Sing the Songs of Bill Monroe

Ricky Skaggs

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: February 26, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Lyric Street
• ASIN: B000060OL8
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,589 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Darlin' Corey - Bruce Hornsby

2. Cry, Cry Darlin' - Dolly Parton

3. Heavy Traffic Ahead - Steve Wariner

4. Close By - Patty Loveless

5. Blue Moon of Kentucky - John Fogerty

6. Used To Be - The Whites

7. Walk Softly - The Dixie Chicks & Ricky Skaggs

8. My Little Georgia Rose - Travis Tritt

9. I Am A Pilgrim - Charlie Daniels

10. On the Old Kentucky Shore - Joan Osborne & Ricky Skaggs

11. Blue Night - Mary Chapin Carpenter

12. Rocky Road Blues - Dwight Yoakam

13. Big Mon

14. Uncle Pen - Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Sharon and Cheryl White, Charlie Daniels & Mary Chapin Carpenter

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though the late Bill Monroe is generally acknowledged as the "father of bluegrass music"--he literally forged this strident musical hybrid from earlier mountain string-band styles in the 1940s--his musical legacy has reached far beyond the often narrow confines of the style he created. Fittingly, a giddy stylistic range of artists help Monroe disciple Ricky Skaggs prove this point on this brilliant salute, which was originally issued in 2000 under the name Big Mon. Bruce Hornsby opens with a haunting, soaring rendition of the murder ballad "Darlin' Corey." John Fogerty unleashes an absolutely stunning neo-rockabilly revival of "Blue Moon of Kentucky," a Monroe classic that was also an early hit for Elvis Presley. With his deft scat singing and lead guitar work, Steve Wariner transforms Monroe's stalwart "Heavy Traffic Ahead" into a sprightly jazz-pop excursion. Country-rocker Charlie Daniels also shines on his reverent gospel-blues rendition of "I Am a Pilgrim." Though Skaggs keeps a surprisingly low profile throughout, he and Joan Osborne contribute a moving duet to "On the Old Kentucky Shore." This 2002 release adds a version of the Monroe favorite "Uncle Pen" that wasn't available on the Big Mon release. Skaggs's genre-blending tribute may make bluegrass purists bristle, but this collection succeeds as few other tributes have in reminding listeners of the amazing breadth of Monroe's legacy. --Bob Allen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is why bluegrass rocks!, March 4, 2002

By	TwoSteppinn (USA) - See all my reviews

For anyone looking to explore a new genre of music, bluegrass is definetely the way to go! Bluegrass music is a nice escape from the sometimes hard to understand, stressful sounding ruckus that many artists are trying to pass as music. Ricky Skaggs & Friends Sing the Songs of Bill Monroe is a great introductory CD into the world of Bluegrass music. This CD is packed with emotion filled songs that will reaffirm to you why so many people are falling in love with country and bluegrass music. Ricky Skaggs has an all star line up in his collaboration with some of country music's biggest names like The Dixie Chikcs,Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam and Charlie Daniels. This CD is a re-release of a CD called Big Mon that came out a while back but it offers a new track called Uncle Penn that features Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Sharon and Cheryl White, Charlie Daniels and Mary Chapin Carpenter. I love this CD and totally recommend it to everyone I know. Hope yall like it! ~TwoSteppinn

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Monroe's Influence Not Limited To Bluegrass Musicians, May 7, 2002

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ricky Skaggs is the heir apparent to the legacy of Bill Monroe. And if you accept the fact the Bill Monroe influenced more than bluegrass musicians, this all-star tribute is a wonderful collection of some of Monroe's best loved songs interpreted by mostly non-bluegrass musicians. Purists may turn up their collective noses at having old Monroe chestnuts like "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and "Blue Night" redone by John Fogerty and Mary Chapin Carpenter respectively, but in so doing they'll miss out on some mighty fine music. The added bonus of one of Monroe's signature songs, "Uncle Pen," only adds to the album's charms. RECOMMENDED

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing CD, March 20, 2002

By A Customer

This stellar collection of A-list Bill Monroe disciples have nothing to prove (each is at or has reached the top of his/her genre) but the fact that Monroe's influence cannot be overstated. Spanning American roots music, artists such as neo-Nashville-dweller John Fogerty, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Patty Loveless, Joan Osborne, Bruce Hornsby, The Dixie Chicks, and Charlie Daniels offer their own (at times stunning) renditions of varios Monroe gems. Ricky Skaggs duet with Dixie Chick Natalie Maines' "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine" is stellar, receiving airplay on country radio in Nashville. (Unfortunately, that's probably the only market where you'll hear this music.) The Whites' shimmering harmonies with Skaggs tingle the spine during "Uncle Pen." What's ultimately impressive is the ease with which Monroe's material is set to rockabilly and rock arrangements by Fogerty and Osborne: this being the 'proof in the puddin' of how much Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Monroe and his compositions influenced the development of American music.