Number of Discs5
Additional informationThis box set includes a 40-page booklet with notes by Colin Escott and rare photos. Personnel: Faron Young (vocals); Neal Matthews, Jr., Hugh Jarrett, Jack Halloran Choir, Hugh Gordon Stoker, The Anita Kerr Singers, The Jordanaires, Hoyt Hawkins (vocals); Ray Emmett (tenor); Chet Atkins, Harold Bradley (guitar, electric guitar); Jack Shook, Loren Otis Shook, Doyle Wilburn, James E. Wilson, Teddy Wilburn , Buck Owens (guitar); Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Billy Burd, Billy Byrd (electric guitar); Joe Vincent, Bennett K. Schaeufele, Jimmy Day, Bob Foster, Buddy Emmons (steel guitar); Ray Edenton (banjo); Thomas Lee Jackson Jr., Dale Potter, Henry Newton "Tommy" Vaden, Gordon Terry (fiddle); Rufus Long (tenor saxophone); Marvin Hughes (piano, organ, vibraphone); Floyd Cramer, William Whitney Pursell, Merrill Moore (piano); Buddy Harman (drums, tambourine); Farris Coursey (drums); Lightnin' Chance (percussion). Audio Mixer: Larry Walsh. Recording information: Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, TN (03/01/1952-09/27/1962); C (03/01/1952-09/27/1962); Capitol Recording Studios, Studio A, Hollywood, CA (03/01/1952-09/27/1962); Castle Studio, Nashville, TN (03/01/1952-09/27/1962); Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville, TN (03/01/1952-09/27/1962); Music City Recording, Nashville, TN (03/01/1952-09/27/1962). Illustrators: Jerry Strobel; Don Roy; R.A. Andreas; Richard Weize; Brad Benedict. Photographers: Jerry Strobel; Don Roy; R.A. Andreas; Richard Weize; Brad Benedict. Country crooner Faron Young was one of the biggest names in Nashville in the late '50s and early '60s, laying down countless classic tracks for Capitol Records. Enormously influential in his heyday, he straddled the line between pure honky tonk and smooth countrypolitan stylings, but exuded pure class 100 percent of the time. Young's later life was plagued by alcoholism and personal problems, and he eventually killed himself, but unlike other tragic country figures his legend diminished after his death. Decades down the road, with his Capitol treasure trove criminally under-represented, the country archivist label Bear Family answered fans' prayers with this exhaustive five-disc document of Young's early work. The two sides of Young's musical personality are displayed in all their glory here. The smooth balladeer who made Willie Nelson's "Hello Walls" a pop crossover hit, and the hellbent honky-tonker howling out a debt to Hank Williams on "Your Cheatin' Heart" could not have existed without each other, and that dichotomy is played out in a comprehensive and intriguing way throughout THE CLASSIC YEARS.