Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Contemporary Bluegrass    3. Folk & Traditional    4. New Acoustic    5. Pop    6. Progressive Bluegrass    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

It’s Joan Osborne who sums it up best in the promotional material accompanying this tribute album: " Dolly Parton is a gifted artist cleverly disguised as a media superstar and sex bomb." Osborne’s got it right. Beyond and beneath Parton’s well-publicized and oft-caricatured curves and angles, lurks the heart and soul of one of modern country music’s very best songwriters--Read more

Reviews (59)

Once you hear Dolly the rest
pale in comparison.
Save your money.
The main purpose of this album is to remind us how good Dolly Parton really is. Save your money to buy the originals.

(A-) Not Bad - Not Bad at All
There is only one or two songs that dont work out but this CD is great - Dont Get me wrong - These are great songs!
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Alternative Pop/Rock    4. Americana    5. Bluegrass    6. Club/Dance    7. Contemporary Bluegrass    8. Contemporary Country    9. Contemporary R&B    10. Country    11. Country Collections    12. Country-Folk    13. Country-Pop    14. Hip-Hop    15. Neo-Traditionalist Country    16. Pop    17. Popular Music    18. Progressive Bluegrass    19. Progressive Country    20. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

With ample doses of talent, spirit, and charisma, Flatt and Scruggs rose to the popular peak of the bluegrass heap during their 17-year association with Columbia. With Lester Flatt's casual vocal style and Earl Scruggs's groundbreaking banjo technique, the Foggy Mountain Boys brought bluegrass into the country mainstream more so than either Bill Monroe or the Stanley Brothers. Disc one picks up where the legendary Mercury recordings left off. High-powered originals such as "Come Back Darling," "Head Over Heels," "Til the End of the World Rolls Round," and "I'll Never Shed Another Tear" add to their classic repertoire, while the spectacular instrumental rags and breakdowns showcase Scruggs's banjo prowess. Disc two finds the pair diversifying their portfolio, as it were, with readings of popular television themes and covers of everyone from the Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, and Johnny Cash to John Sebastian, Bob Dylan, Tom T. Hall, and even Shel Silverstein. Read more

Reviews (12)

great recording
Sound quality was excellent, even though some of these songs were recorded 50 years ago.

Flatt & Scruggs timeless
This C.D. is excellent.Flatt & Scruggs are truley timeless performers.

A must have Flatt and Scruggs double CD
All I can say is, if this were and old vinyl LP, I would have worn through it by now. These 2 CDs are my most played of the stack of bluegrass CDs lying around my home and car. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Banjo    2. Bluegrass    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Pop    6. Traditional Bluegrass    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

On the surface, Alison Krauss's 1987 Rounder debut is a well-executed, completely satisfying bluegrass album with both traditional and contemporary elements. Once you realize that the sublime singer and expert fiddler you hear is a mere 15 years old, it becomes extraordinary. True, hearing a 15-year-old sing about "my whiskey on ice" and other such mature themes is a bit disconcerting, but what amazes is not what she's singing about but the masterful command she has over her angelic voice. And her fiddle licks are even more impressive. The record simply oozes potential and poise, even if the best was yet to come. Read more

Reviews (9)

Alison Krauss' Strong Debut
In 1987 Alison was only 15, and some of the songs on this CD are kind of "honky-tonky".In "Song For Life" the lyric begins "I don't drink as much as I used to...." and it's a little incongruous putting the words together with the 15 year-old voice.Her vocal tone was a little twangy and nasal-sounding, almost strident as she belted out some of these tunes, and I wonder if she was influenced maybe a little by some of the Nashville Big-Hair bunch like Reba. Debut album set the standard for those that followed
Alison was just fifteen when she made her recording debut with this album but, even at that age, she was ready for it. She is both only a talented musician and a wonderful singer with a great voice, which has echoes of Dolly, Reba and Emmylou while not being too much like any of them. Her music has changed significantly through the years so fans of her more recent albums may not like her early work. My eclectic taste in music allows me to enjoy all her music though I generally prefer the early stuff. Oh, my. Oh, oh, my......
I remember distinctly when I first heard one of the cuts on the lp version of Too Late to Cry on a radio show called Grass Roots or something like that out of Kalamazoo, MI.I stopped whatever I was doing to listen closely to "Don't Follow Me", and then the first chance I got to get up to Lansing's Elderly Instruments (the best darn music & instrument store in Michigan)I bought it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Pop    6. Progressive Bluegrass    7. Traditional Bluegrass   

