Beatle Country

Charles River Valley Boys | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder Select
• ASIN: B0000002CB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,010 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I've Just Seen A Face

2. Baby's In Black

3. I Feel Fine

4. Yellow Submarine

5. Ticket To Ride

6. And Your Bird Can Sing

7. What Goes On

8. Norwegian Wood

9. Paperback Writer

10. She's A Woman

11. I Saw Her Standing There

12. Help!

Editorial Reviews

The overwhelming success of the Fab Four spawned a host of instrumental and tribute albums during the ’60s (a phenomenon that continues into today), but very, very few few measured up to this 1966 LP from Cambridge, Massachusetts-based bluegrass band the Charles River Valley Boys. Longtime friends of Paul Rothchild, who coproduced the album with fellow Elektra stalwart Peter Siegel, Bob Siggins (who is quoted in the notes), Jim Field, Joe Val and Everett A. Lily didn’t just pick the obvious Beatle candidates for country-ization, like I’ve Just Seen a Face and What Goes On, but also went far a field for tunes like Norwegian Wood and Paperback Writer, seamlessly laying bluegrass harmonies atop arrangements that picked and grinned their way through the famous chord changes. CD debut for a great album, a Collectors’ Choice Music exclusive! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rock&roll classic that belongs in every country collection, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beatle Country (Audio CD)

As an old fan of the CRVB and a good friend of the guy who helped arrange this album when it first came out about 30 years ago, I am a heavily biased observer. But as one who lived through the 60's after college and grew up with the Beatles, but who's greater love is for bluegrass music, I can say without hesitation that this is one of my all time favorite albums. I am delighted to see that it has been re-released as a CD. It should definitely be a part of every country music lover's personal collection. It's a classic blend of two great polyphonic styles of 20th Century music.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first bluegrass Beatles tribute, October 3, 2002

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beatle Country (Audio CD)

Apparently, the CRVB recorded several albums, although this is the only one I've come across. It is a brilliant collection of Beatles covers originally recorded in 1966. They didn't just go for the obvious songs - this must be one of the few Beatles tributes not to include Yesterday.

Some of the songs are very famous, like I feel fine, Help! and Ticket to ride. Less well known are Baby's in black, And your bird can sing and What goes on. I was pleased to see the rarely-covered Paperback writer included, though perhaps my favorite here is Yellow submarine - they insist on singing it as Yeller submarine, but do it very well, including bubbling sounds.

In 1966, when this album was recorded, the line-up included Joe Val, a mandolist and singer well known in bluegrass circles, and Jim Field, former lead singer of the New Lost City Ramblers. The other members were Bob Siggins and Everett A Lilly. Three guest musicians were brought in for the recording - Buddy Spicher, Craig Wingfield and Eric Thompson.

This is a wonderful, if slightly unusual, album, but if you enjoy bluegrass music, it's well worth a listen.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this album.., October 15, 2011

By 

shecomesincolors - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beatle Country (MP3 Download)

Love this album so much...
Heard the 'Norwegian Wood' cover somewhere, a long time ago.. and I've been searching for this album ever since!
So glad to have found it. We have a cabin in the mountains, and this album is on repeat, during breakfast time, almost every day. Just beautiful.