Del and the Boys

Del McCoury | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ceili Music
• ASIN: B00005LZSE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,521 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

2. Learnin' The Blues

3. Count Me Out

4. All Aboard

5. The Bluegrass Country

6. Recovering Pharisee

7. Goldbrickin'

8. Gone But Not Forgotten

9. The King's Shilling

10. Unequal Love

11. A Good Man Like Me

12. Travelin' Teardrop Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Greatest Hits Album, November 5, 2001

By 

Virginia Bluegrass Boy (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Del and the Boys (Audio CD)

If none of the other reviews for this album have sold you yet, then you just don't like bluegrass music. If you could only buy one bluegrass album this should be your choice. As my review title indicates, this album is a "greatest hits" album all on its own. I bought this album and then saw Del and the Boys live in Lexington, VA. I just cannot say enough about the songs; they are all outstanding. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning is so good I listened to it back-to-back about 5 or 6 times before I listened to the next song. Its story reminds the listener of Bonnie and Clyde and the song combines the bitter sweet lyrics of Richard Thompson with Del's wonderfully distinctive voice. Listen to the sound of each individual instrument all the way through. Every member - Ronnie and Rob McCoury, Jason Carter, Mike Bub - play as if its the last, best song they will ever play. Each deserves player of the year for their respective instrument. And that's just the first song on the album! Goldbrickin', Gone But Not Forgotten . . . I can't say enough. This is by far the very best bluegrass album I have ever heard.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Album of 2001, July 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Del and the Boys (Audio CD)

This album is definitely the best bluegrass album of the year, and quite possibly the best album of any genre. The DMB's handling of Richard Thompson's "52 Vincent..." has in my opinion created one of the all time best American story songs, and is a must hear. Plus, hearing Del's voice howl on that Sinatra song, "Learning the Blues", is guaranteed to make you cry, or least want to. The guys take up a rockin' pace with greats such as "All Aboard", "Bluegrass Country", "Gone But Not Forgotten", and my favorite, "Travelin Teardrop Blues", but don't miss the excellent Del original, "A Good Man". This is a great song and I think I read, that it hasn't been available on anything since an old Del album circa the early to late seventys? Of course, those who know of Del's son Ronnie, would probably buy the album just for the instrumental he wrote called "Goldbricken". However, that's not all this CD has to offer, "Count Me Out" really showcases the band's ability to harmonize, "King's Schilling" again exemplifies the range and intracacies of Del's voice and is a great story song too, and "Recovering Pharisee" is a "true life" gospel song, not the kind you'll get in church, and should not be missed. Then there is the other Del originial, "Unequal Love", which tells of a love for another that is not returned, it's a feeling we've all had, and a song to be appreciated.

This album is great, and with all due respect, I disagree with the previous review. If you are a first time bluegrass listener, you probably will love, love, love the former Bluegrass Boy voice of Del McCoury and the excellent musical abilities of him and his band, which includes, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on Banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle, and Mike Bub on bass, they are not to be missed. Don't believe me, see for yourself, buy the album, check out a show near you and you will never stop being a fan of the Del McCoury Band.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome return of the high tenor, September 23, 2002

By 

Squidgey Flint (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Del and the Boys (Audio CD)

I was exposed to Del and crew first on the Ricky Scaggs PBS bluegrass special and then on Austin City Limit with Patty Lovelace. Del's high-tenor struck me the first time I heard it and has grown on me each time thereafter. I don't seem to hear much high-tenor in today's bluegrass.

Del and his band are tight and right on the money the whole way through both musically and vocally. Members of the band have written about half the songs on the disc which is refreshing (although more would be better).

The first cut is Richard Thompson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning: ("Red hair and black leather are my favorite color scheme"). The treatment is so good that I probably won't like the original.

"All Aboard" is a "traveling is about the trip, not the destination" allegory full of minor chords and the classic mystical stranger.

"Gone but not forgotten" is nostalgic pop (bluegrass) that harkens back to good days of old that include Cowboys, Hobos, Heroes ("Heroes... Good Guys. White Hats. Fist Fights. Take that! Heroes...") and Daddys ("Strong back. Rough hands. Soft heart. Good man.")

On the whole it's a new album of "classic" bluegrass, in tune, in key, and on fire. This disc has long term repeatability and you'll be singing the songs to yourself in no time at all.

This is a must have purchase. Buy one for yourself and a couple for your friends. Whether they already are bluegrass fans or not, they'll love this disc.