There's so much quality stuff on these discs it's hard to know where to begin. The sound quality is better than on the previous Bear Family box (Blue Moon of Kentucky) and even if the songs aren't quite up to the same level as his '40s recordings there's almost as many top notch tunes. This is the era when Bluegrass really took off and the competition was fierce what with Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Bros, Reno & Smiley and all the rest putting out their best work. Monroe was still a force to be reckoned with and his Mandolin was never recorded as well as it was during this decade. Every instrumental song he cut in the '50s is ace and the musicians in his band were stellar: Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Rudy Lyle & Charlie Cline all passed through the Bill's ranks during the time chronicled on this set.Do yourself a favor and pick it up (after Blue Moon of Kentucky though). You'll be glad you did.