I've Got the House to Myself

David Grier | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dreadnought
• ASIN: B00006YXA9
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,280 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Bill Cheatum

2. Turkey in the Straw

3. John Henry

4. Sally Gooden

5. I've got the House to Myself

6. Evening Prayer Blues

7. Arkansas Traveler

8. Ookpic Waltz

9. Choices We've Made

10. Black Mountain Rag

11. Whistling Rufus

12. The Gal I Left Behind Me

13. Sally Gooden (Alternate Take)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Grier's daring combination of chops, imagination, and tradition (has) given a much needed kick in the pants to the flatpicking world, firmly launching it into the next century. --Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Product Description

Honored as one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Artists of the Decade, Grier has also been named three times as the International Bluegrass Music Association's Guitar Player of the Year. I've Got the House to Myself follows four highly acclaimed recordings, including Lone Soldier, listed in Acoustic Guitar magazine's 100 Essential Acoustic Guitar Recordings of All Time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding flights of bluegrass fancy, May 24, 2006

By 

BG Guy (SF Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I've Got the House to Myself (Audio CD)

There are several ways to approach this extraordinary album. One is to frame it as a bluegrass guitar extravaganza from a guy with chops out the yin yang. The other is to imagine what John Fahey or Bela Bartok or Philip Glass might do if they were dreadnought bearing bluegrass guitarists. The music goes beyond the realm of incredible soloing into flights of improvisational (sounding) fancy where country melodies spin out and rise like gorgeous plumes of notes. (Sorry, that was my phone ringing: looks like I have to get back to Earth.) Seriously, if there just isn't enough Clarence White (may his soul be forever blessed) or Tony Rice work available for you, and even if there is, David Grier is a treat to be savored.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Acoustic Tour de Force (and Taste), September 16, 2005

By 

Flat White Pick (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I've Got the House to Myself (Audio CD)

As other reviewers have mentioned; many cuts on this album are one solo flatpicked guitar. Some have some accompaniment or harmony overdubs (so far, I've only noticed this on the title track). All tracks are played by Mr. Grier with his Nashville Guitar College acoustic guitar. The tone of this guitar, when played by Grier, is wonderful.

The arrangements are wonderful. Tasteful, interesting, and marvellously executed. This is one of the very best, if not THE best, flatpicked guitar albums I've ever heard. (And I've heard a great many.)

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Playing, but just one small point..., February 18, 2005

By 

frankp93 "frankp93" (Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: I've Got the House to Myself (Audio CD)

I don't mean to quibble or diminish what Grier has served up, but it should be said for potential buyers: many tracks on this album are not just a single guitar (I didn't realize it myself until I listened with headphones). Some tunes include subtle rhythm chords and occasional unison and octave doublings that create an almost twelve-string feel. I don't think there's any intent to deceive here, the music is wonderful and ultimately who cares how its constructed. In my younger "guitar freak" phase I was more into the idealistic "one person, one guitar" purity thing and this record would have bugged me a bit (which shows where I was at). Just in case there's anyone out there who feels that way.

Even though Grier's coming out of the White/Rice school in terms of touch and phrasing, this record put me in mind of Blake's "Whiskey Before Breakfast", another great "solo guitar" recording that's a got more going on.