Customer Reviews

You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper

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Playing Time - 39:19 -- "You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper" marks Doyle Lawson's new affiliation with the Rounder Records label, and this secular recording is full of truly zestful bluegrass. Let's recall the early history of Lawson's band. In 1979, Lawson put Quicksilver together with banjo player Terry Baucom, guitarist Jimmy Haley, and electric bass player Lou Reid. The band signed with the Sugar Hill Records label the following year, and they released the albums Quicksilver, Rock My Soul, Quicksilver Rides Again, Heavenly Treasures, and Once and for Always. After rededicating his life to Jesus Christ in 1985, Lawson recorded the all-gospel "Beyond the Shadows" with new players Scott Vestal (banjo), Curtis Vestal (electric bass), and Russell Moore (guitar). It was momentous occasion that indicated the band's ability to continue to set a high standard for bluegrass gospel music. The "Beyond the Shadows" reissue in 2004 marked an impressive and prolific long-term relationship that has resulted in 24 albums in as many years for this fine group that features well-blended vocal harmonies and arrangements.

Lawson's gospel (and secular) albums are consistently best sellers because their recipe for success has always been to present an excellent variety of material that appeals to the young and the old. As an example of this approach, let's analyze the songs on his 25th album - the secular "You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper" release now on the reputable Rounder Records.

With all his years in the business, Lawson clearly knows the successful recipe for a high-octane sound. Most impressive are the band's splendid choice of material, straightforward picking, and euphonious vocals. The latter is what really sets this band apart from the rest of the pack. Over the years, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver have won four Vocal Group of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. I like to see liner notes clearly identify who is singing, and this is an unfortunate omission here. Yet, we know that the band includes Doyle Lawson (mandolin, guitbro, lead guitar, vocals), Jamie Dailey (guitar, vocals), Barry Scott (bass, vocals), Jesse Stockman (fiddle), and Terry Baucom (banjo, vocals). Truly, they're one of the strongest quintets in bluegrass today. Guest Glen Duncan fiddles on "Saving Grace," a slower song which (along with "Oak Valley Girl") best typify their cohesive well-blended trio. The latter incorporates some tasty fills played by Doyle Lawson on guitbro (an instrument which is a cross between guitar and dobro).

Fans of Doyle Lawson know that he has 40 years experience in bluegrass. The title cut (by Carl Caldwell) is a strong reminder that perseverance and hard work will yield bountiful rewards in life. That cut is characteristic of a general theme throughout this album - the songs have plenty of meaningful messages. Quicksilver's guitarist (Jamie Dailey) and bass-player (Barry Scott) penned the opener, "Heartbreak Number Nine," that speaks to having to get out of town with a one-way ticket when true love doesn't materialize. Another Dailey composition, "The Girl in the Valley," is about a desire to rekindle a relationship with an old flame. If adroit picking is your cup of tea, you'll be very thrilled by Baucom's banjo work on "Girl from West Virginia," along with the Lawson's crisp, driving mandolin on his self-penned "Rosine," a tribute to Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe's birthplace. Lawson is a first-class mandolin stylist in the bluegrass genre, and his instrumental expertise has been highly highly regarded and imitated.

Quicksilver's kaleidoscope of sound includes bang-up bluegrass, classic country, and gospel. Besides the originals, their diverse repertoire draws material from Jim Reeves ("Four Walls"), Porter Wagoner ("What Ain't to be, Just Might Happen"), Pete Goble and others. A band noted for vocal distinction also serves up quality instrumental work. In sum, it's a thoroughgood project that deserves a place in the top ten of bluegrass for 2005 releases. As they sing about in the closing number composed by Pete Goble, this band is clearly "knee deep in bluegrass." (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Bluegrass legend surrounded by up-and-coming talents - check. Tight, multipart harmonies - check. Hot acoustic picking - check. To those who don't actively follow bluegrass, it's difficult to discern the differences between one top-notch band and another. What truly distinguishes Lawson's combo is the use of gospel quartet singing within the bluegrass framework. Though he and his accompanists can sing high-lonesome two-parts, it's the sustained chordal notes, such as the acapella tag to "Four Walls" that will send shivers down your spine.

Lawson's fine mandolin and guitar playing are displayed throughout, and having passed the banjo to rejoining bandmate Terry Baucom, the band strikes a balance that keeps the extraordinary vocals front and center. Highlights include the train-whistle lost-love harmonies of "Heartbreak Number Nine," the title-cut's whimsical, folksy style, and the album's sole instrumental, "Rosine" (which is sure to have them dancing at summer festivals!). It's all put together so smoothly, that casual listeners might not catch the incredible heart and craft laid into this recording.