Editorial Review

The bluegrass bandwagon continues to roll in 2001. This collectionattempts to capitalize on the breakthrough success of theRead more

Reviews (25)

This Bluegrass CD is Excellent!!!!!!
There are 19 tracks on this CD and with the exception of 1-2 songs, this may well be one of the best bluegrass CDs I own.What a buy!Eight More Miles with Laurie Lewis, Claire Lynch, Lynn Morris and Rhonda Vincent steal the show here.I have been a lover of bluegrass for over 25 years and this CD is a must have for everyone.

Lacks the Cohesion of her Brother
The collection of songs on "O Brother" was made very deliberately, with a wonderful ear toward a "comprehensive" overall sound.But there was no such brilliant and strong guiding force at work for "O Sister", which is essentially a compilation of various female Rounder artistes. wow
I was just thummin' through some free downloads when I ran into this cd and thought I would give it a try.thinking nothing of it I started playing them.after listening to the samples rour times I decied to get it for myself.the songs are equally catchy up deat and addicitve.the banjo is a beautiful insterment which the cd contains a lot of is old time sound.if you like bluegrass your collection wont be complete without this cd I imagin the frist one is just as good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Bluegrass    3. Bluegrass Collections    4. Contemporary Bluegrass    5. Country    6. Neo-Traditional Folk    7. Neo-Traditionalist Country    8. Old-Timey    9. Pop    10. Progressive Bluegrass    11. Traditional Bluegrass    12. Traditional Folk   

Features

• Import

Reviews (9)

Bluegrass at it's best
If you like the kind of bluegrass that was featured on the Andy Griffith Show, you will like this cd.It has the same crisp sound and vocals.However, the young lady that accompanied them on the show does not sing on this album.Two favorites from Mayberry are on it-Tom Dooley and There was a time.There is a little humor between some of the songs (remember, it's almost live).

!!!!PERFECT!!!!!!!!ALMOST!!!!
I was thrilled to find these albums on CD, since my LPs are pretty much worn to dust.The music is great, and the sound quality of the CD is very good.
Dillards -- Second to None
I don't know anything about the "Darlings" or the Andy Griffith Show... I saw the Dillards in a Los Angeles club way back in the 60s. Liked their schtik and loved their music. Bought an album of theirs (33-1/3 rpm) and played it until it was well and truly dead. It's a treat once more listen to "Whole World Round" and "Never See My Home Again" and all the great riffs on the mandolin and banjo. It never grows stale. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Country-Rock    5. Folk    6. Folk & Traditional    7. Pop    8. Progressive Bluegrass    9. Traditional Bluegrass   

Editorial Review

When bluegrass banjo whiz Bela Fleck formed the Flecktones in 1990 with jazz pianist Howard Levy, funk bassist Victor Wooten, and electronic-drummer Roy Wooten, it seemed like just one more of those new-acoustic music bands that appear and disappear in Nashville with depressing regularity. There was something special about this quartet, though, for it used its peculiar instrumentation not as an end in itself but as a means to three albums of startling melodicism, improvisation, and feeling. At the end of 1992, Levy amicably departed to spend more time with his family and his own music. Rather than hire a new fourth member, Fleck and the Wootens have tried to compensate for his absence by an increased reliance on synthesizer sounds that they can trigger from their instruments and floor pedals. This has led to less emphasis on melody, harmony, and feeling and an increased emphasis on rhythm and showy virtuosity. --Read more

Reviews (11)

How It Started
Who else would have seen any common ground between bluegrass and jazz?That being said, among those few, who else would have seen a connection between bluegrass and not just jazz but electric, fusion-style jazz?
The Northern Exposure Halloween Song!
Northern Exposure, Season 3, Episode 5, "Jules et Joel".Throughout this episode a great song plays that I couldn't get out of my head.I did a search and found the name of the song, Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, on moosechick's site.I got the CD for that one song and now love every track.

