ABSTRACT
Songs of the West (Rhino CD R2-71263). Los Angeles, CA: Rhino Records, 1993. Four compact discs, seventy-three selections, with illustrated booklet.
We live in an age of media-packaged history. Nowhere is this phenomenon more visible than in song reissue anthologies. Time-Life Music Inc. alone reconstructs recent musical history in twelve formats: "Your Hit Parade" (1945-1954), "Contemporary Country" (1970-1989), "Big Bands" (1940s), "Guitar Rock" (1960s through 1980s), "Classic Rock" (19641969), "Rhythm and Blues" (1950s through 1960s), "The Rock 'n' Roll Era" (1954-1964), "Sounds of the Seventies" (1970-1979), "Country USA" (1950s through 1970s), "The Time-Life History of Rock 'n' Roll" (1950s through 1970s), "Superhits" (1960-1973), and "The Rolling Stone Collection" (1967-1992). The technological shift from black vinyl to silver compact discs has undeniably stimulated the surge to define post-World War II popular music via preassembled nostalgia packets. Sound quality is vastly improved; but musical variety is significantly diminished. Treasured tunes are preserved; but minor hits, novelty songs, B-side surprises, and sub-Top 40 releases from prior decades vanish as if they had never graced any turntables. The rebellious James Dean has been transformed into the lovable Arthur Fonzarelli of Happy Days fame.
