Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris have three careers unparalleled in music history. Together they have sold over 200 million albums worldwide and performed for decades in front of countless fans around the globe. It s no surprise that when their three voices united to release their debut collaboration, the results were remarkable. The threesome released two albums together, Trio (1987) and Trio II (1999), which have combined to sell more than five million copies worldwide and win three Grammy® Awards. Both of these classic albums have been newly remastered for a three-CD collection packed with rare and unreleased music produced by Harris. The bonus disc is loaded with 20 songs, including alternate takes and completely unreleased recordings from the trio spanning both album sessions.

My Name Is Buddy: Another Record by Ry Cooder is the thirteenth studio album by Ry Cooder. It is the second social-political concept album by Ry Cooder. Cooder has described it as the second in a trilogy that began with Chávez Ravine and concluded with I, Flathead. The album is packaged in a small booklet that includes a brief story and drawing to accompany each song. Both the songs and the stories relate tales from the viewpoint of the characters, Buddy Red Cat, Lefty Mouse, and Reverend Tom Toad. The liner notes ask listeners/readers to join them as they "Journey through time and space in days of labor, big bosses, farm failures, strikes, company cops, sundown towns, hobos, and trains… the America of yesteryear".

Like 1999's tribute to Gram Parsons, Return of the Grievous Angel, this successful collection revives the tired "tribute" concept and applies it in homage to a key figure in country music. Interpreting songs from across Hank Williams's short and troubled career, a range of high-profile artists use different approaches with equally gratifying results. Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, and Hank Williams III play familiar songs with traditional arrangements (Ms. Crow's yodel is an eye opener); Beck, Mark Knopfler, and Keb' Mo' stay closer to their own idioms. Keith Richards's reedy vocal makes "You Win Again" all his own, and Bob Dylan, who has only rarely lent his services to these sorts of projects, leads his touring band through a blues shuffle on "I Can't Get You Off of My Mind." The estimable Lost Highway label has assembled an illustrious cast to sing the praises of the artist who inspired its name, and in doing so it has created a far better testament to its musical mindset than can ever be captured in the term Americana.

Townes Van Zandt was a one-of-a-kind artist who blazed a new trail for singer/songwriters, conjuring a sound that combined elements of country and folk with his own artful melodic sensibility, matched with lyrics that were personal, poetic, and impressionistic while remaining firmly down to earth. A new breed of Texas singer/songwriters followed Van Zandt's example, and it's all but impossible to imagine artists like Guy Clark, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, or Steve Earle finding their voice without his guiding influence. This two-disc set features Van Zandt's first two albums, 1968's For the Sake of the Song and 1969's Our Mother the Mountain.

In "Southern Kind of Life," a song on her debut album, The Captain, Kasey Chambers convincingly describes a rural Southern upbringing – poverty stricken and Bible dominated – and since she performs in a style associated with the Appalachians as developed into commercial country music, it's easy to assume she's singing about the American South.

She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty (yeah, it's a mouthful, but at least it's not Fiona Apple's monolith), was reportedly Sinead O' Connor's final album – it wasn't – as she seeks another way of life as a spiritual pilgrim, O'Connor delved deep into her rare, B-side, unreleased, and compilation tracks and gives listeners a live album to boot over two discs. Released stateside on Vanguard, this is, despite its disparate nature, one of the most satisfying recordings she's ever delivered – the previous year's Sean-Nós Nua, her traditional album, was a knockout and perhaps her finest studio moment, but it went unnoticed here because Americans can't seem to forgive O'Connor for exercising her right to free speech (the audience at Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert should be especially ashamed). The studio sides released on disc one include her collaborations with everyone from Adrian Sherwood to the Asian Dub Foundation to Massive Attack to Roger Eno. Her covers of Dan Penn's "Do Right Woman," Boudleaux Bryant's "Love Hurts," and the B-52's' "Ain't It a Shame" are highly original, deeply moving, and satisfying. Her originals, such as "No Matter How Hard I Try," "Love Is Ours," "This Is a Rebel Song," and "Emma's Song," are eclipsed only by her readings of traditional Gaelic material. Her arrangements and those of her collaborators are top-flight. There are 19 cuts in all on disc one, and not a moribund moment in the bunch.

Portraits is a three-disc, 61-track box set covering Emmylou Harris' entire career for Reprise and Warner Records, which spans from 1974 to 1992. Not only does the box select highlights from classic albums like Luxury Liner, Roses in the Snow, and Blue Kentucky Girl, but it also features her early duets with Gram Parsons and selections from the Trio album she recorded with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. Portraits doesn't dwell too long on unreleased material – there are only five unearthed tracks on the entire set – preferring to sketch out a full overview of her career. While there might be a few favorite tracks missing, the box nevertheless fulfills its goals quite nicely – anyone looking for a comprehensive compilation of Emmylou's career will not be disappointed.

