Customer Reviews

Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways

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With 25 tracks from the FOLKWAYS archives this is the most generous helping of bluegrass music that one might
hope for. An incredible roller-coaster ride through the most diverse styles. If you aren't a fan of bluegrass music, just pick track 21, 'Billy in the Lowground' (an instrumental that clocks in at exactly o n e minute) and you'll see the light.
The sleeve notes, packaging and sound quality are superb, as you might expect from a record from the prestigious FOLKWAYS label. As a German, I must admit that in European folk music nothing that I know comes close to the sheer exuberant energy of bluegrass. It's the perfect antidote to the whole MTV catalogue with its 100 %predictability. Doc Watson's two tracks on this CD, 'The world is waiting for the sunrise' (track 11, together with the excellent Roger Sprung) and 'The train that carried my girl from town'(track 15) fill me with awe about the incredible wealth of material that this pivotal figure of American folk music has produced. Quite definitely one of my records of 2002.

The plethora of worthy collections riding on the coattails of O Brother, Where Art Thou? continues with Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways, 25 tracks of serious bluegrass untarnished by rock, pop or other outside influences. Recorded between 1956 and 1992, it includes three numbers from what's purportedly the first bluegrass LP ever, Folkways' American Banjo: Three-Finger And Scruggs Style. Dashing mandolin runs by Earl Taylor (and his Stoney Mountain Boys) and bluegrass's patriarch Bill Monroe (with Peter Rowan) open and close this crisp disc while Ralph Stanley, singing with older brother Carter, offers clawhammer banjo picking.

Many of the performers - Red Allen, Doc Watson and Hazel Dickens, for example - grew up with the music. The Harley Allen-Mike Lilly Band (Harley being Red's son) shows how the genre's trademark tight harmonies can turn smooth (in an Osborne Brothers style) rather than sharp, without sacrificing the essence of true bluegrass. The New Lost City Ramblers' "The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake" as well as The Lilly Brothers And Don Stover's "'Neath That Cold Grey Tomb Of Stone" evoke mountain music's darkness, but then a wildfire fiddle breakdown such as David and Billy Ray Johnson's "Grey Eagle" comes along to show its fun side. It's a sumptuous buffett of bluegrass.

This anthology digs deep into the Smithsonian-Folkways catalog of bluegrass albums (1956-1992), with virtually each track representing a different group/performer. The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, The Country Gentlemen, Doc Watson, Snuffy Jenkins, and Red Allen are all included, and they are just the best-known artists here. Highlights for me include OUR LAST GOODBYE by the Johnson Mountain Boys, THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE DREADFUL SNAKE by The New Lost City Ramblers, TRAIN 45 by Smiley Hobbs, and HELLO CITY LIMITS by Hugh Moore, not to mention sides by the list of performers mentioned earlier. What's truly amazing is the realization that this CD anthology is only the tip of the iceberg of S-F holdings, which I believe are all still available in their original form - scores of albums. Hardcore bluegrass fans know all about those albums; CDs such as this do a great service for those just learning about the music or the S-F catalog, or for those just wanting to dip their toes into the music. It's a solid CD filled with terrific bluegrass offerings, with a 30-page, fact-filled booklet included, all for a great price. Definitely worth acquiring.

I subscribe to a cable TV network who has a bluegrass music station. I noticed that all of the best songs (out of hundreds played on this network), the true "classics", were from this particular album, so I ordered it. If you want the best of the best, this is the one for you.

I gave the Classic Bluegrass from the Smithsonian Filkways to my dad, who plays in a local bluegrass band in WV. He loves it.

I hemmed and hawed for a long while before actually buying this, .. and two other CD's ... but I'm so glad I did. I can listen to this music for hours one end and still listen to more. If I could, I'd start collecting all I could lay my hands on .... but at my age you are supposed to start clearing out, not adding to your stuff. I have to say Thank You amazon, for giving a person a chance to actually listen to the music before you buy, I listened to the CD's samples quite a few times, and every time, I was gladdened for being able to in this way. It's an excellent way to get CD's purchased !! ;-) Also I'm very grateful you stock and sell this type of music, as it's getting harder to buy in regular stores, it's not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak. To me it's sort of eternal and I hope to get a lot more of like listening done before I kick the bucket ;-)
L.B.

CLASSIC BLUEGRASS was produced as part of the Smithsonian Institute's Folkways series, dedicated to preserving the best of the American folk music tradition. These recordings occurred at various times & under various conditions--and the professional quality of all are deserving of the Smithsonian's impeccable standards. In fact, all the tunes could have been recored at a top studio in Nashville just yesterday.

Bluegrass emerged as a fusion of western European folk music traditions, and in turn formed the source of Country & Western, and merged with Gospel & Cajun as well.

The highlights of the Bluegrass style feature hard driving guitar & banjo picking; precision vocal harmony & compositions that more often than not are based on Christian themes. Fortunately even the religious songs are so upbeat & jesty that they don't really sound "religious" at all.

All the bluegrass greats are included in this CD: Hazel Dickens, Bill Monroe, 2002 Grammy winners Harley Allen & Ralph Stanely, The Nashville Grass & many more. My personal favorite is Wayfaring Stranger performed by Cullen Gaylean & The Virginia Mountain Boys.

Anyone who enjoys ethnic/folk music should find CLASSIC BLUEGRASS to be a real treat.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 & 1947
Wide Open Spaces
Blues de Musicien
Zydeco's Greatest Hits
How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites Live from the Grand Ole Opry

Very good. I'm just getting to know bluegrass other than Flat & Scruggs from the "Beverly Hill Billies".

A mixture of vocals and instrumentals, this superb retrospective of the bluegrass genre features the well-known bands and singers as well as some of the lesser-known as well. Several live performances with excellent sound also. Look for some songs rarely heard any more, a nice bonus.