Jackson's earliest material, recorded in 1954 and 1955 (including a couple of duets with
Billy Gray), is pure honky-tonk and hillbilly country, with no rockabilly whatsoever. It's the rootsiest country she ever recorded, with arrangements that put the fiddles to the fore, and songs that rate as some of her most plaintive. It does not, however, necessarily qualify as some of her most interesting productions: the material isn't as exceptional, and the vocal delivery kind of stilted. Also, rock-oriented fans of
Jackson's slightly later work may well find this disappointing and too corny for their tastes. There's not much in the way of uptempo tunes, and nothing in the way of genuine rock & roll.