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The Mountain

Del McCoury, Steve Earle

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (86 customer reviews) | More about this product

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Product Details

Audio CD (February 23, 1999)
Original Release Date: February 23, 1999
Number of Discs: 1
Label: E-Squared
ASIN: B00003TFQT
Also Available in: Audio CD

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (86 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,638 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#27 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters

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Listen to Samples

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1. Texas Eagle
2. Your Forever Blue
3. Carrie Brown
4. I'm Still in Love With You
5. Graveyard Shift
6. Harlan Man
7. Mountain
8. Outlaw's Honeymoon
9. Connemara Breakdown
10. Leroy's Dustbowl Blues
11. Dixieland
12. Paddy on the Beat
13. Long, Lonesome Highway Blues
14. Pilgrim

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 1999
When country-rock icon Steve Earle teamed with blazing bluegrass act the Del McCoury Band, the result was more invigoratingly intense than even die-hard fans could have imagined. These energetic songs somehow sound innovative and timeless at the same time, merging the finest, first-person-narrated politico tunes of Springsteen or Dylan with the plaintive, hard-driving mountain wails of the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe. Whew. --Mike McGonigal

Amazon.com essential recording
Even if it does begin with a jokey incantation of the Mickey Mouse theme song ("M-I-C-K-E-Y..."), The Mountain is Steve Earle's most traditional album, pairing country rock's most notorious miscreant with the best working band in bluegrass. Earle was inspired by a chance meeting with the late bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe, and this is his self-declared stab at musical immortality. It is easy to imagine these 14 songs sounding as good 40 years from now as they do today. The mood varies widely from triple-time breakdowns to bluesy shuffles to meditative waltzes, but there's not a missed note or strained chorus anywhere. As Earle states at the outset, "If you want to be in the band, you have to put your hat on," and the one he's wearing, at least figuratively, is 10 gallon-plus. --Keith Moerer

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Customer Reviews

86 Reviews

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (86 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve Earle's Bluegrass Gem, May 20, 2001

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

In his liner notes, Steve Earle says his primary motive for writing the songs on this album (he wrote all 14 tracks) was an attempt at immortality. His stated hope was that at least one of these songs would be performed at every bluegrass festival in the world "long after I have followed Mr. Bill (Monroe) of this world." After giving this album several listens, I'd say he won't have to worry about that.

This is one of Earle's finest albums and very much in the vein of his 1995 album Train a Comin'. This time out he hooks up with the Del McCoury Band, simply one of the best bluegrass outfits playing today--check out their excellent 1996 album The Cold Hard Facts for further proof.

There isn't a weak track on this album. But if I were to pick a single highlight it would be the closing track, the confessional and mournful "Pilgrim" with its all-star vocal harmony cast (Emmlou Harris, Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien, John Hartford, Peter Rowan, et. al.). Overall, this is an honest and sincere record from an artist who deserves to reach a wider audience. Unfortunately, even the best bluegrass albums are lucky to sell a hundred thousand units. Let's hope it doesn't keep him from putting out another bluegrass album. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the year!, December 21, 1999

By	John M. Bentley (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

When my brother called me and asked me to drive to Nashville to see Steve Earle & the Del McCoury Band in concert at the Station Inn, I had no idea what I was in for. I read many reviews of this CD and they were all very favorable, yet I had never heard any of the music. I sat there shell-shocked with a slack jawed expresion on my face that turned into the biggest ear-to-ear grin I've ever had on my face. The performance going on in front of me was something of legend. A tiny little hole-in-the-wall full of smoke and stale beer, came alive with music that truly elated my soul. I promptly ran out and bought this CD, along with several other Del McCoury Band CDs. Steve Earle and Del deserve Album of the Year from the Grammy organization for this ground breaking blend of roots bluegrass and raw rock and roll. One shining moment from the show that will always stick out in my mind was when Iris DeMent stood on stage with Steve & Del and literally stupefied the audience with her powerful voice. You will play this album for years to come.

