Snapshots (Collection)

You might have to do some digging through liner-notes to realize that Al Perkins is an integral root of the country-rock sound of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. A master of the Dobro and steel guitar since his youth, Perkins has played with the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Richie Furay, Stephen Stills, Joe Walsh, the Eagles, Michael Nesmith as well as less twangy notables such as Leonard Cohen, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Randy Newman and James Taylor. Snapshots chronologically compiles Perkins’ best recordings through the years starting with a 1956 West Texas radio performance accompanying Western swing legend Smokey Rogers. Here an 11-year-old Perkins picks and slides all over “B. Bowman Hop,” sounding like a young Leon McAuliffe from Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys. Other awesome tracks include the surfy “Fried Bacon Crisp” with the Mystics, a rare 1971 solo recording with the Flying Burrito Brothers entitled “Back to the Country” and a barn-burning cover of Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me” with Elvis Presley’s backing band including legendary guitarist James Burton.