Though the Maddoxes began recording long before the emergence of rock 'n' roll and rockabilly in the early '50s, the numbers included on this generous 27-song collection - lifted from the group's sessions for the  4-Star label in the late '40s and early '50s - pointed the way for others  to follow.  One can easily hear the enormous influence that  bassist/vocalist Fred Maddox had on the rockabilly bassists who followed  him, including Bill Black and Dorsey Burnette. And lead guitarist Roy  Nichols displays the ample chops that he would later employ to great effect  with the likes of Lefty Frizzell, Wynn Stewart, and Merle Haggard.  The most impressive thing about the Maddoxes, though, is that their records  were Fun with a capital "F."  Sure they never enjoyed much  popularity outside of their west coast base, but their records have stood  the test of time far better than some others of the era and you're a better  person than I am if you can stifle a smile while listening to the almighty  racket that the group made.  Most of the songs are punctuated by the kinds  of whoops and hollers and laughing that would be commonplace on rockabilly  records made nearly a decade later, and more than a few sound like someone  is building a house in the studio while the group was recording.  If you're  a musician who's getting a little too full of the "art" of  playing music, give a listen to the Maddoxes for a reminder of what music  sounds like when it's played for fun...and sounds like it.