Country Style Season, Vol. 1

Country Style U.S.A. was a syndicated television program aired in the late Fifties and early Sixties which featured noted country music stars alongside recruitment appeals for the United States Army, and this DVD from Bear Family Records features thirteen surviving episodes from the show's first season. The material on Country Style U.S.A.: Season One was transferred to disc in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1; the image quality is inconsistent, with the surviving kinescopes usually a bit scratchy and sometimes looking dark and showing too much contrast, but given the rarity of the live performances, most fans will be willing to overlook the occasional visual flaws. The audio has been mastered in PCM Stereo, retaining the original monophonic sound mixes, and the quality is good considering the age and condition of the source prints. The performances are in English, with no subtitles or multiple language options included. A Bear Family logo appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen throughout the presentation. Beyond the accompanying booklet, which includes photos and biographies of the artists featured on these episodes, no bonus materials have been included, but fans of classic country music will still want to give this a look considering the rarity of the performances and the fine musicians who appear in their prime.