Various Artists � American Roots Music
Label: Palm Pictures
Rating: 
 

You can tell that a lot of careful thought went into compiling this disc. Compiling a collection of songs that embody the full berth of American Roots Music is a daunting task. Without the work of these pioneering artists modern music would not exist as it is today. From bluegrass, folk, country, blues and cajun came the "roots" of rock �n' roll and modern country music. On October 29th the primetime premiere of "American Roots Music" will hit the airwaves on PBS. This four-part documentary will explore the evolution of music on the North American continent. Palm pictures will also release a 4 disc CD box set, a 4-tape VHS box set and a 2-disc DVD box set of the "American Roots Music" series at the end of October.

This CD is a "highlights" collection that showcases some of the best tracks included on the forthcoming 4-disc CD box set. This CD really lays out a timeline and map for the evolution of American music. The disc starts off with a collection of classic country and bluegrass songs from artists such as Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe and Hank Williams. From there it explores the blues with such legendary artists as Robert Johnson, Son House, Muddy Waters and B.B. King. Mahalia Jackson and Edwin Hawkins cover the Gospel movement where the listener can hear the final ingredient that was needed to mix with the blues to create the sound that would become known as R&B. 

American folk music is represented by such artists as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly (some say the term Rock �n- Roll came from one of his songs "I want to rock and roll you all night long".) and Bob Dylan. Other forms of American music are explored here as well,  such as Native American music by R Carlos Nakai and Cajun music by Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. 

All in all this is a fine collection of songs which show the evolution of music in America that led to the birth of rock �n- roll, R&B and modern country. Anyone seriously looking to understand where modern music came from would be wise to check this disc out as well as the documentary either on PBS or on VHS or DVD. If you really want to splurge check out the box set which will be released the same week as the series debuts on PBS.  My only complaint is that Ragtime got overlooked but other than that, you can't go wrong with this collection.