Just a Great CD
Very different type of music, goes from songs like Half Moon Baby which is a gorgeous smooth song, with a good harmonica solo, to songs like Flipper which is just a funky type of song, really good album definately buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fusion    2. Jazz    3. Jazz Music    4. Pop    5. Progressive Bluegrass   

Reviews (1)

GOSPEL AT ITS FINEST!
DOYLE LAWSON'S CURRENT EDITION OF QUICKSILVER IS ONE OF THE BEST, AND CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF STELLER MUSICIAN WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH HIS BANDS THIS IS REALLY AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
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Subjects:  1. Bluegrass-Gospel    2. Contemporary Bluegrass    3. Country Gospel    4. Gospel    5. Pop    6. Southern Gospel    7. United States of America   

Reviews (9)

It doesn't get much better than this
If you like current "new" country music, I should warn you this one is not from the current style.
The voice
Here's one of the absolute finest voices in modern Country Music.Noone sings a song like Vern Gosdin, and despite what the charts may have reflected, Vern was one of the leading traditional artists of the late-'80's through early-'90's.This Cd contains 10 hits, many cowritten with the legendary Hank Cochran.Are there other hits that should have been included???....sure.But, this selection of 10 (including "Set 'em up Joe" and "Chiseled in Stone") is superb.Outstanding sound and recordings;all original recordings....no re-recordings.Buy it.

One of the Greats of all time that never got his due
I once saw "the voice" in concert along with the great George Jones at a Merrillville, Indiana arena and he was unreal.He was on equal footing with the possum thats how powerful and strong this mans voice was. This may be the greatest deal on the planet for a cd with great classic songs that never get old.Listen to this man compare it to the fluff that comes out of Nashville today and see what I mean. Invest in this one you will be glad that you did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Pop    4. Progressive Bluegrass    5. Traditional Bluegrass    6. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

As the lead singer of New Grass Revival, über tenor John Cowan always brought an urgency and bold authority to the experimental form his bandmates forged out of bluegrass. So it's no surprise that his versatility carried over to his next ventures, blue-eyed soul and prog-rock, or to his current eponymously named acoustic ensemble, where he's joined by Jeff Autry (guitar), Wayne Benson (mandolin), Shad Cobb (fiddle), and Noam Pikelny (banjo). Their kick-off tune, "Carla's Got a New Tattoo," in which a locomotive rhythm propels Bob Lucas's cheeky lyrics about the cool of body art, recalls the legendary New Grass at their zenith. But the band quickly switches gears to the dark blues of "Misery and Happiness," in which Cowan, powering down his force-of-nature voice to make room for ghostly harmony by Patty Griffin, stunningly evokes the searing pain of redemptive love gone cold. The highlights here are many, and a lot of them bear the stamp of Cowan's friend Darrell Scott, beginning with the spiritual "6 Red Birds (In a Joshua Tree)," which Cowan and Scott wrote together, and segueing to "With a Memory Like Mine," an exquisite song of the crazy-making grief of war (written by Scott and his father, Wayne). But the collaboration that will long stick in the mind is "Drown," a harrowing story song of child molestation. Cowan and Scott (who contributes plaintive piano accompaniment) wrote it together, but it's Cowan's own story of violation, and it's one of the bravest songs of the year. All in all, this is a sterling collection of unusually fine material, delivered in Cowan's trademark ice-and-electricity vocals. Read more

Reviews (6)

