The Bluegrass Sessions]

Track Listings

Disc: 1
1. You Don't Know Love
2. Goodbye Broken Heart
3. Do Me With Love
4. Faithless Love
5. He's a Heartache
6. Please Help Me, I'm Falling (In Love With You
7. She's Single Again
8. I'll Need Someone to Hold Me (When I Cry)
9. Down to My Last Broken Heart
10. Tell Me a Lie
See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2
1. You Don't Know Love [DVD] [Music Video]
2. Interview With Janie Fricke [DVD]

The Bluegrass Sessions],Janie Fricke,D.M. Records,Bluegrass,Contemporary Country,Country,New Traditionalist,Pop,United States of America
The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This is one of my favorit Bela Fleck records!
  • A Rarity...
  • Hair Raising
  • Outstanding CD!
  • If I could recommend only one CD to anyone, this would be it.
The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
Béla Fleck
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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  1. Tales From the Acoustic Planet
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ASIN: B00000JC6D
Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

  1. Blue Mountain Hop
  2. Buffalo Nickel
  3. When Joy Kills Sorrow
  4. Spanish Point
  5. Polka On The Banjo
  6. Clarinet Polka
  7. The Over Grown Waltz
  8. Ode To Earl
  9. Home Sweet Home
  10. Valley Of The Rogue
  11. Plunkey's Lament
  12. Maura On A Bicycle, Stout And Molasses, Way Back When
  13. Dark Circles
  14. Old Jellico, Puddle Jumper, Dead Man's Hill
  15. Katmandu
  16. Do You Have Room?
  17. Foggy Mountain Special
  18. Major Honker

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

In a jaw-dropping return to his roots, banjoist Béla Fleck led a stellar lineup (Jerry Douglas, Earl Scruggs, Tony Rice, and Sam Bush, to name a few) through one of his finest albums. With incredible musicianship and a smidgen of Fleck's genre-hopping personality ("Polka On The Banjo"), The Bluegrass Sessions is fun, nostalgic, and inspiring. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

Béla Fleck, the banjo-wizard leader of the fringe-jazz quartet the Flecktones, returns to more-bluegrass-oriented concerns with this 18-song outing, a complement to 1988's Drive and a more-traditional follow-up to 1995's fusion-leaning Tales from the Acoustic Planet. Most of these songs are instrumentals boasting Drive's core group of Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Tony Rice on guitar, Jerry Douglas on Dobro, and bassist Mark Schatz; they're augmented in spots by fine guest players such as Vassar Clements, John Hartford, and the incomparable banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs. Fleck's spidery, tasteful plucking style lends originals like "Major Honker" and "Katmandu" an ever-so-slightly offbeat air, while he gives classics like Scruggs's "Foggy Mountain Special" and "Polka on the Banjo" traditional readings that wouldn't be out of place at the Opry. Flecktones fans will find much to like in Fleck's rootsy playing, and so will bluegrass purists. --Gregory McNamee

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is one of my favorit Bela Fleck records!.......2007-01-10

I love this CD, i think it is one of the best bluegrass collections Bela has produced, with a host of different styles and artists.

4 out of 5 stars A Rarity..........2006-07-19

It's rare when a sequel exceeds the original. This album, though, exceeds the first "Acoustic Planet" effort by Fleck.

Why? Well, the playing is better technically, if you can believe that. And the energy and drive is stronger here than in Acoustic Planet 1.

You also get treated to a greater number of original compositions on this CD. I've come to appreciate this dimension of Fleck's artistic gifts even more as time has passed. While he does do a lot of variations on derivative music, his original compositions are memorable, too.

5 out of 5 stars Hair Raising.......2006-04-12

I've had this album for two years now and it still sometimes makes my hair stand on end when I listen to it and I don't even consider myself a SERIOUS bluegrass fan. Absolutely amazing!

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding CD!.......2006-02-25

Bela Fleck is arguably the premeir banjo player in the world and he does not disappoint on this CD. His music and that of the musicians he has gathered to play with him is superb. If your feet aren't tapping to the music in short order, then you probably have a few disconnnected nerves leading to them.

If you enjoy Americana/Bluegrass/Country, then you'll love this CD!

5 out of 5 stars If I could recommend only one CD to anyone, this would be it........2005-11-20

This is the CD that was singlehandedly responsible for revealing my long-hidden love of bluegrass music to me. I can listen to it in any season or mood and at any time of day. Each performer on the CD has moved beyond mastery of his instrument to fusion with it, and the results are incredible to hear. My favorite track on the CD is "Buffalo Nickel," which combines a gorgeous wistful melody with a constantly shifting meter and an undercurrent of satisfaction. Other favorites include the rollicking opening track of "Blue Mountain Hop," the well-titled "When Joy Kills Sorrow," the lullaby favorite "The Over Grown Waltz," the deliciously fast ending track "Major Honker"...well, who am I kidding? The entire CD is amazing. It gets my highest recommendation. Don't waver. Buy it. You'll be glad you did.
Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions
Average customer rating: 0 out of 5 stars
  • Unamused...
  • An Instant Classic
  • The kind of music I've been waiting to find...
  • not so hot
  • Not What I Expected
Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions
The Avett Brothers
Manufacturer: Ramseur Rec.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000E0IDJ6
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

  1. Talk on Indolence
  2. Pretty Girl from Feltre
  3. Colorshow
  4. Distraction #74
  5. Sixteen in July
  6. Left on Laura, Left on Lisa
  7. A Lover Like You
  8. Pretend Love
  9. Matrimony
  10. The Lowering (A Sad Day In Greenvilletown)
  11. The Fall
  12. Dancing Daze
  13. Famous Flower of Manhattan
  14. 40 East
  15. Gimmeakiss
  16. Denouncing November Blue (Uneasy Writer)
  17. Four Thieves Gone

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Unamused..........2007-06-24

I reviewed this album at the request of a family member. In summary, it has most of the instruments of Don Williams with absolutely none of his beautiful vocals. True music lovers will realize that energy alone does not make beautiful music, just empty entertainment.

