Crucial Country

Peter Rowan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: There Records
• ASIN: B000FMHCH2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,173 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Peter Rowan was one of the major cult bluegrass artists of the '80s, winning a devoted, international fan base through his independent records and constant touring. A skilled singer/songwriter, Rowan also yodels, and plays numerous stringed instruments and the saxophone. From Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, to Earth Opera with David Grisman, to Seatrain, then Old & In The Way (with David Grisman & Jerry Garcia) and recordings with his brothers in The Rowan Brothers, Peter continues to release extraordinary recordings in a wide range of styles. Sam Bush went on from Newgrass Revival to play with Emmylou Harris as did Sea Train associate, drummer Larry Atamanuik. Jerry produced several of Peter’s solo projects for Sugar Hill. Jerry and Larry both now play with Alison Krauss and Union Station. Viktor Krauss has been with Lyle Lovett for a number of years, Sam continues his solo career and Kester Smith still plays drums with Taj Mahal.

Product Description

Recorded live at the Telluride Festival in 1994, Crucial Country captures live an incredible band of stars in one of their greatest moments. From bluegrass standard “The Walls of Time”, co-written with Bill Monroe, to “Panama Red”, one of Rowan’s signature classics, and an inspirational version of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry”, this record makes country crucial.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Masters at Work, October 23, 2007

By 

Former Archivist General of the United States (Bridgewater, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crucial Country (MP3 Download)

This is a very special album. Sam Bush on mandolin and Jerry Douglas on resonator guitar are masters of their instruments. Usually that means deft noodlers trying to outshine whatever setting they are in. Not in the world these players inhabit. The music taking shape now, coming out of the best of the Bluegrass, acoustic Blues and Folk traditions, values players who can collaborate as well as lead. Here they fall in behind the conjuror that is Peter Rowan and do his bidding like jennies summoned from a lamp. Much of this is state of the art stuff. I think that Peter can get carried away with the imagery sometimes. The invocation of Elvis in the introduction to Rainmaker is a little over the top. And I find Tumbleweed comes off like a magician telegraphing his next trick. But "Deal With The Devil", "Walls of Time", "Panama Red", "Land of the Navajo"...even if you've heard other, classic performances of them...here they show the indomitable power that a band, driven by master acoustic musicians in the service of a shaman, can have.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Music of Heartland America, July 29, 2007

By 

A. Cohen "The Connector" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crucial Country (Audio CD)

After every Sunday lunch - all afternoon - at my grandparents, grandmother played classical music and opera. Her musical training, their generation. By the mid-60's it was the soul music, Dick Clark / Shindig TV shows and AM radio "hits" after school. Summers @ my NC camp it was all manner of folk music, counselors with guitars and Indian chants. Segue to Jr & Sr Hi School & College it was all manner of soul music, rock, blues & R&B. Yes this included Poco, Seatrain and other country rock oriented albums. It was not until I picked up MuleSkinner Blues in 1973, that I really came to embrace "the Rowan style" of American bluegrass music.

From his influence on all genres of music to his evocative writing style, Peter Rowan IS HEARTLAND AMERICA history making music!! Yes, on this CD he is surrounded by phenomenal talent / great musicians all (Larry Atamanuik is THE BEST Slap/Travellin' drummer in the biz). One can put all the talent one wants to on a stage, yet if the the experience of the central leader / the ultimate metronome is not fully realized, the power behind that sound will not come through as pure. This never happens when Peter Rowan is in the studio or on the stage here, blowin' the crowd away in Telluride, CO. If your body is not reverberating and your mind not humming the lyric line for 30 minutes to a day after hearing "Howlin' @ the Moon" and "The Walls of Time," .....then your mind will have to be re-programmed on music in general. Your children and grandchildren will sing your praises for passing on this CD and any other Peter Rowan CD to them, long after you are gone. Buy it!

The Connector in Colorado

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have for Bluegrass Enthusiasts, September 26, 2011

By 

Richie (STL, MO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crucial Country (Audio CD)

I saw most of these songs in Peter's set at the 2010 Telluride festival ... absolutely excellent jammmmmmsss ... recording brings back the memory of being there, which I must do again someday--what a great venue.