Bluegrass from the Gold Country

Amazon.com
Mandolin wizard and tenor singer Vern Williams might be the most underrecorded and therefore underrated musician in all of bluegrass. Though born and raised in Arkansas, Williams landed in California in 1954 and over the years became a Golden State bluegrass legend (no exaggeration). In the 1960s and 1970s, he hooked up with Ray Park, a talented fiddler who'd also moved west from Arkansas, but Williams formed his own band in 1974. This outstanding album, recorded in 1980 and 1981, represents the band's only record (other than a superb effort in support of Rose Maddox), and it will leave you craving more. Williams's raw, biting tenor rivals those of Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe, no small compliment, and the harmonies, courtesy of son Delbert and banjo man Keith Little (who graduated to the Country Gentlemen in 1986), are as crisp as you're bound to find. Most noteworthy, however, is the band's repertoire, which, in addition to Monroe and Stanley chestnuts, includes many older songs from the Carter Family and Stephen Foster, who Williams called the "first bluegrass songwriter." --Marc Greilsamer

Bluegrass from the Gold Country,Vern Williams Band,Rounder Select,Bluegrass,Country,Pop,Traditional Bluegrass

Average customer rating: The Real Deal A necessity for bluegrass fans Traditional Bluegrass At Its Best The Real Stuff

Bluegrass from the Gold Country Vern Williams Band Manufacturer: Rounder Select ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Traditional Bluegrass Vern & Ray with Herb Pedersen: San Francisco 1968 A Beautiful Bouquet A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family ASIN: B0000002EI Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

1. Cabin On A Mountain
2. Come Back To Me In My Dreams
3. When Springtime Comes Again
4. Cowboy Jack
5. Til The Day I Die
6. Field Of Flowers
7. Oh Susannah
8. Down Among The Budded Roses
9. Darling Nellie
10. The Old Home Town
11. Old Kentucky Home
12. Clinch Mountain Home
13. Black Eyed Susie
14. I'm Walking The Dog
15. Foggy Mountain Top
16. Who's Going Down To Town
17. Thinking Of Home
18. Picture On The Wall
19. Old Black Joe
20. Arkansas Traveler
21. You'd Better Get Right
22. Old Folks At Home

Amazon.com

Mandolin wizard and tenor singer Vern Williams might be the most underrecorded and therefore underrated musician in all of bluegrass. Though born and raised in Arkansas, Williams landed in California in 1954 and over the years became a Golden State bluegrass legend (no exaggeration). In the 1960s and 1970s, he hooked up with Ray Park, a talented fiddler who'd also moved west from Arkansas, but Williams formed his own band in 1974. This outstanding album, recorded in 1980 and 1981, represents the band's only record (other than a superb effort in support of Rose Maddox), and it will leave you craving more. Williams's raw, biting tenor rivals those of Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe, no small compliment, and the harmonies, courtesy of son Delbert and banjo man Keith Little (who graduated to the Country Gentlemen in 1986), are as crisp as you're bound to find. Most noteworthy, however, is the band's repertoire, which, in addition to Monroe and Stanley chestnuts, includes many older songs from the Carter Family and Stephen Foster, who Williams called the "first bluegrass songwriter." --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

The Real Deal.......2006-06-07

Every bluegrass fan should own this CD. It is as heartfelt and soulful as it comes.

For non-bluegrass fans, if you are a Willie Nelson or Janis Joplin fan, you'll completely get this.

A necessity for bluegrass fans.......2006-04-07

I am grateful for the previous reviewer for letting me know that Vern Williams is still around and can enjoy the fact of his continuing popularity. His two CDs, this and the live "Traditional Bluegrass" are first rate. I'd recommend starting with this one. The Stephen Foster-in-bluegrass-style cuts are a treat, alone worth the price of the CD, but the rest are splendid as well. Both reviewers are right that this is not show-off playing but there are plenty of fireworks, and you can love modern dazzlers and still dig the power, drive, and high-lonesome chills of this classic, exuberant, raw-boned album.

Traditional Bluegrass At Its Best.......2006-01-17

This is one of my all time favorite albums ever recorded. No over dubs, no fix-ups, only a masterpiece of "live" music recorded in a studio. Being a friend of Vern's, (Now in his 70's) I know that he puts every bit of his heart and soul into what he is doing. This album was recorded in 1980, and Vern was in his 50's with so much power in his voice. He moved to California from Arkansas when he was very young, but he kept that mountainous voice and still has it today. He has made a few recordings over the span of his career (he is now retired, and only makes guest appearences at festivals) and in my opinion, this is his top notch work. If you like "real" Bluegrass, don't miss this one. WARNING: if you like Bluegrass artists such as the top name acts on the progressive scene of Bluegrass, Then you probably wouldn't want this masterpiece collection of the legend himself along with his band... The Vern Williams Band. Along with the wonderful vocals, beautiful work by the Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Fiddle, and Bass.... It's all there!

The Real Stuff.......2001-09-05

Although it seems to have been lost in this era of "superpickers", real bluegrass fans know that the heart and soul of great bluegrass lie not just in speed, but in the groove, in the tight harmonies and in that high lonesome sound. In the post-sixties era, no recording captures this better than this one. Make no mistake -- there's plenty of good picking here, but much more. Plus this CD gives the listener the rare opportunity to listen to a man who inspired a multitude of performers who have in turn influenced not only bluegrass, but also country, "new age" music, and even rock and roll.

Average customer rating:

Kid Pan Alley Various Artists Manufacturer: NCO Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Educational | Children's Music | Styles | Music Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Kid Pan Alley ASIN: B000CADGRM Release Date: 2004-12-28

Tracks:

1. Bouncin' Off the Bottom
2. Little Drop of Water
3. Cheetah
4. Rainforest
5. Goin' to the Park
6. True to Me
7. Whispering in Spanish
8. Freaky Friday
9. Download It All for Free
10. Cartoons
11. Can't Remember What I Forgot
12. Scary Things
13. Pretty Good Day
14. Stinky Socks
15. Christmas in Tennessee
16. No Fair
17. Extra Hand
18. Sleep All Day

Music Album:

1. Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys: The Tiffany Transcriptions, Vol.3 - Basin Street Blues
2. Classic Country: Great Country Gospel
3. Classic Country Somebody Done Me Wrong Songs
4. Claudia Church
5. Come On, People
6. Country Countdown: Country Family
7. Country Legend
8. Del Reeves - Greatest Hits and More!
9. Delta Dreamland
10. Desperados Waiting for the Train [Import]

Music Album