American Heartland: Legends Of Country (Sony) ACCORDING to various reports country music is having an appreciation surge in the UK. A renewed interest in veterans such as Johnny Cash, who is back in the charts with a posthumous release, and Dolly Parton recently on tour in the UK with an appearance at Glastonbury, seems to have caused a roll-on effect that country is cool.

The TV series, Nashville, and the 02 Country to Country Festival have also increased the music’s popularity, bringing some closet country fans out of the closet. With that in mind, this three CD collection offers the listener 60 tracks with country legends performing their best-known hits.

From the early days of Hank Williams and Frankie Lane to Kenny Rogers and Billie Jo Spears the listener is treated to a nostalgic trip through past country hits.

The discerning fan will no doubt have many of the songs already. For the newbies, this release is a perfect collection from the 1990s to today that gives an insight into how many of the “greats” were influenced into a music that crosses all social boundaries. If you’re still thinking that it’s not cool to like country, I would wager you can sing along to at least half of the songs listed.

Open that door and come out of the closet.