GREAT 4 CD BOX SET OF MUSICAL HISTORY
IF SOMEBODY PUT TOGETHER THIS COMPILATION OF SONGS FOR A MASTER'S THESIS ON THE HISTORY OF WESTERN SWING MUSIC, THEY COULDN'T HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB THAN THIS. THIS IS A FOUR CD BOX SET WITH INFORMATIVE BOOKLETS IN EACH CD WITH LOTS OF PICTURES AND BIOGRAPHICAL INFO. ADMITTEDEDLY, THE EARLIEST STUFF DOESN'T QUITE "SWING" AS MUCH AS THE LATER RECORDINGS, BUT THE MUSIC IS STILL GREAT AND IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR HOW THE MUSIC EVOLVES OVER TIME. A BARGAIN PRICE, I HAVE A FEW BOX SETS IN THIS SERIES (THE PROPPER LABEL) AND THEY ARE ALL FANTASTIC PRODUCTIONS AND VALUES. WHAT OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED AS THAT WESTERN SWING IN MANY WAYS WAS A PRECURSOR TO ROCK AND ROLL, ALONG WITH R&B "JUMP BLUES" (AT LEAST TO MY EARS, ANYWAY).

The finest set of western swing ever. Timeless fun!
Western swing fans will be dancing in the streets over this brilliant box set. It features 99 cuts dating from 1932 through the late 40's. They run chronologically and features all the great architects of western swing: Milton Brown & his musical Brownies, Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, Light Crust Doughboys etc. Even if you're not a fan of country music, you may enjoy this one. It is genuine feel-good, stomping music with honkytonk pianos, fiddles, drums, guitars and even saxes. This is without a doubt the best buy for any fan of this genre. It is timeless fun! Crank it all the way up, pop open a cold one and all of sudden it's 1938 and you're in a Dallas honky tonk. By the way, the liner notes in the booklet are outstanding with dates, pixs, stories. Most interesting was that the Crystal Springs Ramblers from Ft. Worth were a favorite of Bonnie and Clyde's at a popular dance hall down there. Great job by Proper Records!

Good Luck in trying to find something better !
I read some of the other reviews and I can apperciate a lot what other folks are saying. I really agree with the one who said that todays Country Music makes them sick. What in the name of God does a naked Faith Hill rolling around a bed under the sheets singing some half baked so called Modern Country have to do with the music that I was raised on and grown to love. As the Great Bill Monroe stated "That junk ain't part of nothing",(I saw that on a FH video that was being played on cabel TV). What a moral let down, instead of appearing as one of our Country Stars she looks a lot more like a B-girl- that's where we are today. I said all that to say this: If you love WesternSwing like I do then you will love this set - it really has a lot of good stuff and takes you back to the days of Bob, Milton,Tommy,Leon, Spade and many other outstanding Western Swing artists. This set was a real welcome to my Swing Collection.
Keep in mind that this music ain't for everybody.If you like spending time listening to the likes of a feuding Toby with the Dixie Chicks then this real Roots Music ain't for you. But if you would be willing to sell your top coon hound to get the money to get tickets to see "Asleep at the Wheel" then you might be a fan that can apperciate what was started by Bob & Milton way down in Texas back in the early 30's.
While I type this review I'm listening to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys perform "Faded Love" on my computer so I'll cut it short. Buy this set - at this price you can't afford not too. While you are at it do what I did and get the "Proper Records - Bob Wills/Take Me Back To Tulsa" also - you will be Blessed !
"ENJOY" Joe Kopeck / Parkville,MD.

A Great Overview Of Western Swing
This 4 volume box set by Proper is a fantastic overview of that great American musical art form Western Swing.
It's not country, it's not cowboy, it's not swing, it's just great toe-tapping fun music!
The songs in this album are presented in chronological order thus allowing the listener to experience the growth and progression of this great music.
The songs are remastered originals and the sound quality is first rate.
There's also a booklet containing liner notes about all the artists and a discography.
I own several box sets by Proper and every single one is a bargain, well worth far more than the asking price.

Musical history that is alive and well today
My first exposure to Western swing was the first Asleep At The Wheel Bob Wills tribute CD, and I have been hooked ever since. However, up until I bought this collection, I have only heard Bob Wills. I was pleased to buy this in a local branch of Half Price Books. In addition to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, it also has selections from Milton Brown, Patsy Montana, the Light Crust Doughboys, Spade Cooley - just to name a few. This vibrant blend of cowboy/fiddle music and black blues/swing has yet to wander far from my CD player!