Hank Garland

The best of Hank Garland's solo sides from the late '40s and early '50s, featuring his signature tune, "Sugarfoot Rag," and 19 others equally abounding with hot guitar passages. Highlights also include the Red Foley-sung version of "Sugarfoot Rag" (on which Garland played lead guitar), cut some three months after his own version; half a dozen selections sung with varying degrees of success by Garland (among them Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On"), who primarily imitated established vocalists like Hank Snow and Floyd Tillman; and a surprisingly lively and bold version of the bluegrass instrumental "Billy In the Low Ground" (issued as "Lowdown Billy") for electric guitar. The set is rounded out with two never-issued solo sides cut in 1957 for the tiny Chic label. Some of country's best guitar work, and Garland's all too rare solo outings, are right here for the listening. ~ Cub Koda & Bruce Eder, All Music Guide