Product Review

(DVD with 12-page booklet, DVD-pak, 15 tracks, playing time: 55:15, plus interviews) Marty Robbins was a reticent television performer. His appearances during the early part of his career were few, so this DVD is a treasure trove. Here are performances and interviews dating from 1959, the heart of Marty's golden era. As an added bonus, we catch Tompall and the Glaser Brothers at the dawn of their long career. Marty was perhaps the most versatile singer in country music, and these long lost performances bear that out. He runs the gamut from Hawaiian songs to western ballads to teen pop to classic country. He does it all effortlessly, and he does it all superbly. If you weren't lucky enough to be at the old Town Hall Party in February and October 1959, we'll take you there!

Town Hall Party was among the first of the country music shows to be seen on U.S. television, making its debut in early 1952 and running until early 1961. Staged every Saturday in a theater in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, the stage was made up to look like an old barn, thus continuing the traditions of the various live shows that were first heard on the radio airwaves three decades earlier. Town Hall Party was created with its own cast of regular performers and musicians, boasting a house that was virtually a 'who's who' of the West Coast scene comprising such as Joe Maphis, Merle Travis, Skeets McDonald, Johnny Bond and Tommy Duncan. Jay Stewart (who later hosted the TV quiz show 'Let's Make A Deal'), and Tex Ritter were the MCs. The weekly show presented an equally impressive guest list. Among the many guests to appear were Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Eddie Cochran, The Collins Kids, Freddie Hart, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, Merle Lindsay, Bob Luman, Carl Perkins, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Hank Snow and Gene Vincent. -- Now 'Town Hall Party' is reborn on DVD. Launched in 2002, this continuing DVD series present both individual artists' performances, compiled from different appearances on 'Town Hall Party', and complete cast shows selected from specific dates. Completely remastered, and presented with full color booklets, these releases fully captured the atmosphere, artistry and sounds of a bygone country music age.