Beats the 2nd album, good song selection
I like the return to a little more acoustic sound than on the previous John Cowan CD "Always Take Me Back."That one had some superb novelties, like the Yes and King Crimson covers, but it lacked cohesion, and the original songs were not as good as on John's debut.This one is closer to the New Grass Revival vibe with strong songs throughout and some expert instrumental passages, too.John's cover of The Blue Nile (Tomorrow Morning) is a wonderful choice, and it sheds light on the underrated songwriting of Paul Buchanan.With Sam Bush's recent album "Laps In Seven" also sounding great, these are good times for New Grass Revival fans.
Bottle this young man's voice and sell it!
First and foremost, John Cowan's resonating tenor voice would send shock waves through a polar ice cap.The hair on my arms stood up the entire concert.The way the album is mastered, it's one long continuous medley that's over far too quickly.The arrangements are laid out in an order that flows like a river. John mixes styles on this recording that range from blues to southern rock to Celtic soul in a most indelible piece of work.Cow band rocks on this, especially fiddler Shad Cob and mandolinist Wayne Benson.Didn't think it was possible for JC to improve, but he continues to outpace himself.One for the collector's list and posterity.Tattoo transfer was a really cool bonus!

Possibly the best yet
Best work by Cowan yet.No let down from start to finish though the last song "Drown", which deals with the reality of child molestation, seems out of place for this particular album.Regardless, it's an excellent mix and masterful production.Certain enjoyment for any newgrass fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Bluegrass    3. Contemporary Bluegrass    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. United States of America   

Reviews (2)

a breathtaking overview of the flatpicker's art
Flatpicking nirvana! When Bryan Sutton-whose rippling lines and fat tones are among the finest to emerge from a steel-string's soundhole-decided to record a series of duets with those who helped shape his playing, he grabbed a portable recording rig and visited a bevy of the world's top pickers. The result is Not Too Far from the Tree-an amazing collection of 6-string conversations, as well as a breathtaking overview of the flatpicker's art. Sutton's musical partners include both trailblazers and modern masters: crosspicking pioneer George Shuffler, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, Jack Lawrence, David Grier, flat-top sensei Doc Watson, Russ Barenberg, Ricky Skaggs, Dobro king Jerry Douglas, and Tony Rice. As an added bonus, Sutton turns in a beautiful piece with his first guitar teacher-his father-recorded in the living room where the young Sutton once practiced. In each duet, the guitars are recorded simply and naturally, allowing us to focus on each picker's unique style, and also dig the sonic differences between the various Martin, Taylor, Bourgeois, Gallagher, Gibson, and Huss & Dalton dreadnoughts (which are all detailed in the liner notes). Packed with red-hot versions of traditional tunes, Not Too Far from the Tree belongs in every flatpicker's collection, and is destined to become a classic.

Straightforward melody lines & fiery improvisations....new feelings out of the older, more familiar tunes
Playing Time - 49:12 - 1. Forked Deer (w/Dan Crary), 2. Bully of the Town (w/Norman Blake), 3. The Nine Pound Hammer (w/George Shuffler), 4. Lonesome Fiddle Blues (w/Tony Rice), 5. Billy in the Lowground (w/Jerry Sutton), 6. Stoney Creek (w/Jack Lawrence), 7. The Old Spinning Wheel (w/David Grier), 8. Big Sciota (w/Russ Barenberg), 9. Whiskey Before Breakfast (w/Doc Watson), 10. Bonaparte's Retreat (w/Jerry Douglas), 11. Give Me the Roses (w/Earl Scurggs), 12. Carroll County Blues (w/Ricky Skaggs), 13. Dusty Miller (w/Tony Rice), 14. Ragtime Annie (w/David Grier)
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Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Contemporary Bluegrass    3. Country    4. Finger-Picked Guitar    5. Pop    6. Progressive Bluegrass    7. United States of America   

Reviews (10)

Best Bela Fleck CD of All
Bela Fleck pioneered the fusion of bluegrass and jazz.I don't know of anyone else out there who has more effectively combined these two highly disparate art forms.
I don't want to enter a title.
I'm not sure if other people have had this problem, but the copy I received is so full of flaws as to be pretty much unlistenable. It almost sounds like someone took a needle and just scratched out a few seconds every minute or so; it's full of blips and gaps. At several points on the second track the music just cuts off for a full 15 seconds. As for the parts which are actually still there, musically it's great, like everything else from this group; there are the expected odd time signatures, creative melodies, and impressive basslines, but this disc itself seems to be one of the most damaged I own, and it's brand new. You ripped me off, Amazon.

