Fly Through the Country/When the Storm Is Over

by New Grass Revival

Overview

Fly Through the Country/When the Storm Is Over is a two-for-one deal, representing New Grass Revival releases from 1976 and 1977 respectively. Mandolin player Sam Bush, bassist John Cowan, guitarist Curtis Burch, and banjoist Courtney Johnson form the core of the band on these 20 selections. This material separates itself from traditional bluegrass by its easy air and romantic sensibility. One has a difficult time imagining Ralph Stanley or any traditional act choosing to sing Townes Van Zandt's "White Freightliner Blues." The disc kicks off with a nice version of John Hartford's "Skippin' in the Mississippi Dew," before letting Cowan take the lead vocal on the lovely, "Good Woman's Love." His vocals, unlike traditional bluegrass, are soulful, as though he grew up listening to rock & roll. Sam Bush also offers nice lead vocals on songs like "Glory" and "When She Made Laughter Easy." The song choice in general has more in common with '70s figures like Jackson Browne than any standard bluegrass repertoire. This gives the album a contemporary feel. The overall musicianship is also superb. Burch is the paragon of good taste whether playing guitar or dobro, while Bush, known for his mandolin chops, is equally apt at fiddle, and on one song, Jackson Browne's "These Days," he even breaks out an electric guitar! A wider variety of instruments has been thrown into the musical stew on When the Storm Is Over, including electric piano and drums. These electric moments, while clearly not traditional, never overpower the music. Both of these albums offer a great starting place to discover the earlier version of the New Grass Revival (as opposed to the later version, which included Bela Fleck and the glories of early progressive bluegrass). ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/1992
Label:	Flying Fish
UPC:	0018964003227
Rank:	61812

Tracks

1. Skippin' in the Mississippi Dew
2. Good Woman's Love
3. Glory
4. All Night Train
5. Fly Through the Country
6. This Heart of Mine
7. The Dancer
8. When She Made Laughter Easy
9. Doin' My Time
10. These Days
11. Four Days of Rain
12. White Freight Liner Blues
13. Sail to Australia
14. When the Storm Is Over
15. And He Says "I Love You"
16. Vamp in the Middle
17. Like a Child in the Rain
18. Tennessee Wagoner
19. Colly Davis
20. Crooked Smile

Album Credits

Performance Credits

New Grass Revival   Primary Artist
Kenny Malone   Drums,Guica,Congas,Guichero,Percussion
Courtney Johnson   Banjo,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Chuck Cochran   Piano,Synthesizer,Drums (Steel),Piano (Electric)
Curtis Burch   Dobro,Guitar,Vocals
John Cowan   Bass,Vocals,Vocal Harmony
Sam Bush   Fiddle,Guitar,Violin,Vocals,Mandolin,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Steel),Slide Mandolin,Electric Fiddle,Guitar (Electric)
Bobby Wood   Piano
Charles Cochran   Piano

Technical Credits

Bob Lucas   Composer
Jim McGuire   Photography,Photo Concept,Cover Art Concept
Jim Webb   Composer
Steven Brines   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Courtney Johnson   Arranger
Chuck Cochran   Producer
Jimmy Webb   Composer
Jackson Browne   Composer
Fred Rose   Composer
Garth Fundis   Engineer,Producer,Remixing
John Hartford   Composer
Sam Bush   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Jim Smoak   Composer
Jimmie Skinner   Composer
Rick Roberts   Composer
Townes Van Zandt   Composer
Cy Coben   Composer
Rich Roberts   Composer
Steve Brines   Composer
Larry Boden   Mastering