You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper is a turning point for Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver on several counts. It's secular bluegrass, not religious; banjoist and bass singer Terry Baucomb from the original 1979 Quicksilver returns to the band; and the quintet here joins Rounder, America's largest indie label.

Typifying true trad bluegrass, there's nostalgia ("Oak Valley Girl") and a mandolin-led instrumental tribute to the genre's founder, Bill Monroe (Lawson's retro composition "Rosine"). Family-oriented tearjerkers from an era of shorter life expectancy generally featured a dead child or mother. Here, in the 21st century, a wife of 40 years drifts into Alzheimer's in gracefully slow-paced "Saving Grace."

The immaculately produced album repeatedly honors its roots. The title track's intro recreates the brief guitar/banjo/mandolin/fiddle solos opening Monroe's 1949 "Heavy Traffic Ahead." Close four-part harmonies recall classic bluegrass. Catch the high-pitched sustain ending a sped-up cover of Jim Reeves' 1957 "Four Walls." The tongue-twister refrain of Porter Wagoner's "What Ain't To Be, Just Might Happen" requires especially nimble vocalizing. Essentially, Dig A Little Deeper helps us, the listener, to dig a little deeper into the heart of true bluegrass.

A good album from Doyle and the boys. If you enjoy Bluegrass Music then you will enjoy this CD.

Rounder Records presents their debut album with this label "You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper", featuring Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver...with Doyle Lawson on guitar/mandolin/vocals, Terry Baucom on banjo/vocals, Barry Scott on bass/vocals, Glen Duncan on fiddle, Jamie Dailey on guitar/rhythm guitar/vocals...a mixture of freshman and seniors (veterans) in the world of bluegrass...remincient of a barn dance with blends of tugging at your heartstrings...Lawson and his Quicksilver comrades deliver every note with a gospel edge to each tune they tackle.

Entire album is pure bluegrass from start to end...with the following tunes alphabetically and composer to boot:

BLUES FOR MY DARLING (Thomas Glenn Fletcher)
FOUR WALLS (Marvin Moore/George Campbell)
GIRL FROM WEST VIRGINIA (Clyde Denny/Marie Denny/Wade Hill)
GIRL IN THE VALLEY (Jamie Dailey)
HEARTBREAK NUMBER NINE (Barry Scott/Jamie Dailey)
LOVE ME AS YOU'D LOVE THE RAIN (Pete Goble/Leroy Drumm)
OAK VALLEY GIRL (Robert Gateley/Petr Vacek)
ROSINE (Doyle Lawson)
SAVING GRACE (Jerry Salley/Aaron Wilborn)
WHAT AIN'T TO BE, JUST MIGHT HAPPEN (Porter Wagoner)
WHEN I'M KNEE DEEP IN BLUEGRASS (Pete Goble)
YOU GOTTA DIG A LITTLE DEEPER (Carl H. Caldwell)

Pure vocalizing with high tenor harmony ringing in your ears...Lawson's mandolin solos are simply one of a kind, he is the best...one can only hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Rounder Records, Lawson and Quicksilver...Doyle Lawson played on Gibson "Lawson Signature Model" Mandolin, Terry Baucom played on Gibson "Terry Baucom Model" Banjo...they use D'Addarlo Strings exclusively...now this is the way bluegrass should sound...and O Brother this is just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 39:00 on 12 Tracks ~ Rounder/Pgd 610557 ~ (3/29/2005)

This upbeat and very enjoyable cd would make a fine addition to any music collection and is a must have for bluegrass fans world wide. The upbeat and catchy "blues for my darling" was written by bluegrass performer and composer Glenn Wagnon Fletcher and is the highlight of the cd. Great harmonies and pickin' make for a toe tappin' good time!

Doyle Lawson and quicksilver...awesome cd best gospel you will find..they will bring you to tears...but wut with a uptempo dig a little deeper which played an cmt channel it gives you the best of upbeat bluegrass and gospel..must hear song saving grace..written my jerry salley.

If you have any affection for bluegrass you'll love this.

I really enjoy Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, especially their gospel music. This is their first release for Rounder Records. I suspect the content and flow of this album represents a strong influence by the record company and not the usual freedom which Doyle Lawson has had in the past to pick the song lineup. Perhaps they were just trying to "break the mold" so to speak and stay away from heavy gospel content. I'm not sure where that came from, but to me it causes this release to come across as forced and mechanical rather than natural and flowing.

Don't get me wrong, the musicianship and especially the vocals are top notch, but for me this does not make up for the material selected for this release. Go back and listen to some of the soulful and sincere music from their previous releases and then compare it to this album.

I will be going back to listen to Rock My Soul and the older DL&Q material and You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper will probably be a very infrequent visitor in my CD player. If this is how DL&Q is going to be with Rounder, then in my opinion we would all have been better off without that relationship.

- Scriptor