Take an old moldy garage and throw in Chrissy Hynde, Rammstein, George Strait, and the Ramones all at their worst and you have these guys. They sound like Clash wannabees with a banjo.


5 out of 5 stars An Instant Classic.......2007-06-11

Yes, no recording can capture the feel of their live performances (especially outdoor performances) but this CD is nothing less than classic. Almost every song is memorable as the more you listen to it, the more and more you come to appreciate just what this CD accomplishes. It is very difficult to pin down their sound (they won't do it), but I would describe it as a mix of punk rock and folk. They are now officially my favorite group and this is my favorite CD of theirs.

5 out of 5 stars The kind of music I've been waiting to find..........2007-05-20

Beautiful lyrics with real feeling... You can tell they put so much heart into it. It's a fantastic album with beautiful, lyrical slow songs and upbeat foot-stompin' songs that you can't help but dance with. Also highly recommend their new album, EMOTIONALISM.

1 out of 5 stars not so hot.......2007-05-12

I saw these guys at an art festival in Alabama last year. I'm all for high energy and making old sounds new, but these guys just seemed like hipsters playing really loud and without much substance. "Hey, I have an idea - punk rock on a banjo!" Wow, that's a new one. You need to have something more than that to make interesting music. This album seems a tad more subtle than their live show, but not much.

3 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected.......2007-05-11

I discovered the Avett Brothers reading an article on Ramseur Records. In doing further research, I discovered the Avett brothers were former guitar students of a good friend and the Avett family are friends with he and his wife. "Four Thieves Gone" was more or less a random pick of their albums. I read the Avett Brothers had a popular stage performance and played a rock'n bluegrass so I was expecting music more akin to something like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I have not listened to the band's other albums or a performance. But I didn't hear anything in this albums that would fit the stage performance image in the article. "Four Thieves Gone" may have been an studio experiment for the Avett Brothers....something like the Beattles' White Album was for the Beattles. I enjoy the album quite a bit but I am not sure fans of modern day bluegrass or even rock will agree.
The Telluride Sessions
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of the best crossover albums of all time
  • The Telluride Sessions (Strength In Numbers)
  • Bluegrass a little less blue
  • As fresh as ever
  • Acoustic fire!
The Telluride Sessions
Strength in Numbers
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000006EJJ
Release Date: 1998-03-24

Tracks:

  1. Future Man
  2. Texas Red
  3. Pink Flamingos
  4. Duke And Cookie
  5. One Winter's Night
  6. Macedonia
  7. The Lochs Of Dread
  8. No Apologies
  9. Slopes
  10. Blue Men Of The Sahara

Amazon.com essential recording

This acoustic supergroup joined forces in the summer of 1988, and the result was a true landmark in "new acoustic" music. As if bluegrass (and even "newgrass") was too constricting, the quintet--Sam Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Bela Fleck (banjo), Mark O'Connor (violin), and Edgar Meyer (bass)--incorporates classical-style themes and arrangements within the context of bluegrass instrumentation. Their unbelievable technique and musical ability was never in question; however, what makes the album special is the uncanny blend of precision and freedom, of improvisation and structure. Each of the 10 compositions were written by a different twosome (do the math permutations). Playful bluesy lopes ("Pink Flamingo") accompany tinges of reggae ("The Locks of Dread"), Celtic ("Macedonia"), and Middle Eastern ("Blue Men of the Sahara") music. There are urgent burners, somber mood pieces, and tender ballads, all delivered with grace. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of the best crossover albums of all time.......2007-03-08

The incredible chemistry of this ensemble of string wizards mixes bluegrass sounds with every other genre in a way not yet duplicated. Unreal. You must have this CD.

5 out of 5 stars The Telluride Sessions (Strength In Numbers).......2007-01-12

I first heard the group "Strength In Numbers" years ago on a show called Lone Pine Special. The entire band was phenomenal. It took bluegrass in a whole new and exciting direction. Each player is amazing in his own right as well as mixing beautifully with the other players. Most of this music is what I consider a bluegrass jazz fusion. This is a wonderful CD to include in an otherwise standard collection of traditional bluegrass. The virtuosity of each of these musicians is mindboggling. Some of the cuts make you want to jump up and dance while others cause you to pause, intently listen, and examine the musical techniques presented. Being a banjo and guitar player myself, it was a real joy to listen to such prolific musicianship. I found myself challenged and awed by this CD. I highly recommend this CD.


5 out of 5 stars Bluegrass a little less blue.......2006-12-13

Bluegrass remains in many ways a music that holds its devotees close but perhaps offers less to the uninitiated or to those for whom the insistance on rigorous adherence to some predefined bluegrass standard seems a bit self-involved. Often times reverence towards tradition and outright musical athleticism get in the way of what is at the core a very strong musical message. This CD is one that easily reaches across boundaries and, with bluegrass sensibilities intact but not binding, presents contemporary acoustic country at its best. The musicians present are all masters of their instruments and all have worked together and known each other for years. The music they produce seems almost effortless but at the same time conveys no sense of sloppiness or lack of professionalism. There is a clear musical statement here coupled with a strong feeling so that the musicianship serves an end rather than just becoming an end in itself. Standouts include One Winter's Night, Blue Men of the Sahara, and the wonderful mandolin duet on Macedonia featuring Sam Bush and reminding us that Mark O'Connor can play anything. For the bluegrass traditionalist, the music may seem heresy. For the rest of us, this is a wonderful recording suitable for repeated listening. Definitely not for bluegrass fans only.

