Earl Scruggs and Friends

Earl Scruggs

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2001)
• Original Release Date: August 28, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B00005NEYZ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,869 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As Earl Scruggs broadened his horizons into country-rock in the early 1970s, two albums much like this one appeared, featuring cameos from Bob Dylan, the Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, etc. Now as then, the results are mixed. Sir Elton John renders a mature, definitive "Country Comfort." Dwight Yoakam's newly penned "Borrowed Love," "True Love Never Dies" with Travis Tritt, and John Fogerty's "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" all honor bluegrass traditions. Vince Gill and Rosanne Cash ("I Found Love"), Marty Stuart ("Foggy Mountain Rock"/"Foggy Mountain Special"), and Johnny Cash with Don Henley (the eerie "Passin' Thru") are focused and flawless. The misfires are equally spectacular. Billy Bob Thornton's "Ring of Fire" doesn't bode well for his 2001 country album. Not only are Melissa Etheridge and Sting out of their element, their overwhelming performances relegate Scruggs to the distant background. Likewise, his signature instrumental "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" buckles under the weight of 10 guest pickers including Steve Martin and Paul Shaffer. All-star tributes can be a bear to manage. Given that reality, 8 out of 12 ain't bad. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I give it a 10., August 28, 2001

By	Bill Allison "Bill Allison" (Southwest Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had a pretty unusual upbringing. I spent a lot of time on my grandfather's ranch when I was a kid and he listened to a lot of Lester and Earl, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams. At home, my parents were more into the likes of Creedence, Skynrd, Aerosmith, The Doors, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. Well, I'm quite a bit older now and I still get strange looks from the record store clerks for some of the things I buy there. I mean, I doubt if there are many other twenty year olds out there who are going to buy this cd. (there may be a few, let's hope). This puppy really shines. There are quite a few on here that you would expect to show up (Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill) and there are even a few suprises (Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Sting, and John Fogerty). Perhaps the biggest suprise of all is Billy Bob Thornton's rockin' cover of "Ring of Fire". I mean, wow. It's the old Cash favorite like you've never heard it before. Disregard what Rich Kienzle says in his review about the rock singers being "out of their element". They're paying homage to one of their heros here, not trying to outshine him. Earl himself, was there for the recording and I'm quite sure that if he thought that "their overwhelming performances relegated him to the back", then it wouldn't sound the way it does. Besides, it would be pretty boring if they didn't use their own style wouldn't it? I found this cd to be well worth the cash. It's an eclectic mix of down home twang brought to you by an extremely wide range of some of today's greats. Mr. Earl's picking has never sounded better (God, what I'd do to play that good). This cd is not just for Scruggs fans. If you've never been familiar with his stuff, this is a great place for newbies to get started. It will also be quite popular among Billy Bob Thornton fans. He has a very smooth and deep voice. The hip-hop, beat, Earl's banjo picking, and Thornton's voice give the classic "ring of fire" a whole new dimension. Check out his studio album when it comes out next month.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best CD of the year, September 4, 2001

By	Kenneth B. Hunt "ken" (Madison, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First, my tastes: I'm a bluegrass fan, a jazz fan and a rock fan. Springsteen, U2, Miles Davis and Earl Scruggs are my favorite artists. I don't care for contemporary country music at all. As for Earle, I have only listened to his Flatt & Scruggs work to date.

Now that you know where I'm coming from... this is a great CD. The amazon review blasts the billy bob thorton song, which isn't my favorite, but it isn't that bad. And the Sting song had to grow on me. On first listening, I thought it was corny. And you might think (as the amazon reviewer says) that the Foggy Mountain Breakdown instrumental would "break down" under the weight of 10 artists. It might have, if they hadn't done a great job in the liner notes of clarifying who is playing each solo. This makes it pure fun, to sit back and visualize Steve Martin, Albert Lee and the rest having their turn.

Earl show tremendous taste on this CD. He can obviously still cut loose when its called for, but its the subtle, understated fills and backup, and the incredible banjo tone, that make so many of these songs beautiful. The tones of the banjo heard on this CD are as defining as any banjo recording I've heard (and I'm a banjo player). Its not a case of Earl being overwhelmed or outshined... its Earl doing what the song calls for. Sometimes, less is more, even when its your own tribute collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic music. Can't get it out of my head!, December 22, 2001

By	"itchyfoot" (Fort Smith, AR) - See all my reviews

Earl Scruggs stated he wanted to do new things musically and not feel he was in a rut. Every song on this CD is a collaboration with artists he respects. If you look at the credits, the other artists may have written or arranged the songs. So this is not a traditional bluegrass work but a delightful melding of unlikely styles and talents. The first time I heard it I was taken by the thought, "This is not my Father's bluegrass!". But I cannot get enough of this work and I highly recommend it to anyone. My Father takes a tape of it to listen to on his walks every morning.