This 87-track collection from the artist who single-handedly kept alive the spirit of honky tonk music has something for everyone. For those who only know Dwight Yoakam from his radio hits--they're all here from 1986's "Honky Tonk Man" through 2000's "What Do You Know About Love."

For the serious fan, you get his one-off tracks like "Carmelita" (from Flaco Jimenez's album PARTNERS), "Holding Things Together" (from the Merle Haggard tribute album), "Rapid City, South Dakota" (from the Kinky Friedman tribute album), "New San Antonio Rose" (from Asleep at the Wheel's tribute album to Bob Wills) and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" (from this year's ZZ Top tribute album). The only songs missing are "Suspicious Minds" from the Honemoon in Vegas soundtrack and "Truckin'" from the Grateful Dead tribute album. [They are, however, both included on disc 4 in live versions.] You also get two tracks ("Doin' What I Did" and "Hey Little Girl") that previously were available only on Reprise's international collection LA CROIX D'AMOUR. In addition there are four new recordings: "Louisville," "Sittin' Pretty," "Mercury Blues" and a solo reworking of "Sin City," which first appeared as a duet with k.d. lang on JUST LOOKIN' FOR A HIT.

Disc 4 is ALL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MATERIAL!!! Tracks 1-10 are from Yoakam's 1981 demo recordings. Except for "Please Daddy," they would all show up in slightly different form on his first four studio albums. After hearing these demos, it's amazing it took five years for Yoakam to get a recording contract. Tracks 11 and 12 are superb duets with Kelly Willis. The last eight tracks are live songs from 1986, 1991 and 1995.

I've never been a huge country fan, but in 1986 I bought debuts from three artists that I thought would bring some integrity to country music. They were Steve Earle, Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam. What they have in common is a sincerity and honesty in their music that makes them stand head and shoulders above the rest of the country music landscape. ESSENTIAL

At the risk of making this review sound like the Rhino Records Appreciation Society, is there anything this company can't do when it comes to the world of re-issues, compendiums, and best-ofs? There's nothing really fancy or gimmicky about this Dwight Yoakam box - no hard-to-store novelty packaging, no DVD's, and no gristle. The first three discs draw the cream of the crop from Yoakam's studio releases, his guest appearances on the albums of others (including a surprise take on Syndicate Of Sound's "Hey Little Girl"), and three brand new recordings, while the fourth disc is comprised entirely of previously unreleased studio and live material, including demos cut in 1981 before earning his first recording contract. The three new cuts, "Louisville," "Sittin' Pretty," and "Mercury Blues," all carry the magic imprint of Yoakam's secret weapon - producer, arranger, and lead guitarist Pete Anderson - whose signature twang is every bit a part of Yoakam's sound as Dwight's own hiccuping, hillbilly croon. Throw in a booklet full of photos, testimonials and classy liner notes by Holly George-Warren and you've got another no brainer courtesy of the compilation geniuses at Rhino.

If you own all of his albums then shelling out for this set will seem redundant. HOWEVER - The unreleased tracks alone are worth the cost. The fourth disc is a stunner, featuring demos taken from 1981 that sound as good as if not better than the final studio versions. A solid collection from one of the most consistently excellent artists of this generation.

Like I said, this box set is so good I bought two of them. One to save and the other to thumb through and get all dog-eared. First of all, the book with the biographical information about Dwight and his musical career and the numerous pictures are worth half the price right there, believe me!! As far as the music, I own every Dwight album, so for me there's not a whole lot new, but for those of you wanting an introduction to Dwight's music, it's a great deal, as well as if you want to round out your collection. My favorite is Disc 4 with the 1981 demos and also the live tracks when Dwight and the band just break loose and tear up those songs, just the way I like to hear them!!

this has been the best purchase I have made. I love the booklet inside showing dwights life. I loved looking at pictures with family and friends.