5 out of 5 stars As fresh as ever.......2006-09-07

I just bought it; 17 years after its release. Not that that should matter as I have purchased jazz recordings from the fifties. This CD is my first introduction to bluegrass or newgrass or whatever grass. I agree with some of the reviewers that this music is beyond classification. I don't think it gets any better than this. I love the melodies, the harmonies, musicianship and the quality of the recording. I listen to it at home and in the car. There are some world influences in couple of numbers. By the way, "Macedonia" has a Balkan tint to it, not celtic. Inspired by this CD I started tracking the recording of individual artists involved as the group represented a "summit" of sorts. Next thing I will be moving to the Appalachian Mountains.

5 out of 5 stars Acoustic fire!.......2005-12-25

It all started when my friend Ashley used "Macedonia" (track six) to demonstrate the quality of his JBL iPod speaker ring. Never having listened to bluegrass before, I asked what kind of music it was and he said it is beyond classification. So I listened to "Slopes" and got the kind of euphoric rush you get when you're having a sports-related high or the ecstatic sensation of moving at great speed.
No matter what you think of bluegrass or banjos, anyone who takes delight in music that is intricate, brilliant, sensuous and evocative, will find much to love about this album. Jazz fans will appreciate the Pat Metheny undertones and harmonies in tracks like "One Winter's Night." I would be first in line for any new project by this line-up of virtuoso musicians. What a joy to listen to flawless musical jamming!
Black Bear Sessions
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • SIMPLY AWESOME BAND
  • Be Amazed. Be VERY Amazed
  • "Black Bear" creates a bear of a good time
  • Like nothing I've heard before!
  • A good kind vibe
Black Bear Sessions
Railroad Earth
Manufacturer: Bos Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000066AT1
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

  1. Head
  2. Lordy Lordy
  3. Seven Story Mountain
  4. Chains
  5. Black Bear
  6. Colorado
  7. Real Love
  8. Stillwater Getaway
  9. Cold Weather
  10. Railroad Earth

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars SIMPLY AWESOME BAND.......2005-09-02

I happened to hear of these guys by chance, word of mouth, and I cant be more thankful. RRE music is timeless. I'm a true rock n roller, I dont know how to describe this band..I never cared for blue grass or Grateful Dead, but these guys have an original quality to them thats special. The music is timeless, meaningful lyrics, great musicianship, and most importantly HOOKS & MELODIES. Songs that stick with you. I highly recommend this band to everyone that I'm in contact with. I'm very picky when it comes to music, Im a musician and I dont like alot of whats going on out there in the music world. This band is a breath of fresh air and makes us realize that theres still a few talented people in the world that play some great music. Theres not many. Buy and listen to RRE, they deserve it!

5 out of 5 stars Be Amazed. Be VERY Amazed.......2003-05-25

In a world of cookie cutter music, copycat art, and been-there, done-that overfamiliarity, this band is more than a breath of fresh air-it's a hit of 100% oxygen.

I owned the second Railroad Earth CD, "Bird in a House" for three months before ordering "The Black Bear Sessions." I was waiting to grow tired of the former before sending for reinforcements. Then I realized I might never get tired of it.(I haven't).

I'm writing a review of this two year old album to explain what I believe makes Railroad Earth unique and worthy. I know CDs are expensive, and buying anything unfamiliar is a risk. Many with limited budgets stay with the tried and true. But don't worry about future schock. RRE is not so much a band that's ahead of itself, as one that blends great musical elements of the past into a new, intoxicating brew.

Critics have struggled to describe RRE. The most frequent comments include "jamgrass" or "kinda like the Grateful Dead during their American Beauty period." Try this one: "Railroad Earth is like a seventies psychodelic band with Southern rock attitude that's been put in the 21st Century and given acoustic instruments."

Let's analyze just two of the songs on The Black Bear Sessions, which give you a hint at the breadth and skills of these six musicians. The opening number "Head" sets the quality bar near the top right out of the gate. Before you even have your headset adjusted, a banjo drops in to say howdy. This is quickly followed by a high powered vocally-wailed series of "Ohhhhhs" to get your attention, before the rest of the instruments jump in with a fast paced bluegrass groove.

Rick-a-tick drums,thumping base, banjo, guitar and a fiddle soon join the vocals. But it isn't until the third minute of the song that Railroad Earth puts its stamp on the music.

I mentioned Southern Rock, which too often featured coke-fueled 10-12 minute instrumental breaks--but no worry about self- indulgence here. What follows is a three minute chunk of spot-on instrumntal virtuosity that will have your head bobbing and toes tapping.

While many bluegrass bands use their instrumental breaks for individual bursts of virtuosity while the rest of the band plays rhythm and waits their turn, RRE unleashes a full palate of intertwined, now-dueling, now-harmonic instrumental thrusts and parries. Nobody rests on a Railroad Earth song. The result is what might have happened if Wall of Sound pioneer Phil Spector had gone country.

On "head," it's mostly a fiddle and Mandolin pas de deux, calling and responding, challenging each other to even greater moments, before finally joining forces in a co-ordinated, precision picked assault. Each time you listen, you discover new subtlies and genius throughout the tune--and the album, for that matter.

But RRE is nothing if not unpredictable. The third cut on the album, an extraordinary workout called "Seven Story Mountain" will hit you with a rhythmic curve ball that rekindles thoughts of musical legends ranging from Ravi Shankar to Bo Diddley to the Byrds.

