had one of the most improbable careers in the history of American music: he recorded country blues, hillbilly, and gospel hits; he wrote one of the most enduring pop tunes of all time ("You Are My Sunshine"); he was elected governor of Louisiana twice, and he even starred in a handful of low-budget movies (one of which was based on his life story). is a two-CD set that collects 53 essential sides, tracing ' evolution from a double-entendre blues singer ("She's a Hum-Hum Dinger," "Organ Grinder Blues") into an early country star ("Do You Ever Think of Me," "I'm Gonna Write Myself a Letter") before gospel tunes came to dominate his repertoire. This music confirms was not only one of the first great stars of hillbilly music, but among the best white blues singers of his generation. ~ Mark Deming