I scratched my first cd and quickly went out to buy another
This is one of the best CDs the Flecktones have put out.This has to be one of the most interesting mixes of musicians I have heard to date.Not only do they work well together, the music played on here stretches the boundaries of modern music with so many injections of different genres, some of which I wouldn't even know how to classify.
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Subjects:  1. Banjo    2. Bluegrass    3. Fusion    4. Jazz    5. Jazz Music    6. New Acoustic    7. Pop    8. Progressive Bluegrass   

Features

• Live

Reviews (4)

Jerry Garcia and former Blue Grass Boys put on a good show
This awesome album combines the signature rough vocals of Jerry Garcia (who also plays banjo!) with the crisp mandolin sound of David Grisman, agile fiddling of Vassar Clements, and solid guitar of Peter Rowan in a collection that pulls heavily from the repertoire of Bill Monroe's old Blue Grass Boys. Bluegrass fans and Garcia fans alike will enjoy this enthusiastic live performance by Old and In the Way.

Just gets better and better ...
I bought this album because it's considered a classic, and because I love the fiddle stylings of Vassar Clements. At first I was irked by some out-of-tune vocal harmonies (it's live, after all). But I kept the album on and set the CD player to continuous play. Well, the second time it started at the beginning, I was hooked. I listened a couple more times and had to force myself to turn it off. It is really a true gem of an album. Vassar's fiddling is top-notch, a great example of his classic licks and style. Garcia, Grisman and Rowan also rock. This is indeed a classic bluegrass album, and should be in any respectable collection.

Bluegrass lovers
This CD is great! If you are not a bluegrass fan, it will certainly make you one! Some of Jerry Garcia's finest work without his electric guitar. He sure picks a mean banjo! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Pop    5. Traditional Bluegrass   

Features

• Live

Reviews (8)

Must Own It
You might call me a biased jamband fan, but YMSB's music cannot be denied. YMSB is a some sort of offspring of bluegrass, and their hard hitting lyrics and perfect delivery mesh well. They play with so much passion and energy, and they are a just plain fun to listen to. This a four member band headed by a mandolin(Jeff Austin), stand up bass(Ben Kaufman), Banjo(Dave Johnston), and acoustic guitar(Adam Aijala). They also had a special guest David Anger on the fiddle which added a nice touch to the band. This cd is massive and includes 23 tracks, with many of them spanning over 7 minutes. YMSB isn't a band that takes itself too seriously and throughout the cd they joke around and are hilarious. These songs are the best songs on the cd in order of importance.
Able to incite a crowd to riotous support of jamgrass music
Playing Time - 55:25 (disc 1); 65:47 (disc 2)-- A large contingent of Yonder Mountain String Band fans were out in full force at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons, Colorado in September 2003 for the live recording of this 23-track album at Kinfolk Celebration 2003. The band's distinctive jamgrass sound is supplemented with the expert fiddling of Darol Anger. Four tracks at the end of the 2-CD album also include Rashad Eggleston and Brittany Haas. Regular band members Jeff Austin (mandolin),Dave Johnston (banjo), Adam Aijala (guitar), and Ben Kaufmann (bass) all contribute original material to the band's spirited repertoire. Besides material from Willie Nelson,John Hartford, and Bill Monroe, the band also covers four songs penned by songwriter Benny "Burl" Galloway. The lyrical messages of their original material are interesting. Their material is well-rehearsed and arranged. Not sticking tostraight three-chord traditional progressions, YMSB punctuates and accentuates their music with a lot of excitement. The fun they have energizes their audiences.
listen carefully
Yonder rocks. This album is another of their well-captured live shows and is deffinitely good tunes. Go see them in concert. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Appalachian Folk    2. Bluegrass    3. Contemporary Bluegrass    4. Country    5. Folk    6. Jam Bands    7. Old-Timey    8. Pop    9. Progressive Bluegrass    10. String Bands    11. United States of America   

Reviews (9)

Excellent range of bluegrass guitar
For anyone interested in the instrumnetal skills of Tony Rice, this CD presents a large and inspiring overview with selections from a variety of recordings.Of course it could be even larger while still confining itself to just bluegrass but the range is sufficient to give one a good sense of Rice's style which provides a unifying theme even in groups of musicians as disparate as the ones presented here.I am not sure what prompts the order of tracks.They are certainly not chronological but the overall order is quite attractive.Of course Rice's vocal abilities have been just as extraordinary but for anyone interested in a bluegrass instrumentalist who is able to merge seamlessly into any bluegrass setting, this is an excellent recording.The speed at which they play Gold Rush is breathtaking.