It starts with a smidge of arhythmic psychodelia, but before you have a chance to say, "whazzat?" a clean acoustic guitar picks up the rhythm, joined quickly by a fiddle riff that hooks you and holds you throughout. Soon tom-tom drums reminiscent of Mr. Diddleys' jungle-based rhythms-tho not the Bo Diddley Beat itself--join in. A Dobro provides accents and fills, and voices rise in sweet sweet harmony. Too soon the instruments depart one-by-one, as mysteriously as they arrived-but as the man once said-the melody lingers on. You won't believe it was six minutes long. The song is so powerful musically the lyrics may sneak past you. Don't let that happen.

Lead singer and the songwriter on the majority of RRE's music is Todd Shaeffer, blessed with envigorating ability to blend the familiar with the unexpected. His and other tunes sound precise and improvisational simultaneously, drawing from many influences. Shaeffer may be the SpongeTodd Unsquarepants of modern songwriting. He's absorbed it much music, filtered out the bad and given back extrordinary, hook filled music that wears better than a $$$$ suit. But he can't do it alone, and everyone else is up to the challenge.
I am no spring chicken. I was raised on rock and roll, came to country late, and moved to bluegrass almost fulltime when the charlatans took over Nashville. So I've heard and seen-if not all of it, most of it. And I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of bands that have flat out blown me away like RRE.

5 out of 5 stars "Black Bear" creates a bear of a good time.......2002-12-23

The first exposure I got from this band was at the Telluride Blugrass Festival in 2000 and I thought they were great. About a year later I was pleasantly suprised to see a flyer advertising their appearance at my tiny liberal arts college in Oregon. I experienced this intimate performance which included all of the material from the "Black Bear" recordings. This album is fun and energetic. The artists in Railroad Earth are all very talented and they really enjoy what they do. This is not exactly traditional blugrass for it does have more of a rock quality. However, even if you are a die hard traditional blugrass fan you will still enjoy this. Also those who are fond of country rock, the Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers to name a few will find Railroad Earth to be a excellent companion.

5 out of 5 stars Like nothing I've heard before!.......2002-11-06

I have to thank the previous reviewer for the words on this amazing album! I bought "Bird in a House" in the store and was checking around out here. I love the new one but still never heard "The Black Bear Sessions." If I hadn't read the previous review I might not have gotten it immediately.

This album is completely fantastic!! Sorry I'm no writer and don't know what else I can say except that it's a must have for any CD collection. For me it's up there with "American Beauty!" And that's saying a lot for this old Deadhead!

5 out of 5 stars A good kind vibe.......2002-10-03

Having reviewed _Bird In A House_ and mentioned this CD, I hadn't planned to review it separately. I changed my mind because (a) _The Black Bear Sessions_ is just too good not to review, and (b) I saw that nobody else had reviewed it yet.

Some of the songs on this CD (five, I think) were originally recorded as demos. They were so good that the band recorded another five and turned the demo into its debut release.

Even more obviously than its successor, this CD is driven by the songwriting of Todd Sheaffer (formerly of From Good Homes). I can't say enough about his remarkable talents, not only as a songwriter but also as a singer and guitarist. If you want to hear what he sounds like by himself, check out his solo live CD _Dream of Love_, where you'll also hear a solo version of "Head," the opening song on this collection. (You'll also hear a solo version of "Came Up Smilin'" from _Bird In A House_. "Head" was also released on the From Good Homes CD _Open Up The Sky_, on which there's also an earlier version of "Walk On By.")

His songs have reminded lots of listeners, including me, of _Workingman's Dead_/_American Beauty_-era Grateful Dead (especially the numerous Garcia-Hunter collaborations but also, e.g., the Lesh-Hunter masterpiece "Box of Rain"). It's no wonder, really.

First of all, Sheaffer is a lyricist with several Hunter-like qualities. Not least of these are economy of language, a sort of Dreamtime evocativeness, and a strong sense of what most of us would probably call "spirituality" even though few of his songs call any overt attention to religious/spiritual matters.

Then, too, his Railroad Earth music tends to draw so heavily on "old-timey," American-heartland sources that a very casual listener could possibly mistake this stuff for traditional bluegrass -- which it isn't, any more than _Workingman's Dead_ was really as traditional as _it_ sounded upon superficial hearing.

His musicianship is excellent too, especially as a vocalist. His delivery is engaging and earnest, with more than a hint of Uncle Jerry in the occasional cracking of his voice.

As in my other review, I may seem to be slighting the rest of the band. That's not my intent; John Skehan (mandolin), Carey Harmon (drums/percussion), Dave Von Dollen (bass), Tim Carbone (violin), and Andy Goessling (several sorts of guitar, banjo, and other instruments as needed) are all terrific at what they do too. (And comparing RRE to Sheaffer's solo release is also an excellent way to check out what _these_ guys brought to the party -- which is quite a lot.) And they do some of the songwriting as well, not to mention some singing.

It's just that this project so clearly takes its initial inspiration from Sheaffer's tunes. (And even the occasional cover tune -- Tom Waits's "Cold Water" on this CD and Neal Casal's "Dandelion Wine" on _Bird In A House_ -- has Sheaffer's stamp on it.) What we have here is a group of six tremendously talented acoustic musicians applying those talents to music and lyrics largely written by this creative and charismatic fellow. The resulting whole is, as they say, more than the sum of its parts.

But it's not traditional bluegrass. This is barefoot-hippie jamband music that draws on traditionally bluegrassy sources but is not in any way limited to/by them. If, as I do, you like Leftover Salmon, the Yonder Mountain String Band, and the String Cheese Incident (I especially like SCI), you'll be blown away by these guys.

