Customer Reviews

Dirt Silver & Gold

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After years of being unavailable in any form, England's BGO Records has just re-issued this outstanding compilation album from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Originally released in 1976 as a 3-LP set, it contains a wide selection of some of the band's very best work from their "golden era"-- roughly their first ten years. All of the better known material is here, including eight cuts from the classic "Uncle Charlie" album. Also included are many great songs from other equally fine but lesser known albums. Several of the cuts appear to have been recorded specifically for this collection and are not available anywhere else. All are excellent. As is typical of releases on BGO, the entire album has been remastered and the sound is great. The packaging and liner notes are superb, as well, preserving as much as possible of the elaborate sleeve design of the original vinyl LP. Then the entire package is wrapped in a protective cardboard outer sleeve. Great job, all the way around. If you are a Dirt Band fan, this CD is absolutely essential. If you are just getting interested in the band, this is quite possibly the finest introduction that I can imagine. Very highly recommended!

This compilation is a must-have purchase for neophyte and die-hard NGDB fans alike. For the casual fan, this covers most of the highlights from their first decade. While their pre-UNCLE CHARLIE releases had them often performing jug band, sometimes goofy material (like Cab Colloway's "Willie the Weeper"); they had a minor hit with "Buy for Me the Rain," which is a minor classic. Starting with 1970's UNCLE CHARLIE & HIS DOG TEDDY through 1975's SYMPHONIUM DREAM, every song is top notch. They even throw in a few tracks from their landmark WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN album.

What makes this essential for the serious fan is that several of the tracks on disc two did not appear on previous studio albums and were released for the first time on this compilation back in 1976. Among the then new songs are "Mother Earth (Provides for Me)" and the Jeff Hanna original "Bowlegs."

While they didn't write all their own material, they utilized some of best songwriters avalable like Michale Nesmith ("Some of Shelly's Blues", Jackson Browne ("Melissa"), Michael Murphy ("Cosmic Cowboy, Part I"), Kenny Loggins ("House at Pooh Corner), and of course Jerry Jeff Walker, who penned their signature song "Mr. Bojangles."

This collection shows how important NGDB were along with the Byrds, Poco and the Flying Burrito Brothers in developing the country/rock genre. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Some day this band will be honored in the Smithsonian for their vast body of work, which includes preserved traditional bluegrass music, and new material in the bluegrass genre. This set contains almost 40 tracks, some from each of the above categories. I still don't know how they manage to play in a very authentic Appalachian style and yet sound completely updated. It certainly has something to do with the fact that the band is loaded with virtuoso talent on banjo, mandolin, guitar, etc. The presentation of the songs is very well done, with exquisitely beautiful tunes interleaved with songs that are good old, toe-tapping fun. The Dirt Band style makes classics like "Rocky Top" and "The Battle of New Orleans" sound better than old versions that you thought could not be improved upon. I believe there is a lot of pent up demand for this CD, which has been out of production for many years. Strongly recommended while it's available.

Nothing will ever replace the fold-out cover and enclosed book and poster of the original vinyl packaging, but the songs...and the sound. It's all here. And it's outstanding.

I bought this selection when it first came out and had it on cassette tape. Well after years of play and abuse it died. Since it was out of production I thought thats it but it finally came out on cd. I ordered it as soon as I saw it was available

It is great! nuff said!

I had this 3 record album back in college in the early 80's. This was one of the standards for our dorm parties. I lost the third record. I have been searching for the CD for years. I love Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's music and this one is classic.

Awesome album and a must for anyone into the bluegrass/country genre but likes a little rock and creative orchestration thrown in. Great covers and signs of better times--who would dare cover "House at Pooh Corner" these days? Tons of great music in this double album. Put it on, kick back and you'll be hummin' and singin' along before you know it.

Dirt Silver & Gold is a great CD. I owned a copy of the original two album set. The CD has been remixed and sounds great. The CD contains a great collection of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands best songs. I highly reccomend this CD to all Nitty Gritty fans.

Bluegrass and 70's Country Rock intersect perfectly on "Dirt, Sliver and Gold," a compilation of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's earliest greatest hits and favorite tracks. These guys can play music together and sound like they're having fun doing it. I love how the Uncle Charlie Interview leads into "Mr. Bojangles." Earl Scrugg's "Randy Lynn Rag" never sounded better. "Sixteen Tracks," "Jamiaca Lady," and "Bowlegs" don't seem to get mentioned in reviews but they are great tunes. "Ripplin' Waters," my personal favorite, evokes the Colorado high country and a slower pace of life. And nobody does "Battle of New Orleans" like the NGDB. This is the Dirt Band at their finest.

This is NOT a review of the music. We all know this band was great and they created memorable songs. What prevents this Cd to reach perfection is the lousy booklet included. No song lyrics, scarce info about the band. A fairly good product altogether, but no pluses.