Big Mon: The Songs Of Bill Monroe

Amazon.com
Though the late Bill Monroe is generally acknowledged as the father of bluegrass--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 to the Big Mon. Bruce Hornsby opens with a haunting, soaring rendition of the murder ballad "Darlin' Corey." John Fogerty unleashes an absolutely stunning neorockabilly 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 duet movingly with "On the Old Kentucky Shore." 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

Tracks:

Darlin' Corey - Bruce Hornsby
Cry, Cry Darlin' - Dolly Parton
Heavy Traffic Ahead - Steve Wariner
Close By - Patty Loveless
Blue Moon of Kentucky - John Fogerty
Used To Be - The Whites
Walk Softly - The Dixie Chicks & Ricky Skaggs
My Little Georgia Rose - Travis Tritt
I Am A Pilgrim - Charlie Daniels
On the Old Kentucky Shore - Joan Osborne & Ricky Skaggs
Blue Night - Mary Chapin Carpenter
Rocky Road Blues - Dwight Yoakam
Big Mon

Amazon.com

Though the late Bill Monroe is generally acknowledged as the father of bluegrass--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 to the Big Mon. Bruce Hornsby opens with a haunting, soaring rendition of the murder ballad "Darlin' Corey." John Fogerty unleashes an absolutely stunning neorockabilly 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 duet movingly with "On the Old Kentucky Shore." 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:

NOT A BLUEGRASS PURIST-BUT..........2005-02-19

THIS CD CONTAINS SOME WONDERFUL VERSIONS OF BILL MONROE SONGS.I WAS HOOKED RIGHT AFTER THE PIANO LICK ON TRACK ONE.THE BRUCE HORNSBY VERSION OF LITTLE COREY IS TOP NOTCH.DOLLY IS NEXT AND PERFORMS A COMPLETE 180 DEGREE VERSION OF CRY,DARLIN CRY.THIS CD IS DIVERSE IN EACH SONG DEPENDING ON THE STYLE OF THE PERFORMER.ALL TUNES ARE SUPER WITH STANDOUTS BY STEVE WARINER(NEVER REALLY CARED FOR BEFORE),DIXIE CHICKS(YES-I WILL PLAY IT),TRAVIS TRITT(CONSISTANTLY COUNTRY),AND MY FAVORITE(BEING BORN A BLUEGRASS BOY)-ON THE OLD KENTUCKY SHORE,RICKY SCAGGS AND JOAN OSBORNE DUET.IN ALL-NOT PURE-BUT,START WITH TRACK ONE AND GET HOOKED.

From library shelf to CD case.......2003-11-19

I had an assignment for a college Appalachian Music class, where we had to listen to Bill Monroe songs, so I chose this CD. I loved it so much that some songs just about made me dance in the listening room. Definitely toe-tapping stuff. :-) I may end up buying it for myself when I have the money.

Let's be honest.......2003-01-09

Honestly this CD is much better than reviewed here. It is a real showcase of contemporary bluegrass music making bluegrass the part of it's own in the folk music, and widening it to the part of world music. Connecting traditional to modern folk music Ricky Skaggs made similar job as Paddy Moloney & The Chieftains contributed to Celtic folk with albums Long Black Veil, Fire In The Kitchen and Tears Of Stone.
Big Mon can proudly stand among those records and is highly recommended to all music lovers whether they ever put single piece of country to their player or not. It is ambassador of American music today making it more than showbusiness.

Not quite.......2002-07-26

I disliked this album. It seems top-heavy and bloated; more of a chance for all these stars to show how "down with" Bill Monroe they are, when in fact they aren't really playing these songs much in the Monroe tradition at all. Yeah, sure, we can't begrudge modern artists the chance to put their personal stamp on old music, but this too-perfect studio style doesn't reach me emotionally. I'd rather just listen to some old bluegrass, or to new bands like the Crooked Jades or Jim & Jennie who still have some of the clattersome, old-time fire to their picking & plunking.

+ 1/2 Stars...Monroe's Influence Extends Beyond Bluegrass.......2002-01-04

On this tribute to Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs could have assembled an all-star cast of some of bluegrass music's finest pickers [which he does on the instrumental "Big Mon"], instead he chose to show the kind of influence Monroe had on not just bluegrass but popular music. So what you get is a wide spectrum of artists.

Popster Burce Hornsby does a fine interpretation of "Darlin' Corey." [His bluegrass talents were first heard on Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 2.] Dolly Parton adds her wonderful vocal to "Cry, Cry Darlin'." The Whites' gorgeous harmonies make "Used To Be" a pure joy. Skaggs' mandolin adds a haunting quality to his duet with the Dixie Chicks on "Walk Softly." In addition to his solid reading of "My Little Georgia Rose," Travis Tritt plays a banjo(!) solo. Perhaps the biggest suprise is the duet with Skaggs and Joan Osborne on the moving "On the Old Kentucky Shore." But John Fogerty steals the show with his rockabilly performance of "Blue Moon of Kentucky."

Sure, bluegrass purists will be disappointed with this album, but if you're looking for an album to show how deep and far-reaching Bill Monroe's impact was on music, this album is a winner. RECOMMENDED

Big Mon - The Songs of Bill Monroe (HDCD)
Average customer rating:
Big Mon - The Songs of Bill Monroe (HDCD)
Bruce Hornsby , Dolly Parton , Steve Wariner , Patty Loveless , John Fogerty , The Whites , The Dixie Chicks & Ricky Skaggs , Travis Tritt , Charlie Daniels , and Joan Osborne & Ricky Skaggs
Manufacturer: Skaggs Family Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A42DMY

Product Description

Big Mon: The Songs Of Bill Monroe 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

Music Album:

Music Album