A great group and a great pair of CDs; I can't recommend them highly enough. I don't remember the last time I was this excited about a new band.
Great Dobro Sessions
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great album
  • They forgot one!
  • Worn Thin
  • Music at its best!
  • It opened my eyes to a whole new way to play guitar
Great Dobro Sessions
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000EYC
Release Date: 1994-09-18

Tracks:

  1. Fireball Mail - Oswald Kirby/Josh Graves/Mike Auldridge/Curtis Burch/Jerry Douglas/Rob Ickes/Stacy Phillips/Tut...
  2. Dobro Chimes - Oswald Kirby
  3. Just Joshin' - Josh Graves
  4. Poison Love - Gene Wooten
  5. Birdland - Jerry Douglas
  6. Wave - Mike Auldridge
  7. The Last Rose Of Autumn - Stacy Phillips
  8. Rainbow Bridge - Curtis Burch
  9. Great Season Waltz - Sally Van Meter
  10. Scrapin' The Barrel - Rob Ickes
  11. Little Green Pill #2 - Tut Taylor
  12. Day Tripper - Gene Wooten
  13. Flatt Lonesome - Josh Graves
  14. Abiline Gal - Jerry Douglas
  15. McHattie's Waltz - Rob Ickes
  16. Ace Of Spades - Stacy Phillips
  17. Suitcase - Curtis Burch
  18. Cherokee Shuffle - Sally Van Meter
  19. Lonesome Dobro - Tut Taylor
  20. Wake Forest - Mike Auldridge
  21. End Of The World - Oswald Kirby

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great album.......2007-07-14

This is a great album - especially if you like the dobro. It's wonderful to hear all of these great players and all of the different styles. I've listened to a lot of bluegrass and country music and was familiar with Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes and most of the others, but I had never heard Curtis Burch and Stacy Phillips...what a suprise. If you love dobro you need this album in you library.

4 out of 5 stars They forgot one!.......2007-03-08

How could they not feature Frank Poindexter. He is the greatest dobro player out there.

5 out of 5 stars Worn Thin.......2006-08-05

If it's possible to wear out a CD as we used to with vinyl, then I have already taken several layers off this one. I never tire of the varieties of dobro playing on this one. It was my daily companion for a 2 hour commute for 4 years! It will open your interests to many of the great players of this under-appreciated instrument.

5 out of 5 stars Music at its best!.......2003-10-05

Great instrumental project! Most of the Dobro "Celebrities" are on this album, the great old players like Josh Graves and Mike Auldridge as well as the young players like Gene Wooten and Sally Van Meter. They all have one thing in common - extraordinary musicianship. The danger with instrumentaö projects featuring the same instrument is always that it gets boring after awhile, but not here. There are so many different ways to play, also the song selection, from traditional fast-paced bluegrass to modern sounds, everything is here and the Dobro really fits for the complete musical spectrum. I really enjoyed this album!

5 out of 5 stars It opened my eyes to a whole new way to play guitar.......2003-01-29

This CD is a must for country or bluegrass music fans. It features 21 tracks of great dobro guitar accompanied by fiddle, banjo and sometimes mandolin. If you are like me and have never really gave dobro music a whole lot of thought, you will be pleasantly surprised. I think I could become hooked.
The Delbert and Glen Sessions 1972-1973
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Roughing it.
  • Long Overdue
  • Finally!!! Released on CD
The Delbert and Glen Sessions 1972-1973
Delbert McClinton & Glen Clark
Manufacturer: Raven [Australia]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Contemporary BluesContemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
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Blues RockBlues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Cost of Living
  2. Subject to Change
  3. Delbert McClinton
  4. Let the Good Times Roll
  5. One of the Fortunate Few

ASIN: B0001GWB7S
Release Date: 2004-03-15

Tracks:

  1. Old Standby
  2. Ain't What You Eat It's the Way That You Chew It
  3. I Received a Letter
  4. I Feel the Burden (Being Lifted Off My Shoulders)
  5. "B" Movie Box Car Blues
  6. Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday
  7. All Them Other Good Things
  8. Sugar Daddy
  9. Here Comes the Blues Again
  10. Rosie's (The Working Girls' Hotel)
  11. C.O.D.
  12. Oh My
  13. If You Don't Leave Me Alone (I'm Gonna Find Somebody Who Will)
  14. Lucky Boy (Your Ramblin' Days Are Through)
  15. Too Much
  16. Sidewalk Diploma
  17. Cold November
  18. I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore
  19. Let Me Be Your Lover
  20. Bless 'Em
  21. California Livin'
  22. You Gonna Miss Me
  23. To Be With You

Product Description

Dilbert & Glen, 1972
1. Old Standby
2. Ain't What You Eat It's The Way That You Chew It
3. I Received A Letter
4. I Feel The Burden (Being Lifted Off My Shoulders)
5. "B" Move Box Car Blues
6. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday
7. All Them Other Good Things
8. Sugar Daddy
9. Here Comes The Blues Again
10. Rosie's (The Working Girls' Hotel)
11. C.O.D.

Subject To Change, 1973
12. Oh My
13. If You Don't Leave Me Alone (I'm Gonna Find Somebody Who Will)
14. Lucky Boy (Your Ramblin' Days Are Through)
15. Too Much
16. Sidewalk Diploma
17. Cold November
18. I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore
19. Let Me Be Your Lover
20. Bless 'Em
21. California Livin'
22. You Gonna Miss Me
23. To Be With You

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Roughing it........2007-01-02

As a historical document of how it all came about for Delbert this is a keeper and very interesting.

As a recording it is less than ideal.

