Alabama's Alton and Rabon Delmore made their first splash on the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s. They became the Louvin Brothers' primary inspiration, and their enduring original numbers live on among Americana and bluegrass acts. This four-disc, 87-track set assembles their complete 1933-40 Bluebird recordings and 1940-41 Decca recordings, the bulk of them timeless, unadorned country with blues overtones galore. Their style, too, was free of artifice, centered around their relaxed, flexible harmonies. The interplay between Alton's guitar and Rabon's four-string tenor guitar created a solid, fluid base for every tune. Included are Delmore masterpieces "Brown's Ferry Blues," "Southern Moon," "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar," "Blue Railroad Train," "False Hearted Girl," and "Rainin' on the Mountain." Some obscure numbers are equally fascinating. "The Dying Truckdriver," among the earliest country trucker tunes, was more sentimental than most. "Scatterbrain Mama" anticipates the Delmores' postwar country boogie records for King, which clearly anticipated rockabilly. While the notes don't reflect the comprehensive expertise such a package merits, the music, superbly and skillfully remastered, speaks for itself. --Rich Kienzle
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