For those unaware, Al Terry was a country singer and guitarist, born in Louisiana in 1922, and was not only associated with the Cajun style of the bayous through his career but was also one of the first country artists to develop a rockabilly style. He first performed on radio when he was 13 and made his first records in 1946.

He is best known for his landmark No. 8 country hit in 1954 with his composition and rockabilly classic Good Deal, Lucille. This 50-track 2-CD collection features A & B sides of his releases on the Gold Star, Feature, Champion, Bella, Hickory, Dot & Index labels from this era, and includes his country hits with Good Deal, Lucille and Watch Dog.

It features duet recordings with Wilma Lee Cooper and Rusty & Doug Kershaw. He was a stylish vocalist who occupies a particular niche in the country music landscape of the era, and this collection offers an entertaining overview of his core career.

The story of Al Terry is a fascinating one, built from roots he put down within music from a very early age. He began singing with his brothers and made an appearance at the age of 13 on radio KVOL. He formed his first band while still in high school. After graduation he spent a period in Beaumont, Texas to learn about radio broadcasting with KRIC. He actually entered the world of professional entertainment as a radio announcer and disc jockey during World War II.

Indeed, it was after one of Terry’s featured recordings won extensive airplay in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Mel Foree of the Roy Acuff & Fred Rose - owned Hickory recording company signed Terry to a contract with that label. Amazingly enough, in 1955 Country & Western Jamboree magazine voted Terry number 1, above Elvis Presley, in their New Male Country Singer category. In the mid-50s he was a featured guest on The Louisiana Hayride.

As interesting as his songs have been, it was the Al Terry voice and style that made him one of the best country singers of that or any other time. His soothing baritone voice anticipated the country pop vocalists, like Jim Reeves, Tommy Overstreet and Stu Phillips who emerged a short time later, but his vocal range surpassed that of most country singers.

Unlike most of the country pop singers that followed him, Terry has never sung with anything but honky-tonk accompaniment, and his voice, though velvet-smooth and marked by the precise articulation gained during years of radio announcing, has never been bland.

To my mind, and in my very own humble opinion, Al Terry never really took his place among country music’s elite. Not only could he have been a contender, but he should also have been one. Terry was immensely popular throughout the Southwest with widespread fan loyalty in Louisiana and Southeastern Texas.

Disc 1:
I’ll Be Glad When I’m Free; If You Want A Broken Heart; H-A-D-O-C-O-L; How Can It Be; I Wonder If I Can Lose The Blues; Say a Prayer For Me; I Nearly Made A Fool Of My Heart; When You Broke The Rules Of Love; Shoot Me a line; Promise Made Promise Broken; Last Night I Dreamed Of You Again; Good Deal, Lucille; Say A Prayer For Me; Show Me That You Love Me; House Of Glass; Hey Whatta Y’Say; Let’s Postpone Our Wedding; Hate Me Not; The Wall Around My Heart; Gone Again; No No John; (Dear God) I Love Her So; Goodbye, Mr. Sunshine; Not Anymore; We Make A Lovely Couple

Disc 2:
Follow Me; No Shrimp Today; Without You; Am I Seeing Things; Roughneck Blues; Money; If I Win, I Win; It’s What You Are To Me; Late Date; Coconut Girl; Bring Me Some Rain; Good Deal, Lucille; Because I’m Yours (But You’re Not Mine); I’m Not The Girl You Left Behind; It’s Just As Well; My Baby Knows; Your Sweet Lies; It’s Better Late Than Never; Then You’re Living Just Like Me; Watch Dog; Passing The Blues Around; Miss Me, Miss Mary Ann; As You Desire Me; I’ve Been Losing You A Long Long Time; I Saw The Enemy Today

Official Purchase Link