Album: Various artists, Country Soul Sisters 2 (Soul Jazz)

A second volume of "Women in Country Music 1956-79". The music's good: Dolly, Jeannie C, Loretta, Bobbie, Tammy, Patsy and Kitty are all present and correct, as is Cher.

This is the sound of a substantial slice of American society talking to itself, hesitantly and conventionally, but talking at least: it is easy to overclaim on its behalf ideologically, especially with 50 years' hindsight. But that doesn't mean the voices aren't vividly real.