Oh baby!  This is what I'm talking about!  If you've read any of my reviews on compilations, you know I'm far and above NOT a fan.  However, this is a tremendous
exception.  What we have here is a virtual goldmine of old Oaks recordings...many of which have never been released on CD or digital form whatsoever.

    For the most part this 2 CD set contains the first 3 gospel albums from the line up we know and love in their entirety! The Oak Ridge Boys, Sky High and Old Fashioned, Down
Home, Hand Clappin', Foot Stompin', Southern Style, Gospel Quartet Music are ALL here for the first time in complete and total, digital, remastered glory. Many songs of the three
albums have been released on various compilations.  Some of these songs have never seen the light of day on any CD.  So to have all of them here as complete albums is an
absolute joy and treat...and that's not even the GOOD news!

    Also among these wonderful recordings we have, what many die hard collectors may call, the holy grail of Oak Ridge Boys recordings, the early singles of the fab four.
Here we have glorious digital recordings of "Look Away Mama," and "Don't Be Late."  These are the b-sides of the singles "Heaven Bound" and "Family Reunion" which have
both seen previous release on other CD compilations.  While the singles themselves have been very hard to find, in good quality no less, this is a special treat with them finally
being in digital quality.

    The remaining songs here are from the albums Unstoppable and The Long Haul (with the exception of "Go Tell It On The Mountain").  They are the singles released from those
two albums, which have both been released previously on CD in their entirety. "Go Tell It On The Mountain" was released on a compilation entitled Sounds Of The Season.

    One other unexpected treat within this package is a TWENTY page booklet that includes extensive liner notes and details about the recording of these albums and history.
If that weren't enough, included here is the cover and back artwork of all three early gospel albums!!  This is fantastic, and truly going above and beyond the call of duty!

    All in all, this 2 CD set is an absolute treat.  I must hand it to Columbia Records for REALLY stepping up and delivering a treasure to long time and hard core Oaks fans.
Despite the expectation that there won't be tons of this CD set sold, they put it together and released it anyway, and gave us fans something to smile very widely about.
I can only hope that MCA will follow suit in the near future, and finally give us the same type of thing with all of the b-sides and virtually unheard goodies that they were a part
of in the 70's and 80's. Are you listening MCA Records???