Various Artists
Album: The First Ladies Of Country
Label: Sony
Tracks: 43
Website: http://www.sonymusic.com/

If you like Country Music, especially female artists, then this album is most definitely for you. If you like neither then do not bother to read on and just go and listen to something that you do like.

This album titled "The First Ladies of Country" could just as easily be titled a History of female Country music spanning fifty years. It contains most of the artists you would expect to hear on an anthology; Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Crystal Gayle, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn and so many more. Many of the artists have been around for some time, but the album also includes some of the newer acts such as The Band Perry, Kacey Musgraves and First Aid Kit. It also includes Kelly Clarkson who I would never regard as a country artist.

This mammoth music box of 43 tracks is a superb mix of traditional and modern country music and is described as "A collection of the most celebrated female country recording artists of all time." If I have a complaint, it is that it does not include my favourite country artist, Suzy Bogguss, but that is presumably down to label issues. Another notable absentee is Faith Hill, but it does not stop this being a fantastic album.

I have suggested above that it could be called a "history" and the album certainly shows how much this genre of music has developed in recent years and opened up and attracted a completely new fan base. The newer artists in particular are taking country music to a whole new level.

The publicist's suggest it would make a superb present for Mother's Day. I ask why not for Father's day too? Bit sexist! Having said that, I think the publicists might be slightly dyslexic. They have included the hashtag for Twitter as #FirstLadiesOfCounty One could reasonably ask "which county?"

There is little more to say about this collection. As I said before, if you like County music as much as I do. This album is an absolute must for your collection.

Rory Stanbridge