Tony Rice is the bluegrass master!
Every time I listen to this CD I get chill bumps. Tony Rice can play the guitar like no other and this CD collection of his bluegrass music proves it! I have seem Tony live over 10 times now and this CD covers all I have heard live. Really great stuff. Buy this CD! You will love it.

Tony Rice and "The" Guitar
Tony Rice is the greatest acoustic guitarist I've ever heard.His right hand knows what the left hand is doing. The tone and balance in his style haven't been equaled although every flatpicker after him owes him a debt of gratitude.The tunes are fiddle toons for the most part with a fantastic supporting cast which has been the norm for Tony throughout his recording history. This is a great collection spaning much of his career.
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Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Pop    4. Progressive Bluegrass   

Reviews (26)

More stars plz, kthnx.
Plenty of strong reviews, and the disk is worthy of all praise, and more than five stars. My reasoning for this recapitulates another reveiwer's experience:
Buy this CD - you won't be disappointed!
If you've been reading these reviews and still haven't decided to get this CD, just go now to checkout and be done with it! I bought this just recently - I'm sorry I wasted about 10 yrs not having this in my collection. Oh yeah - buy an extra one for a backup in case it gets misplaced (or more likely, borrowed to never return) - it's that good!

Here on Earth
Here on Earth is the title of Track 11. I think I'm right in saying it's the loveliest piece of music I've ever heard in my 45 years on this particular planet. Maybe you can find better elsewhere in the galaxy, but I rather doubt it. I used to wonder why a melody so powerful, so magical, was also so fleeting, passing by in a moment and leaving you clawing the walls for more. Then one day I thought about the title again, and realized its woeful shortness is completely appropriate. The excellent sleeve notes say of track 11: "The intention in the title is matter of fact - simply that making music like this is one of the things we do in our life here on earth. It springs from a feeling of acceptance infused with awe and wonder." Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. New Acoustic    4. Pop    5. Progressive Bluegrass   

Editorial Review

Veteran mandolinist and singer Ricky Skaggs teaches his new strings some old tricks on this collection, which draws from traditional bluegrass and contemporary country alike. Skaggs has long emphasized the brighter and bouncier side of his music; here "Brand New Strings" celebrates the redemptive power of love while "Enjoy the Ride" and "Spread a Little Love Around" provide inspiration to live life to the fullest. The album turns bluesier with "Lonesome and Dry as a Bone" and bittersweet on the reflective "If I Had It to Do Over Again," while three instrumental romps provide changes of pace romps amid the songcraft. The nimble virtuosity of multi-instrumentalist Skaggs finds superb support from his Kentucky Thunder band, augmented by guest performances from fiddler Stuart Duncan and singers Sharon White (Skaggs's wife) and Rebecca Lynn Howard. Read more

Reviews (13)

Uplifting In So Many Ways!
Brother Ricky and Kentucky Thunder have launched a real winner with this wonderful collection of Bluegrass music. It really covers a lot of ground with a tune for everyone, even though every listener will love all the music on the CD. This album proves to me that God has a real soft spot in his heart for Bluegrass - the underlying theme of hope and promise that runs through this music really grabs you as it humbles you and then lifts your spirit, (and pulse), just like it has to some of us in real life, huh Ricky? Through it all runs that sweet, heart lifting sound of Bluegrass, music rooted deep in the backbone of our country, and who could put it all together in a more "thunderous" knee slappin' package better than Ricky and this incredible band? Get this CD for yourself, and maybe a couple more for those you care about - you won't be sorry.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
I have heard many sogs by Ricky Skaggs, and on this recording he gives an excellent assortment of his work: wonderful instrumentals and rhythm.I love it!!!

