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Amazon.com Trucker anthology albums are a country tradition. Unlike Starday Records' classic 1960s LPs with their wonderfully cheesy covers, this one takes a historical approach, beginning with the original trucker lament, Western swing bandleader Cliff Bruner's "Truck Driver's Blues" from 1939. Other early rarities reflect varied styles and moods. The slick Hollywood Western sound of Dick Reinhart's 1941 "Truck Driver's Coffee Stop" contrasts with duo Karl and Harty's old-timey "Truck Driver's Sweetheart." Likewise, the Milo Twins' dainty "Truck Driver's Boogie" is light years from Doye O'Dell's foreboding "Diesel Smoke (Dangerous Curves)" with its dazzling (and uncredited) instrumental backing from Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West. The set encompasses obvious standards: Johnny Horton's "I'm Coming Home," Del Reeves's "Girl on the Billboard," and Dick Curless's "A Tombstone Every Mile" are joined by Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road," which set the tone for modern trucker tunes. Omissions are inevitable with any anthology, but here they're either welcome (no sign of "Convoy," thankfully) or legitimate (Starday material is difficult to license). In all, this 20-song set is a respectable, intelligent overview. --Rich Kienzle