Rhino's Great Days: The John Prine Anthology is an excellent summary of John Prine's prime period, from his sublime 1971 eponymous debut to 1991's Missing Years. This (appropriately) draws heavily from his early recordings (including the aforementioned debut), but it also does a terrific job of finding songs on uneven albums, while giving weight to such classic albums as Bruised Orange. Although those previously mentioned albums are all worthwhile on their own terms (as are many of Prine's other records), this provides a nearly flawless recap of his career – so much so that it's not only for neophytes, but also reminds longtime fans why they loved him in the first place.

Texas Troubadour is a four-disc box set that packages the late songwriter Townes Van Zandt's first seven studio albums for the Poppy and Tomato labels: For the Sake of the Song (1968); Our Mother the Mountain (1969); Townes Van Zandt (1970); Delta Momma Blues (1971); High, Low and In Between (1972); The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972), and Flyin' Shoes (1978). In addition, there are four studio outtakes from 1972-73 and a decent portion of Live at the Old Quarter, Houston issued in 1973. Charly reproduces the original cover art in miniature, two covers to each CD. Sound is the same as on the original CD issues, so fans who already own these albums will not be served by purchasing them again in this format. Musically, the work is superb, and since many of Van Zandt's recordings are out of print, this is a fine argument for getting them altogether. Another plus is Adam Komorowski's extensive biographical essay included in the 36-page color booklet that's loaded with photos.

Almost all of country music's heavies contribute to this two-disc set, and many of the greatest anthems are all present. Forty tracks in all, including 'Rhinestone Cowboy' by Glenn Campbell, Kenny Roger's 'Coward of the County', 'Ring of Fire' by Johnny Cash, 'Me & Bobby McGee' by Kris Kristofferson, Tammy Wynette's 'Stand by Your Man', Patsy Cline's 'Crazy', 'Achy Breaky Heart' (Billy Ray Cyrus), The Charlie Daniels Band's 'Devil Went Down to Georgia', 'I Will Always Love You' by Dolly Parton and Much More.

If the heavy-hitters of outlaw country were acting like rock stars during their mid-'70s peak, then perhaps it was inevitable that the outlaws would start singing rock songs – which is precisely what Waylon Jennings did on 1976's Are You Ready for the Country. Although the title is taken from Neil Young's song – which provides an absolutely storming opener for this ten-song record – there is a bit of a jibe to its sentiment as well, since Waylon not only sings Young, but also the Marshall Tucker Band and Dr. Hook, along with reviving Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park." That selection of material indicates not just the increasing rock-isms of Waylon and the outlaws, it also indicates that Jennings' focus was beginning to blur slightly as he lost the sense of purpose that propelled his records of the first half the '70s, from The Taker/Tulsa to Dreaming My Dreams. Here, the music hasn't really changed, but the flow is no longer seamless and the shifting tones can be a little jarring.

This is a unique musical performance series, driven by famous recording artists who write their own songs, blended with professional song poets who write for other artists. "Legends & Lyrics" is currently airing on PBS on a weekly basis. Installments include artist performances, "Out Of The Box" interviews, "Did You Know?" historical facts addressing the origins of today's commercial music, "Rising Stars" featuring undiscovered talent, and "Tips Of The Week" for aspiring song poets. Shot in an intimate classical performance hall in HD and Surround Sound, the series honors the true creators of the most popular genres of commercial music. "Volume 1" features Kris Kristofferson, Patty Griffin, Randy Owen, and Jonathan Singleton.

5 disc box set includes the albums: Me And Bobby McGee (aka Kristofferson), Jesus Was a Capricorn (out-of-print in the US), Spooky Lady's Sideshow, Shake Hands With the Devil and The Silver Tongued Devil and I. The albums are packaged in mini-LP sleeves.

Summer Side of Life is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's seventh album. It was released in 1971 on the Reprise Records Label. The album marked a radical departure from the sound Lightfoot had established on Sit Down Young Stranger in its use of drums and electronic instrumentation, to which he would later return in the second half of the decade. “Redwood Hill” contains elements of bluegrass music.

Nine is the ninth album by the British folk rock group Fairport Convention, released in 1973. 2005 Remastered re-issue. Bonus Tracks include 'The Devil in the Kitchen' (Fiddlestix), 'George Jackson' (Live), 'Pleasure and Pain' (Live) and 'Six Days on the Road' (Live).