Lots of good licks, good lyrics, great ideas, all executed with either budget or drug induced limitations.

Crank it up and have a party but don't waste it on your good speakers.

5 out of 5 stars Long Overdue.......2006-08-26

Finally, Delbert's many fans get a glimpse of his seminal,just left Texas for L.A.,pre-roadhose big horn section,brand of music. Delbert's fine voice and his unique grasp of R&B is here but it's displayed using songs he crafted,showing a gift for lyrics that he all but abandoned as he became more successful.Though Delbert has always been able to "Soulify" any song,his interpretation of his own material is special. This CD is also an excellent introduction to another great R&B voice,Glen Clark. Though not as well known as Delbert, Clark also has a natural and soulful grasp of R&B. He creates gospel laced rock and blues that stirs your feet as well as your soul. This CD is long overdue and will hopefully spawn another generation of Delbert and Glen fans.

5 out of 5 stars Finally!!! Released on CD.......2004-04-27

These are two classic albums that have truly timeless music on them. Both albums have been collectors items for years. If you could find them they were $25-50. Then they were in whatever condition they were in. Usually scratched! Give a listen to "Here Comes the Blues Again" or "Cold November and you wonder why it took so long for the general public to catch on to what many of us have known for years. That being Delbert is a singing, songwriting master of country/blues. Over the past 26 years I have seen him tear up literally 100s of bars, honky tonks and small theaters. Buy this CD and then catch him live soon. He travels to all four corners of the USA so he has to come close to you sooner than later. Go to Delbert.com to see where he is playing and get there soon!!!! Buy this CD.......
Pickin' on Joss Stone: The Bluegrass Sessions
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Pickin' on Joss Stone: The Bluegrass Sessions
    Various Artists
    Manufacturer: Cmh Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    TributesTributes | Pop | Styles | Music
    ContemporaryContemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
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    1. The Soul Sessions
    2. Mind, Body & Soul
    3. Spoiled
    4. Introducing Joss Stone
    5. Don't Cha Wanna Ride

    ASIN: B000A2H9NO
    Release Date: 2005-08-23

    Tracks:

    1. Right To Be Wrong
    2. Super Duper Love
    3. Less Is More
    4. Jet Lag
    5. Don't Cha Wanna Ride
    6. Killing Time
    7. You Had Me
    8. Sleep Like A Child
    9. Understand
    10. Victim Of A Foolish Heart
    11. Fell In Love With A Boy

    Product Description

    1. Right to be wrong
    2. Super duper love
    3. Less is more
    4. Jet lag
    5. Don't cha wanna ride
    6. Killing time
    7. You had me
    8. Sleep like a child
    9. Understand
    10. Victim of a foolish heart
    11. Fell in love with a boy

    Format: CD
    Tuff and Stringy Sessions 1966-68
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Finally!
    • CD Fills a Major Gap
    • CD Fills a Major Gap
    • GREAT RARE CLARENCE!!
    • BIG DISAPPOINTMENT-DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
    Tuff and Stringy Sessions 1966-68
    Clarence White
    Manufacturer: Big Beat UK
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Country | Styles | Music
    Honky-TonkHonky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Reggae | International | Styles | Music
    Folk RockFolk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Country RockCountry Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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    1. 33 Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals
    2. Nashville West featuring Clarence White
    3. Appalachian Swing!
    4. Livin' In The Past: Legendary Live Recordings
    5. Guitar Workshop

    ASIN: B00008IUWD
    Release Date: 2003-04-07

    Tracks:

    1. Hong Kong Hillbilly (Nashville West) [Stereo]
    2. Mother-In-Law [Stereo]
    3. Make Up Your Mind [Stereo]
    4. Grandma Funderbunk's Music Box [Stereo]
    5. Guitar Pickin' Man [Stereo][#]
    6. Vaccination for the Blues [Stereo]
    7. Don't Pity Me [Mono Version] - Darrell Cotton, Clarence White
    8. Gotta Go See the World [Mono Version] - Leon Chase Copeland, Clarence White
    9. Everybody Has One But You [Mono Version][#] - The Kentucky Colonels, Clarence White
    10. She's Gone [Stereo][#]
    11. Tuff and Stringy [Stereo]
    12. I'm Tied Down to You [Mono Version]
    13. Hey Juliana [Stereo]
    14. Last Date [Stereo]
    15. I'll Live Today [Stereo] - Dennis Payne, Clarence White
    16. Not Enough of Me to Go Round [Stereo]
    17. Riff-Raff [Stereo]
    18. If We Could Read [Mono Version] - Darrell Cotton, Clarence White
    19. Rocks in My Head [Mono Version]
    20. Made of Stone [Mono Version][#] - The Kentucky Colonels, Clarence White
    21. Buckaroo [Stereo][#]
    22. Adam and Eve [Backing Track][#][Version]
    23. Why Can't We Be [Alternate Version]
    24. Nature's Child [Stereo][#]
    25. Tango for a Sad Mood [Stereo]
    26. If We Could Read [Backing Track][#] - Darrell Cotton, Clarence White

    Album Description

    Subtitled - Sessions 1966-68. Former Kentucky Colonel, future Byrd, & a true guitar legend, White defined the country guitar. Here he's showcased on country/folk-rock sessions from 1966-1968 including super rare singles, demos, & his first recordings as a soloist. Featuring previously unknown electrified demos by The Kentucky Colonels. 26 tracks plus a 20-page booklet featuring many rare photos & extensive liner notes. Ace. 2003.