Grammy Winner!!
Another Grammy Winner for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder...
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Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Neo-Traditionalist Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Bluegrass    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

A string band pilgrim who had already soldiered through bluegrass, folk,and rock, mandolinist David Grisman helped jump start a new chapter ininstrumental music with the release of this 1977 album, carving out a jubilantacoustic style borrowing equally from Bill Monroe's bluegrass legacy and DjangoReinhardt's '30s swing as immortalized by his Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Grisman's band, including violinist Darol Anger and multi-instrumentalist MikeMarshall, bring jaunty lyricism to a set that introduces this hybrid fully- formed. Grisman would continue to explore its boundaries with various lineups(including collaborations with the peerless Stephane Grappelli, violinist forthe original Hot Club), but he would never improve on the music here. Read more

Reviews (13)

Original Dawg
This is the original Dawg. Before the Latin beat, the South American guitarist, the flutes and the African drum. It is still beyond bluegrass, with jazzy and Latin overtones in parts, just a little closer to a "roots" sound than the albums after Hot Dawg.

The Original Dawg Album
This is the album that started it all - the whole Dawg Music phenomenon.As a result artists like Mark O'Connor, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, and Bela Fleck were later able to launch similar careers further expanding the boundaries of music.Stephane Grappelli gained widespread exposure in the US by touring and recording with the DGQ in 1979.Jerry Garcia later joined in the fun by recording numerous dawg tunes. Simply put, the finest bluegrass album ever!!!
This album, that started off the David Grissman Quintets career is a masterpiece.Those looking for vocal-less bluegrass that focuses on outstanding changes and climaxing soloing, this is it.A thousand listens later, this cd still sends tingles down my spine, this album is full of grissman classics that make up the bulk of his liveshows today.Buy this album, you won't be sorry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Jazz    5. Mandolin    6. New Acoustic    7. Pop    8. Progressive Bluegrass   

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Import

Reviews (13)

Great Album(s), Terrible Liner Notes
I won't add to the other comments about how good the music is.It is; at least the first album and much of the second.Great stuff.
An expedition well worth exploring
I'd heard bits of both the Dillard and Clark ablums on the wonderful Gene Clark retrospective "Flying High," but it's even better hearing both in their entirety. "Fantastic Expedition" wins hands down as the better of the two; Clark contributes a number of great songs to the album and the mood is a true mix of rock, folk, country, and bluegrass, not the Poco type of country-rock.
What a discovery: these are GREAT songs.
I remember looking at the old vinyl album versions of these, when they were only a few years old, and putting them back in the rack. I never bought 'em until I got this CD a few weeks ago. My god, what I'd missed. Life would have been very different had I known these songs earlier. This is the best CD I've ever bought on a whim.
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Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Country-Rock    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Progressive Bluegrass    8. Rock    9. Traditional Bluegrass   

Editorial Review

Bela Fleck has completely transcended any and all expectations we have for the banjo. Having spent the better part of five previous years exploring a variety of formal and improvised designs with his virtuoso ensemble, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, this banjo innovator chose to celebrate a variety of musical friends and influences on this homey, elegant, immaculately recorded aural novella--one that clearly links him to such progressive jazz/fusion forebears as Return to Forever and Oregon (not to mention Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys). While a manic hoe-down like "Cheeseballs in Cowtown" illustrates his command of post-modern bluegrass, his freeform duet "Bicyclops" (with mentor Chick Corea) is indicative of this great musician's astonishing technical and emotional range. Elsewhere tunes such as "Up and Running," "The Great Circle Route," and "System Seven" seem to reconcile his complex rhythmic inclinations with stately folkish themes, mixing traditional bluegrass instrumentation with the likes of electric bass, drums, piano, and oboe. And on extended forms such as "Circus of Regrets" and "Jayme Lynn," Fleck showcases his ever-expanding breadth and range as a modern composer.Read more

Reviews (17)

From Good to Great?
The songs on this album are memorable and powerful.It's hard not to appreciate the sheer originality of Fleck's work.