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Editorial Reviews
Red Bird
Turkey In The Straw
There's More Pretty Girls Than One
Cripple Creek
Forked Deer
Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Cumberland Gap
Rye Whiskey
Durang's Hornpipe
Roving Gambler
Old Joe Clark
Wish I Had Stayed In The Wagon
Come Sundown She'll Be Gone
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Robert Byrd was a self-taught fiddler who learned traditional fiddle tunes while growing up in the hill country of West Virginia. Eventually, he became the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, and the longest-serving member of the Senate, but he never gave up playing the fiddle.
In 1977, Sen. Byrd recorded this album in his office, backed by members of The Country Gentlemen -- Doyle Lawson on guitar, James Bailey on banjo, and Spider Gilliam on bass.
The result was an album filled to the brim with true, traditional mountain music -- joyful, authentic, and totally raw. Some of the tracks are introduced by Sen. Byrd's anecdotes recounting the first time he heard these age-old tunes, the musicians he learned them from, and the places and occasions where they were played. It's fascinating stuff from a born raconteur.
The band jelled seamlessly, and it shows, especially on the instrumentals, "Forked Deer" and "Red Bird".
One of the most intriguing things about "Mountain Fiddler" is that Sen. Byrd provides a lead vocal on many songs that are played as instrumentals these days. "Cripple Creek", "Turkey In the Straw", "Old Joe Clark", and "Cumberland Gap" are among these.
Sen. Byrd's vocal delivery is just as raw and untutored as his fiddle playing on these songs. By contrast, he gives moving, inspired readings on story songs like "Wish I Had Stayed In the Wagon Yard", "Rye Whiskey", and the album's countrified standout, "Come Sundown She'll Be Gone".
Sen. Byrd also takes some bluegrass standards out for a spin, including "Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die", "There's More Pretty Girls Than One", "Roving Gambler", and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".
Both old-time and bluegrass have largely strayed away from this sound, and lost a lot of their emotional impact in the process. "Mountain Fiddler" is a study in the real deal for musicians and fans those genres.
In 1977, Sen. Byrd recorded this album in his office, backed by members of The Country Gentlemen -- Doyle Lawson on guitar, James Bailey on banjo, and Spider Gilliam on bass.
The result was an album filled to the brim with true, traditional mountain music -- joyful, authentic, and totally raw. Some of the tracks are introduced by Sen. Byrd's anecdotes recounting the first time he heard these age-old tunes, the musicians he learned them from, and the places and occasions where they were played. It's fascinating stuff from a born raconteur.
The band jelled seamlessly, and it shows, especially on the instrumentals, "Forked Deer" and "Red Bird".
One of the most intriguing things about "Mountain Fiddler" is that Sen. Byrd provides a lead vocal on many songs that are played as instrumentals these days. "Cripple Creek", "Turkey In the Straw", "Old Joe Clark", and "Cumberland Gap" are among these.
Sen. Byrd's vocal delivery is just as raw and untutored as his fiddle playing on these songs. By contrast, he gives moving, inspired readings on story songs like "Wish I Had Stayed In the Wagon Yard", "Rye Whiskey", and the album's countrified standout, "Come Sundown She'll Be Gone".
Sen. Byrd also takes some bluegrass standards out for a spin, including "Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die", "There's More Pretty Girls Than One", "Roving Gambler", and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".
Both old-time and bluegrass have largely strayed away from this sound, and lost a lot of their emotional impact in the process. "Mountain Fiddler" is a study in the real deal for musicians and fans those genres.
By Jon R. Moore
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I would highly recommend this CD to any fans of original mountain music. The exceptional US Senator provides some great lead ins to explain the music's origins.
By Jonathan
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a music of all kinds fanatic. This is a piece of history with Senator Robert Byrd I have it on 33 and have been looking for years to locate on CD. I now am enjoying it on CD. This is a piece of history and I think this is the only music done by Senator Robert Byrd. This is a must have for those that enjoy bluegrass. Thank you Amazon, now try to find my request for Brenda Lee on my wish list, Johnny One Time.
