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Reviews (9)

"Mama Tried" worth the price of admission
The highlights of this bargain-priced live album are two-fold: Haggard's outstanding songs and the playing of guitarist Roy Nichols. You can hear almost note for note where Jerry Garcia found some of his licks. It's a bit dated, of course, but still a winner.

Great album!
This album is great.
A True Legend!
One of country music's most beloved performers is Merle Haggard. Merle is one of best from the classic years of country music that didn't have a famous relative to pave his way to stardom. Or be one of the pretty boys of today that have to rely on their looks not their voices.
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Subjects:  1. Bakersfield Sound    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Pop    5. Traditional Country   

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Reviews (10)

Flatpicking guitar at its best
Doc Watson is well known as one of the best flatpicking guitarists in the genres of Old Time, Bluegrass and Folk. He is possibly the one who is responsible for transfering the guitar from only a rythm instrument into a soloinstrument in these kinds of music, by learning how to do the old fiddletunes on the guitar. And how he does it? He is a virtuoso on his instrument.
Honest Representation of Doc and Merle Live
I was fortunate to be able to see Doc and Merle live a couple of times before Merle's premature death.This disc is an accurate representation of the live Doc and Merle I saw - excellent musicianship applied to a broad sweep of American folk, blues and fiddle tunes played in Doc's unique way.Doc has a great sense of humor and it always comes through when he plays live, just as it done on this disc.Check out "Life Gits Teejus Don't It" for an example.Merle was an absolutely incredible guitarist but the most important gift he brought to the music was his innate sense of when and how to accompany and when and how to lead.He integrated himself into a song and played his part exceedingly well.I miss him.This disc has a great mix of tunes with enough instrumentals to please the pickers and plenty of story songs for the folkies.The sound quality is warm and clear and best of all, it doesn't get in the way of the music.This is a true 5 star disc in every regard. Classic!

Good intro to Doc
A very good introduction to the music of Doc Watson.This album contains samples of his blues, ballads, and old mountain songs.Of his albums that I currently have, moreover, this one reminds me most of the time I saw him in concert (early '90s) and the variety of songs he played then.I would highly recommend this as a first purchase of Doc's music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Old-Timey    4. Pop    5. Traditional Country    6. Traditional Folk   

Editorial Review

Buck Owens wasn't the first country star to headline Carnegie Hall; Ernest Tubb played the hallowed hall nearly 20 years before Buck brought his Buckaroos to New York in 1966. Owens, however, signaled the ascension of a new era of plugged-in country when he grudgingly gave in to his manager's plea that he appear at the eminent venue. (Remember, this is the guy who insisted in song that he wouldn't live in New York City "if they gave me the whole dang town.") Owens was flying high in the mid-'60s, which is demonstrated by the hit-laden repertoire found on Sundazed's expanded reissue of the original LP: "Act Naturally," "Together Again," "Cryin' Time," and "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" are just a few of chart-busters Bakersfield's best parade before a welcoming audience. They even repay the Beatles' nod in their direction--Ringo's version of "Act Naturally"--with a caterwauling cover of "Twist and Shout." Buck, ace lead guitarist Don Rich, and the rest of the Buckaroos are in fine form throughout, mixing country weepers and twangy uptempo numbers with a good deal of goofing around. One gets the impression that, while Buck wouldn't want to settle in the Big Apple, he might not have minded taking the whole dang town back west with him. Read more

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Reviews (5)

Great live album !
I love live albums and this one is a dandy. Although I was never a huge Buck Owens fan, I found this CD to be thoroughly enjoyable. To me, the between song banter makes it that much more fun.

Great live disc from the original Buckaroos
Every Buck Owens fan should own this live disc with the original line up.Some of the between song banter can be a little much, but the performance is EXCELLENT.Check out In London(1969)as well, different band, but equally as GOOD!

Too much talking
Certainly one of the best live country albums. But Owens and his band talk, play and joke around too much: a 50 min CD with only 25 min of music... But what music! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bakersfield Sound    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Honky Tonk    5. Pop    6. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

These 1963 and 1964 performances from the Newport Folk Festival illustrate the wide range of influences absorbed by flatpicker Doc Watson.Traditional folk, old-time, Piedmont blues, bluegrass, and gospel are all part of his musical equation, as well as the music of Jimmie Rodgers and the Delmore Brothers. Vanguard's 26-song compilation displays Watson's fleet guitar work and his deep, mellow voice (reminiscent of Burl Ives, actually), plus his passion for the material at hand. His 1963 performance was the one that propelled him into prominence. He'd been playing many of these traditionals since childhood, giving the songs a feeling of well-earned authenticity. Read more

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Reviews (8)

Best version of Froggie Went a Courtin' I ever Heard
OK, Never heard of Doc Watson? Well, thanks to my Dad, I have.This is easily his best album.You should hear his version of Froggie Went a Courtin.It is the best.Other songs on this album include Shady Grove, Tom Dooley, Alberta, Groundhog, there's even a duet with his late son Merle who flipped a tractor over on himself.If you love bluegrass, you're sure to fall in love with this album.

This is the one...
The title says it all, really - If you own only one Doc Watson recording,this should be it.Doc's flatpicking (on "Black Mountain Rag, forinstance), his fingerpicking (on"Little Omie Wise", for instance)and his folk/gospel style vocals (on most of the tracks) demonstrate justwhy he's considered one of this era's finest musicians.Doc's range isremarkable, and on this CD you'll find him singing gospel a capella,playing guitar full steam ahead, harmonizing with his mother (really!),playing duets with his son Merle, and yodeling like, well, a guy who knowswhat he's doing.26 tracks here, over an hour of music, a must-have foranyone who enjoys traditional music, bluegrass, folk, acoustic.

One of the best blue grass albums
Getting this album was a trip back in time.My foot hasn't stopped tapping yet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 60's Bluegrass    2. Appalachian Folk    3. Bluegrass    4. Country    5. Folk    6. Old-Timey    7. Pop    8. Traditional Bluegrass    9. Traditional Country    10. Traditional Folk   

Editorial Review

Having enjoyed one career as half of the folk duo Ian & Sylvia in the 1960s, Tyson, a real-life Canadian rancher, branched out into cowboy music in the 1980s, making an authentic contribution to a genre that sees too many silver-screen cowpokes and comedic galoots. While his songs have long been covered by Judy Collins, Jerry Jeff Walker, Suzy Bogguss, and others, his albums, especially the platinum-selling Read more

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Reviews (11)

Back in Longview
Ian Tyson as much a part of Canadian music as anyone could be and it was neat to be transported back to the energy of his live performances. Having lived in Alberta for twenty years we made every attempt we could to hear this man live. His songs are varied and unique and tell a story that opens up the imagination to a way of life which is fast disappearing. I liked the fact that this CD was recorded in Longview and enjoyed the contributions of the musicians as well. Myron Szott continues to show his fiddling artistry on this CD. Great fun.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This
Okay, okay... as with any "Live" recording, there isn't the purity of the studio. In my estimation, this is what really makes this a fantastic CD. It's Ian Tyson at his best, heard the way he should be heard, live onstage. To my ear - perfect!
My first really cowboy recording and I was blown away. This guy is nearly 70, sings on key, the lyrics feel real to me, and I enjoy live recordings and this is one of the best I've heard. Despite the the theme of some of the songs there is an optimisim that shows through thus is a very upbeat album. Will now have to start backfilling with other Tyson albums.Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Contemporary Folk    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Cowboy    6. Pop   

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Reviews (8)

Engaging, Entertaining, Skillful
This live album shows off the dazzling talents of three dynamite musicians, revisits some excellent classic tunes, and (most importantly) makes a point of entertaining the listener.The Hot Club of Cowtown is an extremely talented trio of players (and singers) that avoids the common pitfall of talented players:trying to show off how talented they are.
Yes this is Elana Fremerman's band
If you've seen and got blown away by Bob Dylan's fiddler on his 2005 tour ... this is her band ... You got to love them ! :)

One of my favorite CDs!
Though the style of music is quite unlike anything else in my collection and I stumbled across the CD on a fluke, I adore it!In fact, upon discovering it, I was so pleased with it that I played it for my whole family (ages 16 through 57), and it got a thumbs up from everybody.The songs have an old time traditional American feel to them and the musicianship is fantastic.(I hope to see these three perform live someday!)I love many of the songs, but I think my favorite is track 9, "After You've Gone."The best thing about the CD is that it makes me happy every time I listen to it, without fail.Highly recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Popular Music    3. Retro Swing    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Western Swing Revival   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (14)

One of the 3 or 4 Dwight Yoakam albums you need to own
Even if you have his greatest hits, the Reprise box set, or albums containing the studio versions of these songs, this live album is STILL a MUST. The energy and musicianship, not mention Dwight's own incomparable vocals, are fantatsic. And there are great live versions of songs you can't find anywhere else, like Rocky Road Blues, Fast As You, Long White Cadillac, Two Doors Down and more. Whether you're just now catching on to the genius and talent of DY's music, or are already a fan with lots of his albums, this is one you won't regret owning. It'd certainly one of my top 3 favorites.

The Debbil Himself Stirring up the Rabble
Now, if this doesn't stop you, nothing -will-... unless you're truly the adventurous sort. I am -not- a country music fan. I'm not even a Dwight -fan- (unless I'm seated in front of a stage he is -on- or a movie he is -in-.) I admit to being a rocker, and a -progressive rocker- at that.
Disappointing ...
This live album is a disappointment. Dwight Yoakam's Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Bakersfield Sound    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Country-Rock    6. New Traditionalist    7. Pop   

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Reviews (1)

The best live Haggard you'll find.
This is a great live album, albeit a short one, and the renditions of "Running Kind/Lonesome Fugitive," "Back to the Barrooms," and "Sing Me Back Home" are the best you'll find anywhere. This is real deal country, not the garbage the CMA promotes today, and the cd is a joy to listen to. Recorded when Haggard was at the top of his game, this is one of his rowdiest and more energetic collections of songs. Highly recommended for those new to Haggard. Grab it before it's out of circulation. ... Read more

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

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Reviews (7)

Recorded stage show
Fun. Several artists in a stage show with the San Antonio symphony. Nice music with strings in the background.

EVERY SONG ON THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE
What a wonderful combination of classic western talent and the unique addition of the San Antonio Symphony. My love of western music was truly satisfied with this recording- I keep it in my car for those long drives when I want to transport my spirit westward and back in time.

Greatcdforthecarortruck
Five stars for MMM and the other artists on this fine cd.But zero for the people responsible for recording it. When I first got it I tried listening twice, then just tossed the thing aside. I couldn't hear parts of it without sitting right in front of the speakers. Then one day when selecting a few cds to take along in the car I picked this one to try again. In the car I had no problem hearing any of it! If you want a great cd to drive-along, sing-along with this is it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Cowboy    4. Neo-Traditionalist Country    5. Pop    6. Progressive Country    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Some years ago, MGM Records issued an LP of 11 Hank Williams Opry performances originally recorded for broadcast on Armed Forces Radio. Years of digging have unearthed much more Hank at the Ryman in crystal-clear monaural sound. Disc 1's 19 songs, punctuated by onstage joshing with singer Red Foley and Opry comics Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield, begin with his June 1949 debut as an Opry regular, ending in July 1952, a month before his firing over drinking-related no-shows. These powerful live renditions include the broadcast debuts of "Jambalaya" and "Window Shopping" along with two stark, chilling gospel numbers. Even with his physical stamina failing--as it clearly was on the final two songs--these raw performances are powerful testaments to Hank's charismatic genius and remain as arresting today as at the moment of broadcast. Disc 2, a complete 1950 Opry segment featuring Williams, Foley, and other Opry acts, is a historically valid, though musically inferior document, and including it on a Hank Williams package tends to dissipate the album's overall focus. Read more

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Reviews (13)

makes you feel like youre there.
this is so sweet. its an awsome live album by mr williams sr. kinda makes you feel like your there watching the concert in person, so i give this one a 5 stars for sure. long live the king hank williams sr.

hank versusthe opry - guess who wins?
For a guy who died before he turned 30, Williams' catalogue is astounding in volume. But this latest addition is a bit of a sick joke. Throughout much of his career, the deleterious country singer and the stodgy ole Opry had what could best be described as -�ahem -�a strained relationship. The Opry, with an audience of millions, insisted on predictability from its performers. For Hank, that meant cranking out the hits with zero elaboration on his talent. But Williams was also chronically self-destructive and indifferent to schedules. For the Opry, such impudence was tantamount to heresy. But Williams was so popular, they were forced to bend their own rules until they kicked him out forever after repeated no-shows in 1952. But despite such a fractious partnership, this stuttered collection of Williams live on the Opry stage between 1949 and 1952 remains a testament to the tortured musician's brilliance, not the prudence of the hoity-toity GOO. In addition to loads of unreleased material, the big difference between this and previous releases is that Williams' appearances are put in the context of the Opry variety show (particularly on the second CD, which is a radio broadcast of one complete show in 1950). Historically speaking, the comedy bits between the songs are an irritating embarrassment; various displays of painful jokemeistering, hillbilly foolishness and a prolonged and excruciating Minnie Pearl routine that bombs like the Enola Gay. Not so with Williams. More than 50 years after these crackly and prehistoric live recordings were made, Williams' graveyard bluegrass/blues and famished n' horny coyote howl are as plaintively substantial as ever; from his first hit (Lovesick Blues, You're Gonna Change) until his final performances (Window Shopping, Long Gone Lonesome Blues). Nobody, not the Opry, God or Williams himself, were able to diminish his reputation as a fascinating and genuine talent unequalled in country music.

The best Hank Williams Opry recordings available.
For those of you who own THE COMPLETE HANK WILLIAMS box set, this CD looks like a mere duplication of CD #10. It really isn't. It's substantially better. Well worth owning at the right price.Read more

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

Editorial Review

Despite Dwight Yoakam's renown as a dynamic live performer and the reputation of the Read more

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• Original recording remastered

Reviews (2)

Nice live music, but sounds a lot like the studio versions
This is a nice album of early live hits at Austin City Limits. The only draw back is many of the songs sound very similar to to the studio versions. Compared to the DVD (which I liked better) much of the dialog with the audience was cut out of the CD. Dwight fans will like this, but it's hard to recommend it to anyone else. It's okay, but nothing spectacular. Dwight's other live album is much better and easier to reccomend. A newer Dwight Yoakam live album would have been a better CD by New West Records.

Straight out of Dwight's good ole' days!!!!!
I love this album.It features Dwight singing in his pristine 80s vocals, which I consider his height.This is the best live album I own.It'sa smokin' good deal at 14 bucks for this vintage Austin City Limits 1988 treasure that has been newly released from New West Records.The only drawbacks for me is that it didn't have my favorite song on it "Long White Cadillac", which he probably hadn't recorded yet anyway.This is a perfect collection of his early and best work live. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Bakersfield Sound    3. Country    4. Country-Rock    5. Neo-Traditionalist Country    6. New Traditionalist    7. Pop    8. United States of America   

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Reviews (4)

Excellant Western music
The combination of Waddy Mitchell and Don Edwards talents really come through on this CD

We need more of these wonderful cowboys out there
Any one who appreciates Cowboy music and poetryWill really love this. And want to hear more. It takes a special person to enjoy the cowboy ways.Enjoy.

A truly great live performance
Don Edwards and Waddie Mitchell alone, are trully gifted artists in their own relm.But when put together on stage they bring forth the true meaning of the western cluture in song and verse. Anybody who enjoys western musicshould pick up this CD along with anyother recordings they can find.Withthe recent passing of Gene Autry & Roy Rogers, Don Edwards is the bestsolo performer of our time to maintain true western song. ... Read more

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

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Reviews (3)

Enjoyable
I liked this album myself.My favorite tracks being Gillian Welch's In Tall Buildings and Tim O'Brien;s More Love.This really isn't a John Hartford album, but rather a tribute to himThere are a few great numbers by him however that are wonderful and amusing in a dark humor sort of way.

A heartfelt tribute...............but a mediocre album
I've loved John Hartford's music for years, and was very happy that a tribute had taken place and was preserved for posterity.But I found the disc that resulted disappointing. The breadth and depth of Hartford's music calls for a towering tribute.Unfortunately, this isn't it. Goodbye John....
I'm a huge fan of John Hartford's and have been since I saw him live in Austin many, many years ago. Those who gathered together to play John's music were better musicians than I, but not necessarily bigger fans! In any event, this is not the album to get as an introduction to John -- Aereo-Plain, Live on Mountain Stage or Good Old Boys are far better for that.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Americana    3. Bluegrass Collections    4. Country-Folk    5. Folk & Traditional    6. Neo-Traditional Folk    7. Old-Timey    8. Pop    9. Progressive Bluegrass    10. Singer/Songwriter    11. Traditional Bluegrass    12. Traditional Country   

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Reviews (1)

Boots Randolph "live" is Boots at his BEST!
I've had this fantasic CD for a few years. It details from the first cut to the last, exactly why Boots Randolph is the greatest sax player that there's ever been! Boots is always a peak performer, but never has hewailed and sailed on sax like this live album! For musical excitment thatWOWS you every time you listen to a CD, you can't miss on any BootsRandolph album, and you WON"T miss buying this CD, Gauanteed!! When itcomes to saxophone playing mastery in any sytle of music played impeccablywell, so filled with technical genious, a life time of know-how and deepemotion, there is only one sax player out there who ALWAYS DELIVERS! If youplay one note on sax or play any style of music on sax, you OWE BootsRandolph, because he wrote the book on the sax! Just one listen to this CDall the way through, will flat lay out out and BLOW YOUR MIND, BootsRandolphs playing is THAT PHENOMINAL! Hell, don't take my word for it! GETOUT THERE AND BUY THIS CD IMMEDIATELY AND EXPERIENCE AWESOME FORYOURSELF!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country-Pop    3. Instrumental Country    4. Instrumental Rock    5. Jazz    6. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    7. Pop    8. Popular Music   

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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Cowboy    5. Pop   

Editorial Review

Hag's first live record of the 1990s finds him, at age 62, in strong form as he skims the cream from his own remarkable songbook. His voice may not have the sheer force of his younger years, but his singing is full of attractive nuances and passionate depth. His finely tuned band is another asset here, most notably Telecaster magician Redd Volkaert, who has digested all of Roy Nichols's classic licks and has incorporated them into his own risk-taking style. Longtime Stranger steel player Norm Hamlet, fiddle legend Johnny Gimble, and Hag's "best boy," ex-wife, and harmony singer Bonnie Owens all make vital contributions. Haggard also pays homage to his three main idols with covers of Bob Wills's "Ida Red" and Lefty Frizzell's "That's the Way Love Goes" plus his own brand-new addition to Jimmie Rodgers's "Blue Yodel" series called "Motorcycle Cowboy/Blue Yodel #13." Read more

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Reviews (15)

IAttendedThisOutstandingConcert
Yeah, I was there at Billy Bob's with 2 Buddies from Work, I'm Glad to say, because this is a truly Great Performance! The Songs have more life than the Recorded Versions, and the Hag's Vocal Nuances are in abundance, almost all of His Best Songs are here...The Greatest Country Artist EVER! By the way, the CD contains all the songs played in exact order, as well as the stage banter, a REAL Live Event, the Show finished about 11:58 p.m. December 31, 1998, an impromptu Haggard sing-along of "Auld Lang Syne" followed at Midnight, Not included Here...
One of his best collections.
Merle Haggard has always been my favorite musician, and I don't think that will ever change. I don't understand how anyone can not like this man. This is a live album which would serve quite well as a greatest hits type CD. It would also be a good introduction to his music.

As Advertised:"The Ultimate 'Hag' Album"
Considering how long Merle Haggard has been not only a recording artist but an absolute GIANT in the industry it's really surprising that there aren't a lot more live compilations of his work out there.
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Subjects:  1. Bakersfield Sound    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Honky Tonk    5. Pop    6. Traditional Country   

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Reviews (4)

Okay versions of great tunes
I am a huge Asleep at the Wheel fan--even waiting hours in a crowded bar across the street from Wrigley Field to hear "There ain't nobody here but us chickens..." LIVE AND KICKIN
THE BEST ARRAY OF COUNTRYMUSICIANS IN THE WORLD'SET THE TABLE' FOR THISFOOT-STUMPIN COUNTRY SWINGMUSIC.IF THIS MUSIC DOES NOT EXCITE YOUR TOES TO TAPPIN,THAN NOTHING WILL.

Great Toe-tappin' Stuff!
I've been listening to Asleep At The Wheel for about 20 years now,and they get better all the time. This is probably their best collection of hits,some tunes performed LIVE. You won't sit still for long listening to these tunes,just put it on your cd player and it's party time! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. Neo-Traditionalist Country    5. Pop    6. Western Swing    7. Western Swing Revival   

Editorial Review

In 1949, 26-year old Hank Williams struck a deal with the makers of Hadacol to sponsor his first syndicated radio series. Without it and these two-CD transcriptions of music and between-song prattle, we might never have heard what he was like in his molassified, hayseed ("if the good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise") glory. Williams was a master of simplicity, both in his writing and in his relaxed performance, where his otherworldly voice often snapped and splintered like a dry branch. But aside from letting Miss Audrey, the Nashville Yoko Ono, get up on stage, he was also his own best producer, allowing members of his Drifting Cowboys band to stretch out in small solos and put their stamp on an entire era. "Play it like you mean it, boys," he always said. Then, as now, authenticity sells. Read more

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Reviews (5)

It's Health and Happiness Time, with the old "Lovesick Blues" boy, Hank Williams.
This 2 CD set features all eight "Health and Happiness" radio shows recorded by Hank Williams.These shows were all recorded in October of 1949, over two succesive Sundays.They were made to advertise the patent medicine "Hadacol", although no mention of the product is made on these CDs.The shows are taken from transcription discs, which were sent to radio stations to play on the air.The eight shows were 15 minutes long with commercials, which aren't included here (the commercials were to be read by a local disc jockey and weren't on the discs).The shows open with Hank's theme song, "Happy Roving Cowboy", during which Hank and the Drifting Cowboys are introduced by announcer Grant Turner.Then Hank plays one of his hits before a commercial break.Back from the break, another song is played before another commercial break.Unfortunately, on the second, third and fourth shows, this song is sung by Hank's wife, Miss Audrey.Audrey was a regular part of Hank's live shows, even though she couldn't sing worth a lick.Back from the second break, Drifting Cowboy Jerry Rivers plays about a half a minute of an old fiddle tune.Then, it's "hymn time" as Hank sings a country gospel song.The show closes with Hank saying, "If the Good Lord's willing, and the creeks don't rise, we'll see you again before long", before Jerry Rivers plays the fiddle tune "Sally Goodin" until the fade out.Hank and his band are excellent throughout these shows, Miss Audrey is not.The shows are a bit scratchy in spots, since they were recorded from very old records.But they are still sure to be enjoyed by any fans of old Hank.

Essential to own, but sometimes disappointing to listen to
These CDs receive five stars for content, but sound quality unnecessarily pulls them down to four stars. All of the Health & Happiness Shows in one place
This is actually the first and only release in history of the complete Health & Happiness Shows.The recordings were mastered from transcription discs from the Country Music Foundation and the surface noise is left intact for the authenticity, plus you don't hear any of the commercials aired at the time these were broadcast on the radio.The shows were about a half hour each and for the most part ended with a hymn, the phrase, "If the Good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise, we'll be sure to hear from you again" and the fiddle tune "Sally Goodin'" while the start of each show is done with Hank singing the cowboy tune "Happy Rovin' Cowboy."The shows were recorded at WSM radio and were broadcast nationwide.As a plus, the liner notes are great as well.Old time radio buffs, country music collectors, and Hank fans must have this set in their collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Honky Tonk    4. Pop    5. Radio Shows    6. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

A 45-minute trip to bluegrass heaven, these 17 songs combine the talents of two unparalleled musical forces: Bill Monroe, the inventor of bluegrass, master of the mandolin, and owner of a bone-chilling, mountain tenor voice; and Doc Watson, the flatpicking genius with a soulful, mellow vocal tone. Much of the material stems from the legendary Monroe Brothers recordings. Their sublime harmonies carry plaintive ballads including "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul" and "Banks of the Ohio," and uptempo numbers such as "You Won't Be Satisfied That Way." The roaring fiddle tunes are simply mind-blowing: "Soldier's Joy," "East Tennessee Blues," and "Fire on the Mountain" all rank as virtuosic masterpieces. If it's possible, the pairing exceeds all expectations. Read more

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Reviews (6)

You've already lived too long without this album
Buy this one.This is one of my 5 favorite albums of all time.The harmonies just kill me, and the instrumentals are enough to drive me mad. Doc and Bill pickin' a few licks!
Great album.Traditional fiddle tunes/hoedowns and early bluegrass tunes (most of them written by Monroe) played in an intimate relaxed setting.Some of Monroe's best Mandolin picking.Doc is exceptional as always. Like a hoe-down on Heaven's back porch ...
Monroe and Watson are, of course, masters of their considerably crowded domain, and this recording shows why.Just a couple of amazing musicians having some fun together -- relaxed and loose but with plenty of sparks a-flyin'.The fingers are picking fast and furious.The vocals are superb, and some of the instrumental runs are simply breathtaking.Recording quality is more than acceptable.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Mandolin    4. Old-Timey    5. Pop    6. Traditional Bluegrass    7. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

This flashback to Doc Watson's very first solo performances--1962 and 1963, in the heart of New York City's folk revival--is most remarkable, perhaps, for its lack of surprises. Despite the fact that the soft-spoken man from Deep Gap, North Carolina, didn't even own an acoustic guitar to bring to the gig and had, as the liner notes attest, "a belly full of butterflies," everything that has made Watson a legend of traditional music was already in place: the warm, unvarnished singing; the folksy humor; the awesomely clean and precise guitar work (in this set, more Merle Travis-style fingerpicking than Watson's trademark flat-picking); the effortless segues from ballads to blues to old country hits... Surprisingly well recorded and richly annotated by Peter Siegel, this is a welcome addition to the Doc discography. Read more

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Reviews (2)

What a treat!
From the moment the CD started to the end, I had a smile on my face in happy recognition of the performances I heard many years ago. This record brought me right back to those days when I would hang out in Gerdes night after night to hear Doc Watson.play.Mr. Siegel's production has nothing of a creaky historical document and everything of a you-are-there live performance. greatness retouched
In recent years Doc Watson, whose contributions to American roots music have few equals, has often sounded tired and distracted, his infrequent latter-day recordings hardly among his most inspired. But if Watson's best work appears to be in his past, this marvelous disc documents what a glorious past that was. Here, at the initiation of his career as a solo artist, Watson is bursting with energy and high spirits as he tears into songs, ballads, blues, and instrumentals, all of which he makes distinctly his own. His picking is clean and warm, his vocals clear and affecting.He takes on, in order, such varied material as the comic folk song "Sing Song Kitty," the gothic Child ballad "The House Carpenter," and the rip-roaring fiddle tune "Liberty" and does justice to each.Clearly, long before he became a star of the folk revival, Watson was a natural-born performer. If Ralph Stanley has eclipsed him as the most visible and revered exponent of traditional Appalachian music, this splendid CD shows us that, when he is at his best, Watson is every bit as good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. Old-Timey    4. Pop    5. Traditional Country    6. Traditional Folk