Customer Reviews

On the Road (And More)

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Their tight harmonies and acoustic picking stuck close to Bill Monroe's style, yet Washington, D.C.'s Country Gentlemen were still called progressive bluegrass at the time of this live 1963 album's original release (the And More on this 60-minute CD reissue consists of six strong previously unissued songs from a 1961 Carnegie Hall show during resonator guitarist Kenny Haddock's brief stay in the band). Here's the classic Gents lineup: guitarist Charlie Waller (the sole remaining member today), mandolinist John Duffey, bassist Tom Gray and crisp banjoist Eddie Adcock, who'd bend his strings for a pedal-steel-guitar effect.

To supplement true bluegrass's staples of Anglo folk balladry and Appalachian murder tales, they lent levity with "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" in an English accent and added a cartoon-like voice to a grassed up cover of "Ain't Got No Home" from the Crescent City's Clarence "Frogman" Henry. The instrumental "Grandfather's Clock" eases a bass solo's volume to near inaudibility before a full-throttle banjo break. Lefty Frizzell's eerie 1959 hit "Long Black Veil" is redone with less intensity than later versions by The Band and Joan Baez. Being in a Smithsonian Folkways package, the annotation is, of course,
first-rate .

During the Folk Revival of the early 60's the Country Gentlemen brought bleugrass to a larger, more popular audience. In this Smithsonian Folkways revival of three live performances from '61, '62, and '63 it's easy to understand why. Not only did they put on a lively and entertaining show, they played bluegrass like a well orchestrated storm. And this CD will blow you away!

The recordings are crisp and clear with the band's sharp witted intro commentary left in between songs. Their playing is tight and bright and their golden voices soar. And while there remains a tasty dollop of old-timey flavor, it is clear why this band earned their reputaion as creative and progressive.

In addition, and I wish everyone would do this, it comes with a comprehensive 30 page booklet containing an intro to bluegrass, a history of the band (complete with references), and words and commentary for every song. It even suggests some bluegrass reading!

My favorite tracks: "Walking in Jerusalem (Just Like John)", a unique and lively take on "The Sunny Side of Life", the most enjoyable recording of "The Long Black Veil" I've ever heard, and the very silly "Ain't Got No Home".

Even a relative newcomer to the genre (like me) can tell this is Bluegrass at its best! The vocals capture the high lonesome essence of BG, and these are superb instrumentalists. I think John Duffey's mandolin playing is on a par with Bill Monroe's!

"Walking in Jerusalem" and "Long Black Veil" are worth the price of the CD. Other gems include "Handsome Molly" and "The Sunny Side of Life." I must say, I've never been particualarly fond of "Rawhide," having heard it on several Monroe recordings, but CG's neat--not frantic--performance won me over! There's really not a bad selection on this CD, though the novelty number "Ain't Got No Home" is my least favorite.

A must-have addition to your BG collection, or a great introduction to the marvelous world of Bluegrass. On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give this one 6 1/2!

I often have reservations about live albums, because... 1) they often exhibit the deficiencies of musicians (revealing how much technology took place in the studio to create the "group sound") 2) Sometimes the volume of the audience or quailty of the recording interferes with the music

THIS IS NOT THE CASE with "On The Road & More" - Instead we hear impeccable musicianship, gorgeous vocal and instrumental harmony, and 6 bonus cuts that are a grand augmentation. I also like the short and sometimes playful introductions to the songs that give the concert an intimate living room feel instead the 4 lads being swallowed up by the big concert hall. My favorites include 'the long black veil', 'heartaches', 'i am a pilgrim', and 'little sparrow'. The 32 page booklet with lyrics and extensive notes enhances the whole sound experience.

Their music is totally americana! If you'd liked "O Brother Where Art Thou"s soundtrack, you're gonna love this CD!!! This is the real deal! It's nice to know that in today's over-produced hip-hop rap-... teenybopper world you gotta go back a couple decades to enjoy some good ol' tunes.