of Destruction - P.F. Sloan & Frank Black/Buddy Miller
  

Disc 3: Country

• Let's Start A Rumor Today - Bobby Durham
• Rainin' Rainin' Rainin' - Gary Stewart
• Goodbye Lonesome Hello Baby Doll - Lonesome Strangers
• Garage Sale - Buddy Miller
• Stay Out Of My Arms - Heather Myles
• Room 309 - Rev. Billy C. Wirtz
• Honky Tonk Queen - Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
• Ramblin' Fever - Billy Joe Shaver
• I'm Pretending - Buddy Miller
• Corpus Christi Bay - Johnny Rodriguez
• Wine Don't Lie - Dale Watson
• Greatest Story Ever Told - Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
• Comin' On Thru - Johnny Dilks & The Visitacion Valley Boys
• Little Ole You - Hollisters
• Sting In This Ole Bee - Hank Thompson
• Here I Am In Dallas - Dallas Wayne
• Truck Drivin' Man - Twangbangers
• It Stops With Me - Hot Club Of Cowtown
• Dark End Of The Hallway - Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown
• Walk Away If You Want To - Domino Kings
• Birth Of The Blues - White Hot Jazz Caravan
  

Disc 4: Singing Songwriters & Other Folk

• Dallas - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
• Blue Blvd - Dave Alvin
• West Texas Plains - Rosie Flores
• Link Of Chain - Chris Smither
• Gallo De Cielo - Tom Russell
• By Way Of Sorrow - Julie Miller
• Louise - 'Ramblin' Jack Elliott & Tom Waits
• Wild Ox Moan - Geoff Muldaur
• No Love Today - Chris Smither
• Walls Of Red Wing - Elliott, 'Ramblin' Jack & John Prine
• Beyond The Blues - Tom Russell& Jimmie Dale Gilmore
• All My Tears - Julie Miller
• Padre Prays For Rain - Aztex
• Midnight And Lonesome - Buddy Miller
• Gone In Pawn (Shake Sugaree) - Po'Girl
• Since You Went Away - Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum
• En La Central De Colima - Los Reales Del Rancho
• Tonight We Ride - Tom Russell
  

Disc 5: Music Videos [DVD]

• My Baby Thinks She's French - Joe Ely
• Rainin' Rainin' Rainin' - Gary Stewart
• Just Can't Cry No More - Lonesome Strangers
• Why Did She Stay With Him - Dave Alvin
• Blue Highway - Rosie Flores
• King Of California - Dave Alvin
• Rum And Rodeo - Heather Myles
• South Of Round Rock Texas - Dale Watson
• My Sinful Days Are Over - Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
• Rose Of The San Joaquin - Tom Russell
• You Can't Wrap Your Arms Around A Memory - Marty Brown
• You Can Say That Again - Johnny Rodriguez
• Lovin' The Bottle - Heather Myles
• Empty Glass - Gary Stewart
• Honky Tonk Moon - Rosie Flores
• Barn Burning - Dave Alvin