    Album Details

    Compilation of Rare Tracks by Future Byrds Guitar Hero, featuring his (Mainly Acoustic) Early Session Work, as Well as Tracks by the Kentucky Colonels and his First Recordings as a Soloist. Includes Detailed Sleevenotes.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Finally!.......2003-09-23

    I've spent decades collecting Clarence's session work, and I've even managed to locate three or four of the LPs that contain the Bakersfield International work... but to hear these tracks sans dust and wear, in pristine fidelity- I'm in heaven! Hong Kong Hillbilly (Nashville West) clocks in at around two minutes but contains so much music that it seems hours long (and no, I haven't been smoking anything). Tango for a Sad Mood alone is worth the price of the Cd, and is quite simply one of the most beautiful guitar instrumentals I have ever heard. All of these tracks provide a rare glimpse of a genius at his day job, if you will.
    The Forward from Michelle White Bledsoe is quite moving, and Alec Palao's liner notes beatifully evoke this transitional period. A long awaited treasure for this Byrdnyrd!

    4 out of 5 stars CD Fills a Major Gap.......2003-06-12

    I've listened to pretty much everything Clarence White recorded. He did a lot in his 29 years, and I find all of it interesting. This fascinating release reveals a transitional 2-year period in Clarence's career as a studio guitarist that has been virtually unheard until now. To criticize "Tuff & Stringy" as a previous writer did is to miss the point entirely. These recordings will enlighten and entertain any Clarence fan except the terminally narrowminded. Considering that some of the tracks are informal studio demos and "idea sketches" from the mid-1960s, the technical quality is unexpectedly good. As for the music, it shouldn't be compared to the Byrds or the Kentucky Colonels. It's neither rock nor bluegrass. This CD fills a major gap, further documenting and demonstrating Clarence's broad musical interests and brilliance.

    4 out of 5 stars CD Fills a Major Gap.......2003-06-11

    I've listened to pretty much everything Clarence White recorded. He did a lot in his 29 years, and I find all of it interesting. This fascinating release reveals a transitional 2-year period in Clarence's career as a studio guitarist -- recordings that have been virtually unheard until now. To criticize "Tuff & Stringy" as a previous writer did is to miss the point entirely. These recordings will enlighten and entertain any Clarence fan except the terminally narrowminded. Considering that some of the tracks are informal studio demos and "idea sketches" from the mid-1960s, the technical quality is unexpectedly good. As for the music, it shouldn't be compared to the Byrds or the Kentucky Colonels. It's neither rock nor bluegrass. This CD fills a major gap, further documenting and demonstrating Clarence's broad musical interests and brilliance.

    4 out of 5 stars GREAT RARE CLARENCE!!.......2003-05-23

    OK first off I'm biased- I helped with this CD on remastering and remixing some of the stuff that never saw the light of day- or was remixed in stereo, so I'm biased but , I must say I love it! I grew up watching the Kentucky Colonels on Sunday morning TV in LA!!
    I mean -some of it isn't the best of Clarence White granted but, for most people who are just starting their Clarence White experience they will hear just how versatile he was and what was going on around him from 67 -72.
    Even if you are a hard core Clarence fan this stuff is great! and I must say a lot of "love" and attention went into the remastering of these tracks when need be. Please don't be put off by this other review- and no I am not on the record company's (ACE) payroll-

    1 out of 5 stars BIG DISAPPOINTMENT-DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.......2003-04-27

    A truly unsatisfying release obviously with no care taken in all aspects (performance, sound, etc.) to the great talent that was Clarence White. You are better off buying albums by the Byrds, Kentucky Colonels, Muleskinner that he performed with.
    The Telluride Sessions
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • THE seminal newgrass fusion album.
    • The Best of the Best
    The Telluride Sessions
    Strength in Numbers
    Manufacturer: Mca
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
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    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Bluegrass | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Bluegrass | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
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    ASIN: B000002O60
    Release Date: 1989-05-11

    Tracks:

    1. Future Man
    2. Texas Red
    3. Pink Flamingo
    4. Duke and Cookie
    5. One Winter's Night
    6. Macedonia
    7. Lochs of Dread
    8. No Apologies
    9. Slopes
    10. Blue Men of the Sahara

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars THE seminal newgrass fusion album........2003-01-15

    A few years back, two of the musicians on this album (Edgar Meyer and Sam Bush, along with Mike Marshall) were involved in a similar project, "Short Trip Home" (STH), for which Joshua Bell, the classical violinist, had been invited along for the ride. It had been a short-term "classical crossover" chartbuster, and more than likely drew the attention of listeners unfamiliar with this music genre to this group, and this album. It is not a stretch to say that this one is the better album of the two, with room to spare: A collaboration of Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor (the fiddler that Joshua Bell really couldn't be), Bela Fleck, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas never has an "odd man out," as is the case for STH. Here, on "Telluride Sessions," everyone is in his element.

    Those wishing a direct comparison between the two albums should start at the end of this one, with "Blue Men of the Sahara." After a somewhat "reserved" start, this track winds up with a fury that is every bit the equal of "Death by Triple Fiddle" on the STH album (where Bell, try as he might, just doesn't fit in with the group, in a way that might charitably called painful). Continuing in reverse order for a bit, "Slopes" gives Fleck, on banjo, and O'Connor, here on guitar, the opportunity to swap hot choruses; in my humble opinion, the best track on the album, thanks to Fleck's finger-bending (and mind-bending) work.

    The triple-threat (fiddle, guitar, mandolin) talents of O'Connor are found throughout the album. As one who came rather late to the appreciation of this man's monster talents, it is a pleasant surprise to me to hear that he was in as fine and as fully-developed a form in 1988 as he is today.

