Pioneering Women of Bluegrass

Amazon.com essential recording
Before these 1960s recordings were made, the impact of women on bluegrass was virtually non-existent. Molly O'Day and Wilma Lee Cooper had forged some success, but Hazel and Alice were more interested in the dual harmonies of the Stanley Brothers. The pair's unrefined, passionate, seamlessly intertwined harmonies leave a lasting impression, and their sound often owes more to traditional country than bluegrass. Supported by mandolinist David Grisman and fiddle legend Chubby Wise, the pair attack the songs of Bill Monroe, the Carter Family, the Stanleys, Delmores, and Louvins with fire and conviction. Dickens originals such as "Won't You Come and Sing for Me," with four-part harmonies, and the playful "Cowboy Jim" display her deft songwriting touch while her raw mountain tenor rivals that of Ralph Stanley. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description:
When Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard recorded these songs in the mid-1960s, bluegrass music was dominated by male performers. They selected their favorite songs and arranged them for a stellar group of sidemen—bluegrass legends Lamar Grier, Chubby Wise, David Grisman, and Billy Baker. Their widely admired performances made them role models for future generations of women in bluegrass. The 26 tracks have been remastered, resequenced, and newly annotated by the performers themselves. Includes Long Black Veil, The One I Love Is Gone, and I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling. "Hazel and Alice blast out vintage bluegrass-country soundsongs with fierce, raucous energy." –Time Magazine

Tracks:

TB Blues (Or They're At Rest Together)
The One I Love Is Gone
Who's That Knocking?
Walkin' In My Sleep
Won't You Come And Sing For Me?
Can't You Hear Me Calling
Darling Nellie Across The Sea
Coal Miner's Blues
Sugar Tree Stomp
Train On The Island
Cowboy Jim
Lee Highway Blues
Memories Of Mother And Dad
Long Black Veil
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
Difficult Run
Mommy Please Stay Home With Me
Gabriel's Call
Just Another Broken Heart
A Distant Land To Roam
John Henry
I Just Got Wise
Lover's Return
A Tiny Broken Heart
Take Me Back To Tulsa
I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling

Amazon.com essential recording

Before these 1960s recordings were made, the impact of women on bluegrass was virtually non-existent. Molly O'Day and Wilma Lee Cooper had forged some success, but Hazel and Alice were more interested in the dual harmonies of the Stanley Brothers. The pair's unrefined, passionate, seamlessly intertwined harmonies leave a lasting impression, and their sound often owes more to traditional country than bluegrass. Supported by mandolinist David Grisman and fiddle legend Chubby Wise, the pair attack the songs of Bill Monroe, the Carter Family, the Stanleys, Delmores, and Louvins with fire and conviction. Dickens originals such as "Won't You Come and Sing for Me," with four-part harmonies, and the playful "Cowboy Jim" display her deft songwriting touch while her raw mountain tenor rivals that of Ralph Stanley. --Marc Greilsamer

Album Description

When Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard recorded these songs in the mid-1960s, bluegrass music was dominated by male performers. They selected their favorite songs and arranged them for a stellar group of sidemen—bluegrass legends Lamar Grier, Chubby Wise, David Grisman, and Billy Baker. Their widely admired performances made them role models for future generations of women in bluegrass. The 26 tracks have been remastered, resequenced, and newly annotated by the performers themselves. Includes Long Black Veil, The One I Love Is Gone, and I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling. "Hazel and Alice blast out vintage bluegrass-country soundsongs with fierce, raucous energy." -Time Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Essential bluegrass album; the real stuff.......2007-03-07

I used to have an old tape of these that a friend made from his LP's; I cannot believe it took me so long to replace it with a CD. What was I thinking?

Hazel Dickens is a national treasure. This is an absolutely wonderful CD and a must-have for anyone who even thinks they might like bluegrass. No prissy singing here: These women both have beautiful, strong, voices. The songs are great, the harmonies are great, the instrumentation is great (first-class accompanists and arrangements).

This isn't a great "women's bluegrass album", it's one of the great bluegrass albums, period.

Pioneering Women of Bluegrass Review.......2007-01-09

This is a great bluegrass recording. It is raw and you can feel the emotion in the singing. I also really enjoyed the banjo playing on a number of the pieces. This recording is worth every penny spent.

Mountain diamonds.......2003-11-13

Of all the treasures I've unearthed in the Indiana State University music library, this is one of the shiniest. It's the kind of disc that makes you crawl down onto the floor, stretch out, and soak up all the pathos and passion of the music. Dickens' and Garrard's voices are just strange and raw enough to make a lasting impression without coming across as either weird or harsh, and the songs themselves are totally out-of-this-world. The melodies and harmonies are intriguing, the instrumental accompaniment is superb, and the lyrics are very fine. Acoustically, it's amazing that a recording done on a simple LP forty years ago could sound this good, because the sound quality is virtually crystal clear. Don't miss this disc.

Excellent bluegrass........2003-10-22

I actually first heard about Hazel Dickens on Worldlink tv. They aired a documentary entitled "You can't tell the singer from the song" about her life and work. The "throatiness" of her voice was strangely enticing. Her voice is piercing and emotional- perfect for bluegrass. Well, I went to a music store and found this disc. I didn't know who Alice Gerard was either, but I am extremely happy to have found this treasure. The two women compliment each other perfectly. Hazel's voice is shrill and passionate, Alice's full of conviction, yet with soothing tones. Some of the highlights of the album are "TB Blues", "Who's that Knocking?", "Gabriel's Call", "Walkin' in my Sleep", "Long Black Veil", "I hear a Sweet Voice Calling", and "I Just got Wise". This album is a revelation. Buy it. I promise you will have no disappointments.

One of the best albums of all time.......2003-10-12

Listening to this album will make anyone a convert to bluegrass. The range of sons is incredible, from rollicking upbeat tunes to mournful dirges. Hazel and Alice's voices blend together magnificently in harmony. This sounds so great that it is unbelievable that it was recorded on a minmal shoestring in the mid 1960s, in bare-bones conditions with borrowed old equipment, because it sounds so perfect.

If I had to recommend just one album to anyone, it would be this one.

Hazel Dickens has the most purely emotional singing voice I've ever heard, even better than Judy Garland or Edith Piaf. Her range can quickly go from utterly raw to softly sweet.

I have specified in my will that a song from this album be played at my memorial service.

Music Album:

Music Album