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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Bluegrass CD In Years, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mountain (Audio CD)

Earle actually precedes this musical set with a written eulogy in the liner notes, speaking of the legendary Bill Monroe and Earle's own innate desire to please the master. He has transcended that, I'm fairly certain, with this exquisite set of his own compositions and lyrics.

Bluegrass is simply an art form...exceptional artists possessing extraordinary skill, writing, interpreting, and translating music that appeals because of its basic purity and "down-to-earth" originality. We will listen and recall times gone by because when we hear it, it reminds us of a place and time...a small town celebration...something that we heard as a kid... it reminds us of our grandpa's era...we can almost feel it, smell it, touch it...it's Americana. Once we take a closer look, the scope of bluegrass music today even becomes quite broad, especially over the past couple of decades, past the traditionalist's boundaries that once confined it, into modern times where stellar musicians cling to the roots of the past while forging ahead into uncharted territory. But all too often the past is forgotten. Not this time.

Steve Earle has filled the bill admirably on all accounts. He has successfully bridged the past to the present. Most of his songs sound as if they've been around for quite a long time but they are performed exquisitely and with a refreshing approach. He has captured Americana past with "Texas Eagle", "Leroy's Dustbowl Blues", and the Civil War period melody of "Dixieland", which remarkably, could have been written 130 years ago without anyone's knowing different. There are also love songs such as "Carrie Brown" and "I'm Still In Love With You". There are blue collar anthems like the excellent beat driven "Harlan Man". And, with ballads like "The Mountain" and "Pilgrim" to Steve's credit, he has produced a masterpiece of song and word. He also could not have found a better band to join him in this project. Here's hoping that Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band will continue this union and offer a follow up to "The Mountain"; it can't miss.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars school stuff
we had to buy this because a couple of songs have been used in "Sprinboard" English framework.We have enjoyed the diffrent type of music.

Published 20 months ago by Nancy Miller

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluegrass with an edge
This CD is a stroke of genius. Steve Earl leverages the superb talents of some of the finest bluegrass musicians in the business and mixes in a hearty dose of his own creative... Read more

Published 22 months ago by surfandsand

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Surprise
I love this album. If you enjoy bluegrass this is a great album to have. It's high energy and fun to listen to. I particularly love the song with Iris Dement.

Published on January 5, 2007 by M. Eskola

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Coal Mining Songs
If you love Bluegrass, you will love Steve Earle teaming up with the Del McCoury Band on these original bluegrass songs. Read more

Published on December 19, 2006 by 2581

5.0 out of 5 stars Timless
"My primary motive in writing these songs," Steve wrote in a press release for this disc, "was both selfish and ambitious--immortality. Read more

Published on February 24, 2006 by J. Gemmill

5.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for an album without drums
It's hard to imagine an artist slipping so seamlessly into a genre that it sounds like he created it, but Steve Earle pulls it off. Read more

Published on February 3, 2006 by Alex Scorpio

5.0 out of 5 stars Ten albums on a desert island
This is some of the best music you can get your hands on. And I don't even really like country. It's one of the ten albums I would want to have with me on a desert island.

Published on November 30, 2005 by Mario De Carolis

5.0 out of 5 stars Visionary (Earle) meets Virtuosos (Del McCoury Band)
Steve Earle has always infused his music with a rockin', outlaw sensibility. That's why you no longer hear him on most so called country music stations that try to pass off... Read more

Published on September 27, 2005 by Theo Logos

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mountain is further proof....
....that Steve Earle is capable of succeeding in whatever genre of music he tries (except for maybe reggae). Read more

Published on May 9, 2005 by A. Zegas

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve brings bluegrass to a wider audience
I was already familiar with bluegrass music when Steve recorded this album, but a lot of people who weren't also bought this album and most were pleasantly surprised at what they... Read more

Published on August 25, 2003 by Peter Durward Harris

› See all 86 customer reviews...

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SoundUnwound Says...

“The Mountain

by Steve Earle

is mainly Bluegrass, with hints of Singer-Songwriter”

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	48% buy the item featured on this page: The Mountain 4.8 out of 5 stars (86)
	19% buy The Mountain 4.7 out of 5 stars (3) $13.99
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