    Of the five, Meyer seems always to be the catalyst (as can be seen from all the subsequent albums he's been the focal point of throughout the years, mixing and matching the talents of all the individuals). With his inestimable contributions to this and later albums, it is difficult - but necessary - to keep in mind that he leads a second, and equally public, life as a classical contrabassist and composer!

    This is a seminal album, setting down a genre more than a dozen years ago that is as hot and as fresh today as when it was first released. May it never go out of print. And, with the benefit of 60 collective years of subsequent work by these five, may they soon go back into the studio for a long-awaited sequel.

    Bob Zeidler

    5 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best.......2000-06-15

    I think anyone who enjoys pristine acoustic music with bluegrass, newgrass, and classical influences will keep this album high on their list of keepsakes. The artists featured here are some of the best, men considered virtuosos at their craft. This album is a must have for fans of Bela, Sam, Jerry, Mark, and the unbelievable Edgar Meyer.
    The Bluegrass Sessions
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Best in years
    • Alluring "Sessions"
    The Bluegrass Sessions
    Janie Fricke
    Manufacturer: D.M. Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music
    New TraditionalistNew Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
    ContemporaryContemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B0002NY82Q
    Release Date: 2004-08-17

    Tracks:

    1. You Don't Know Love
    2. Goodbye Broken Heart
    3. Do Me With Love
    4. Faithless Love
    5. He's a Heartache
    6. Please Help Me, I'm Falling (In Love With You
    7. She's Single Again
    8. I'll Need Someone to Hold Me (When I Cry)
    9. Down to My Last Broken Heart
    10. Tell Me a Lie
    11. It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy
    12. Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby
    13. Ring of Fire [*]

    Tracks:

    1. You Don't Know Love [DVD]
    2. Interview With Janie Fricke [DVD]

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Best in years.......2006-07-12

    Remakes but better than the originals. The music enhances her voice and makes it more distinctive. The songs stay with you. "Down To My Last Broken Heart" is a classic. Getting lots of play on XM and you will see why.

    5 out of 5 stars Alluring "Sessions".......2004-09-06

    Prime Cuts: She's Single Again, You Don't Know Love, Tell Me a Lie

    "The Bluegrass Sessions" is a parsimonious gathering of a few acoustic playing musicians with Fricke performing thirteen of her hits and album cuts culled from Fricke's albums from her 80s heydays right up till last year's "Tribute to Our Heroes." Despite being recorded over an amazing three day period (from 4/26/04 - 4/28/04), this album is by no means a slip slop, half-baked endeavor. With producer Bil VornDick-who mined similar territory for Ralph Stanley-providing the album's musical muscle, the album is understated, heartfelt and frankly, impressive. With the uncluttered sounding instrumentation, Fricke's voice is at the front and center of the mix. And Fricke sure has some affective pipes-she sings with an aching acquiescence common to some of her country music peers such as Tanya Tucker and Loretta Lynn. Such a vocal texture certainly served the former CMA Female Vocalist of the Year well on lachrymose ballads such as "Tell Me a Lie" and "It Ain't Easy Being Easy." Not since the late Tammy Wynette has anyone been able to so deftly expound on the loneliness as Fricke. Her performance here is par excellence-emotionally affecting, rich in intonations and nuanced with depth and dimension.

    "You Don't Know Love," a Reba McEntire-ish ballad is the current single as well as a re-cut of her number 4 1984 hit. Revolving around the theme of kissing off an uncommitted lover, "You Don't Know Love" belies the bitter after taste of a love gone wrong. A nifty choice for the first single and to date the video has done very well on some country channels. Exhibiting a sense of fragility and quiet desperation, Fricke's rendition of Joe Souther's forlorn ballad "Faithless Love" is given a taut, but emotive reading. A little more optimistic is Johnny Cash's tribute to undying love "Ring of Fire" (which first appeared together with "Faithless Love" on Fricke's previous CD "Tribute to Our Heroes"), but somehow such sanguinity failed to be communicated through Fricke's tear-stained vocals.

    On the lighter side is Fricke's number 2 1985 country hit "She's Single Again." As "She's Single Again" is sine qua nom to Fricke's repertoire, she must have performed this hit a zillion times in the (nearly) past decade. However, Fricke's performance here is still fresh and filled with verve showing that she has not lost the coy and sassiness inherent in this tale of a femme fatale who is still men hunting after her fourth or fifth divorce. Though John Schweers' "Do Me With Love," may not be the best worded song, Fricke offers a spirited performance augmented by some romantic sounding mandolin courtesy of Andy Leftwich.

    Clocking in just a few minutes over half an hour, these 13 songs are concise, yet packed with heartfelt emotions. However, in view of the length of this album, I was wondering if it was Fricke's idea or DM Records conscious decision to just re-hash Fricke's greatest hits, albeit re-recorded in an acoustic setting. What about a couple of new songs? It's a rare treat that Fricke would grace us with an album, so what about a couple of new songs? Also, it would also be nice if Fricke could include a few more of her minor hits or album cuts. Over the years, Fricke has recorded some stellar album cuts and minor hits (such as "He's Out of My Life," "Lonely People," "But Love Me" amongst others) that are not available today, while many of her hits are available through the various assorted "greatest hits" collections. Nevertheless, these are minor quibbles; "Bluegrass Sessions" are sessions worthy of our undivided attention.

    Music Album:

    1. The Country Music Hall of Fame-Ernest Tubb
    2. The Days In Between
    3. The Definitive Hoosier Hotshots Collection
    4. The Essential Roy Acuff: 1936-1949
    5. The Lower East Side of Life
    6. The RCA Years 1967-1986
    7. The Sky's the Limit
    8. The Ultimate Charlie Daniels Band
    9. Then Came the Night
    10. Total Yodel!

    Music Album

    Music Album