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I like Webb Pierce. I mean, I really like Webb Pierce. I also really like Chet Atkins (his guitar playing, at least – his slick production style is another story). So why does this DVD get only 3 stars? Because like oil and water, Webb and Chet just don’t mix.

Webb Pierce’s double aught twang was a bit much for a lot of people, especially “countrypolitan” record producers like Chet Atkins. Even for a fan like me, Webb’s singing is put in a bizarre perspective when sandwiched between the guitar virtuousity of Chet Atkins. Fans of Chet Atkins who have never heard or seen Webb Pierce will be in for a huge shock; Webb’s gaudy suits are subtle and tasteful compared to his singing. These same fans will also be disappointed to find that Mr. Pierce takes up the bulk of performances on the DVD. Personally, I think that some performance by Bill Monroe and/or Kitty Wells would have been more compatible with Webb’s um… “distinctive” style.

One other minor complaint. Pierce starts most of his songs “dry” – that is, he strums a chord on his gee-tar, starts singing and the band ultimately joins in. This lack of a guitar/steel intro only serves to compound the twanginess of Webb’s voice. At least with Ernest Tubb, we get a patented introduction that lets us know what lies ahead.

On the plus side, there’s some great songs here. Webb does “Walking The Dog” (the Webb Pierce song, not the Rufus Thomas R&B hit), “That Heart Belongs To Me”, “Slowly”, and the ultimate drinking song, “There Stands The Glass” (conspicuous in its absence is “Back Street Affair”). Furthermore, he is joined by Red Sovine and one of the Wilburn Brothers (Teddy?) on “In The Jailhouse Now” and Carl Smith (!) and Marty Robbins (!!) on “Why Baby Why”. That alone is enough reason enough to purchase this DVD. Music lovers everywhere can also rejoice in the fact that Red Sovine and Webb Pierce DO NOT perform “Little Rosa” on this disc.

While Chet Atkins fans might be disappointed by only 9 Chet tunes (compar
Country Music Classics VHS

So far, my Kindle is fantastic. Makes reading fun. Can’t wait to purchase more books. No criticisms about any of its features.
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