The Best of Bluegrass [Sanctuary]

by Best Of Bluegrass (Remastered)

Overview

While no mere 12-track compilation could claim to cover more than a fraction of the "Best of Bluegrass," as relatively brief anthologies of the genre go, this has several things to recommend it. Most importantly, the quality's very good. But also, particularly since it's the kind of sampler apt to be picked up by people who really aren't too familiar with the genre, it serves as a good introductory portal to the music. For one thing, it has a bunch of big names -- Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Hot Tuna, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- who might not be primarily associated with bluegrass music by the general popular-music audience. For another, it mixes in some of the leading exponents of the purer side of the bluegrass or old-timey music genre, including Bill Monroe, the Carter Family, Lester Flatt, and Ralph Stanley. And it mixes tracks from various eras, giving listeners at least some idea of the depth of bluegrass history. A good number of classic songs are here, such as the Carter Family's "Wabash Cannonball," Flatt's "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," Stanley's "Oh Death," Monroe's "Orange Blossom Special," and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." So's "Mule Skinner Blues," done here by Parton, many of whose fans would never suspect she could let loose on a traditionally based tune such as this with such natural ease. If you want to nitpick, it might be a little debatable as to how purely bluegrass some of the songs are -- many would classify "Know You Rider" (done here by Hot Tuna), for instance, more readily as a folk or blues tune. The performances are all strong and traditionally based, however, which is ultimately what matters most. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	08/05/2003
Label:	Sanctuary
UPC:	0060768460027
Rank:	61201

Tracks

1. Steel Rails  - Louisa Branscomb  - Alison Krauss
2. Highway 40 Blues  - Larry Cordle  - Ricky Skaggs
3. The Big Rock Candy Mountain  - Harry McClintock
4. Roses in the Snow  - Ruth Franks  - Emmylou Harris
5. Orange Blossom Special  -  Monroe  - Ervin T. Rouse
6. Mule Skinner Blues  - Dolly Parton  - Jimmie Rodgers  - George Vaughn
7. I Know You Rider  -  Hot Tuna  -  Traditional
8. That's When I'll Stop Loving You  -  Rice Brothers  - Larry Rice
9. Wabash Cannonball  -  Carter Family  - A.P. Carter
10. Foggy Mountain Breakdown  - Lester Flatt  - Earl Scruggs
11. Oh Death  -  Public Domain  -  Stanley
12. Will the Circle Be Unbroken  - A.P. Carter  -  Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hot Tuna   Primary Artist
Dolly Parton   Primary Artist
Emmylou Harris   Primary Artist
The Carter Family   Primary Artist
Harry McClintock   Primary Artist
Alison Krauss   Primary Artist
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys   Primary Artist
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band   Primary Artist
The Rice Brothers   Primary Artist
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys   Primary Artist
Ricky Skaggs   Primary Artist
Lester Flatt   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

George Vaughn   Composer
Ervin T. Rouse   Composer
Bruce Pollock   Executive Producer
Larry Cordle   Composer
Larry Rice   Composer
Bob Ferguson   Producer
Ruth Franks   Composer
Mike Jason   Compilation Producer
Public Domain   Composer
Al Schmitt   Producer
Bas Hartong   Compilation Producer
Greg Young   Licensing
Amanda Grossman   Production Coordination
Frank Walker   Producer
Smay Vision   Design,Art Direction
Louisa Branscomb   Composer
Catherine Seligman   Label Coordination
Usher Winslett   Executive Producer
Dan Hornsby   Producer
Brian Ahern   Producer
Bill Wolf   Producer
A.P. Carter   Composer
Bil VornDick   Producer
Jimmie Rodgers   Composer
Robin Manning   Production Coordination
Jerry Douglas   Producer
Earl Scruggs   Composer
Ricky Skaggs   Producer
Traditional   Composer
Gene Paul   Mastering
Jack Ball   Production Coordination