Various Artists - Best of Austin City Limits: Country Music's Finest Hour

From its inception in the mid-'70s until the late '90s, Austin City Limits was the premier country music television show in America. What distinguished the show from its competition was its emphasis on performance -- each show spotlights one or two artists, plus various guest artists who are allowed to play whatever they want. The result was a series of freewheeling, eclectic, and passionate music shows unlike any other. The Best of Austin City Limits: Country Music's Finest Hour collects 16 highlights from the show's long, illustrious history and, as expected, some of the biggest name in country music are involved. From Merle Haggard ("Silver Wings," 1978) and George Jones ("He Stopped Loving Her Today," 1985) to Asleep at the Wheel ("Boogie Back to Texas," 1987) and Alison Krauss ("Baby, Now That I've Found You," 1995), the album has a wide selection of first-rate artists and stellar performances that hint at the rich legacy of the show. In fact, if there's anything wrong with the disc, is the fact that it feels incomplete, even though it includes such luminaries as Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, k.d. lang, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dwight Yoakam, the Mavericks, the Judds, Charlie Daniels, and Patty Loveless. There's no fault with any of these selections, indeed, but after the disc is finished, you're waiting for the sequel. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Steffey Mandolin Alison Krauss Performer, Fiddle, Vocals Arnett Cobb Sax (Tenor) Asleep at the Wheel Performer Barry Bales Bass, Vocals Barry Walsh Vocals, Piano Becky Priest Vocals, Keyboards Bee Spears Bass Ben Mink Fiddle Biff Adam Drums Bill Arhos Liner Notes, Executive Producer Billy Briggs Sax (Tenor) Billy Lee Myers, Jr. Engineer, Mixing Bobbie Nelson Piano Bonnie Owens Vocals Brantley Keams Guitar Bruce Scafe Director Carmella Ramsey Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic) Caroline Greyshock Photography Charlie Daniels Performer, Vocals, Fiddle Charlie Hayward Bass Charlie Vaughan Producer, Director Charlie Whitten Guitar (Steel) Cindy Wheeler Vocals Clyde Phillips Guitar Dan Tyminski Guitar, Vocals Dave Sloas Guitar David Dawson Bass David Hough Mixing, Engineer David Sanger Drums Don Markham Saxophone Don Potter Guitar, Vocals Doug Elliott Bass Dwight Yoakam Performer, Guitar, Vocals Eddie Anderson Drums Fred Edwards Drums Gary P. Nunn ?, Theme Music George Jones Guitar, Performer, Vocals Gordie Matthews Guitar Gordon Terry Fiddle Howard Fritzson Art Direction J.D. Foster Bass, Vocals J.T. Brown Bass, Vocals Jay Byrd Trumpet Jay Hager Bass, Vocals Jeff Donavan Drums Jeff Hale Drums Jeff Peterson Associate Producer Jennifer Eddy Vocals Jerry Bridges Vocals, Guitar Jerry Dale McFadden Keyboards, Vocals Jody Payne Vocals, Guitar Joel "Taz" DiGregorio Keyboards John Ely Guitar (Steel) John Hobbs Keyboards John Jennings Guitar, Vocals Johnny Garcia Guitar, Vocals Johnny Gimble Fiddle Jon Carroll Keyboards, Vocals Jonny Mendelsson Cover Design k.d. lang Vocals, Performer Ken Janson Drums Kenny Vaughan Guitar Kent Goodson Keyboards Kevin Hogan Bass Kip Raines Drums Larry Franklin Fiddle, Vocals Lee Carroll Piano Link Davis Sax (Alto) Mark Dunn Drums Mark Feldman Director Mark Yeary Piano Mary Chapin Carpenter Vocals, Guitar, Performer Merle Haggard Vocals, Guitar, Performer Michael Bowden Bass Michael Creber Keyboards Michael Francis Saxophone Michel Pouliot Drums Mickey Raphael Harmonica Mike Corbett Digital Mastering Mike Douchette Guitar (Steel) Mike Stewart Compilation Producer Milton Smith Keyboards Murrel Counts Fiddle Naomi Judd Vocals Nick Kane Guitar Norm Hamlet Guitar (Steel) Papa Charlie Jackson Guitar (Rhythm) Pat Jerina Design Patty Loveless Vocals, Performer Paul Anastasio Fiddle Paul Deakin Drums Paul English Drums Pete Anderson Guitar Pete Finney Guitar (Steel) Ralph Mooney Guitar (Steel) Raul Malo Vocals, Guitar Ray Benson Guitar, Vocals Rex Ludwig Drums Ric McClure Percussion, Vocals, Drums Richard Peterson Executive in Charge of Music Rick Murrell Mixing, Bass Robbie Magruder Drums Robert Reynolds Bass, Vocals Ron Block Guitar, Vocals Ron Gaddis Vocals, Bass Ron Johnson Guitar Ronnie Reno Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals Roy Nichols Guitar Russ Harrington Photography Scott Newton Photography Sue Richards Vocals Susan Caldwell Associate Producer Tammy Wynette Performer, Vocals The Judds Performer The Mavericks Performer Tim Alexander Vocals, Piano Tim Hensley Guitar (Acoustic) Tom Crain Guitar Trisha Yearwood Vocals, Performer Waylon Jennings Guitar, Performer, Vocals Wayne Durham Bass Willie Nelson Performer, Vocals, Guitar Wynonna Judd Vocals, Guitar