Though not nearly as well known as the likes of
Kitty Wells,
Goldie Hill likewise recorded some of the earliest quality female-sung country sides bridging hillbilly music with somewhat more polished honky tonk and country-pop styles. This British compilation might be disappointingly sketchily annotated, only noting that the 16 tracks focus on "her early singles" without providing any original release dates. But the music is good yearning stuff that captures country music at a time when it was in transition between its lonesome rural roots and something with wider, more commercial appeal. Whether or not it was a conscious choice on part of the person or people responsible for the track selection, the material definitely leans toward the sorrowful side of '50s-era country,
Hill begging for a wedding cancellation, "Waiting for a Letter," or bemoaning her fate as "yesterday's girl" or "the loneliest gal in town." The musical backing isn't entirely doleful, however, with some pretty sparky and tuneful honky tonk (if on the lighter side of the genre), including a couple duets with
Justin Tubb. If you do like the weepers, fear not, some of those are here too, with "Call Off the Wedding" and the title track counting among the more heartstrings-tugging examples.
Hill also proves adept at more forceful wailing on "Cry Cry Darling," though projecting stoic hurt was probably her biggest vocal asset. While these recordings are far more obscure than those of famed '50s female country singers who explored similar areas, anyone interested in the sound those performers pioneered will find much to enjoy here. ~ Richie Unterberger