I'm Little But I'm L

As the title implies, Dickens has a robust and roaring set of pipes that belie his size. And despite the novelty tag that follows him around (and that he in fact encouraged), his approach to music is dead serious even if his lyrics are often comical. This 22-song collection includes both his hits and his greatest performances. Top-quality musicians abound: Early 1949 cuts feature Ernest Tubb’s guitarist Billy Byrd and Roy Acuff’s Smoky Mountain Boys; his own talented Country Boys included at various points Grady Martin, Red Taylor, Tommy Jackson, Buddy Emmons, Harold Bradley, Cecil Brower, and Pig Robbins. His spirited vocals roll through traditional Acuff-influenced country, proto-rockabilly, Western swing, and earnest (if not overblown) ballads. Rather than polish up his hillbilly background, he flaunts it for all to notice. This pint-sized package packs a mean punch. --Marc Greilsamer