Blissed-Out Birth of Country Rock / Various

""It was something in the air, almost like the earth was passing through a cloud. I think this music was the direct result of psychedelia, the chaotic noisiness of it. People wanted to return to the simplicity that country music represented. Three-chord songs, melodies, and stories."" (Roger McGuinn, the Byrds)

Bear Family has issued critically acclaimed and top-selling year-by-year anthologies of R&B (Blowin The Fuse 1945-1960) and Soul (Sweet Soul Music 1961-1975), and country music (Dim Lights, Thick Smoke & Hillbilly Music 1945-1970). Now its the turn of Country Rock.

In 1966, rock groups began turning away from the self-indulgence of early psychedelia to the timeless values embodied in country music, but they brought a counter-culture sensibility to it. It was a trend that began slowly in 1966, picked up steam in 67 when Bob Dylan released his groundbreaking John Wesley Harding album and The Bands first LP appeared, and became a phenomenon in 1968 when the Byrds released Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, and Dillard & Clarks first album appeared. Heritage acts like the Everly Brothers and Rick Nelson came early to the party. And then, in 1969, the Flying Burrito Brothers first LP appeared, Dylan released Nashville Skyline, and the Bands epochal second LP appeared. Suddenly, Country Rock was a phrase on everyones lips.Not only is Bear Family able to license from great and small labels to bring you the complete story of Country Rock, but the story is told as only Bear Family can tell it: pristine sound, previously unpublished photos, full liner notes with first-person accounts from those who were there. The set is produced and annotated by Grammy-award winning writer-producer Colin Escott.