Customer Reviews

20 Bluegrass Originals

5 star:		(3)
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I picked up this album in the late 80's when I was first learning the banjo. I've bought a LOT of bluegrass since, but none are better (or as good) as this. This album captures the bluegrass spirit better than any other. It's all there: whoops & hollars, jigs & reels, pickin, grinnin', tempos that defy transcription, hot fiddling, taunts & shouts. If you want to take a look into bluegrass, look no further than this disc. You'll be smiling...just don't listen to it while you drive, smokey will be on your tail!

I DO NOT KNOW A THING ABOUT BLUEGRASS MUSIC, BUT I HAVE THIS COMPILATION AND IT HAS SOME OF THE BEST GUITAR, FIDDLE, AND BANJO PLAYING I HAVE EVER HEARD. THE ONLY SONGS ON IT I HAD EVER HEARD BEFORE WERE "FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN" BY LESTER FLATT AND EARL SCRUGGS. AND THE THEME FROM "DELIVERANCE" BY CURTIS MCPEAKE-A FANTASTIC MOVIE). IF YOU WANT TO HEAR INSTRUMENTAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC, YOU HIT A HOME RUN WITH THIS CD (ACTUALLY I HAVE THIS ON CASSETTE, BUT WHY SPLIT HAIRS).

This was some of the first bluegrass I've heard and still some of the best. I had a cassette copy that was recorded from the original LP. I've listened to it dozens of times driving around. Now I listen to blugrass regularly and still enjoy this album. All the songs are good. Some of the highlights are the songs from II Generation, The Stanley Brothers, and Jimmy Martin. II Generation has great instrumental solos and a driving base line throughout. New Joe Clark is the most dynamic blugrass song I've heard. It has three sections, the last one building into a rythmic frenzy. Pig in a Pen by the Stanley Brothers displays the lesser heard uptempo Stanley Brohters. Ralf is outstanding on the banjo. Jimmy Martin's live performance of Freeborn Man is the best recording of the song I've heard. I just recently saw Jimmy Martin in Madison and he still sounds as good as ever and has a remarkable sense of humor. Go see him if you have a chance. The only flaw I can find in this recording is the absence of Bill Monroe. Despite this, if you only buy one Blugrass album this is the one.