Tex Ritter

A Proper Introduction to Tex Ritter collects 28 of his recordings from 1935-1952, originally released on the Decca and Capitol labels. Packaged in a deluxe digipack with notes and photos, this generous anthology is a bargain for newbies. Ritter's early recordings have been widely reissued (MCA's Country Music Hall of Fame and ASV's Sing, Cowboy, Sing both overlap with this anthology), but Proper's entry covers a longer time period: from Ritter's early, gritty cowboy songs to his later Western swing and crossover pop recordings, and ending just before he began cutting dramatic, lavishly orchestrated film themes in the mid-'50s. Many of Ritter's Capitol hits from the '40s are included, as well as one of several recordings he made of "High Noon." If you own Capitol's Vintage Collections and the Country Music Hall of Fame disc, you already have most of these recordings, but if you're new to the Tex Ritter experience, A Proper Introduction is exactly that -- an affordable and extensive sampling of music from one of the most unique singing cowboys. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide