Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Overview

The first album issued by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band after they had temporarily disbanded in 1969, this greatly expanded their pop audience, due primarily to the Top Ten hit cover of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles" (which actually wasn't a hit until early 1971). The group moved into a more accessible rock-oriented fusion of country, bluegrass, pop, and rock & roll, relying primarily on smartly chosen covers of tunes by the likes of Walker, Mike Nesmith, Randy Newman, and Kenny Loggins. Few bands had incorporated instruments more commonly associated with country and bluegrass, particularly mandolin and banjo, as comfortably into a rock setting prior to this release, and their well-crafted harmonies help put the songs over for those not-steeped-in backwoods sounds. It was an extremely diverse program for a country-rock album, too, moving from rustic instrumentals and snippets of tapes of elderly musicians performing rural Americana to the Buddy Holly cover "Rave On." The group were actually at their best, though, when doing softer, melodic pop tunes. "Mr. Bojangles" was a deserved huge success in that regard, but Nesmith's "Some of Shelley's Blues" and Loggins' "House at Pooh Corner" were almost as catchy and appealing. [The album was reissued by Beat Goes On in 1990 and by Capitol in 2003. The latter featured two previously unreleased bonus tracks.] ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/11/2003
Label:	Capitol/Emi Records / Capitol
UPC:	0724354172120
Rank:	58846

Tracks

1. Some of Shelly's Blues
2. Prodigal's Return
3. The Cure
4. Travelin' Mood
5. Chicken Reel
6. Yukon Railroad
7. Livin' Without You
8. Clinch Mountain Backstep
9. Rave On
10. Billy in the Low Ground
11. Jesse James
12. Uncle Charlie Interview
13. Mr. Bojangles
14. Opus 36
15. Santa Rosa
16. Propinquity
17. Uncle Charlie
18. Randy Lynn Rag
19. House at Pooh Corner
20. Swanee River
21. Uncle Charlie Interview #2/The End/Spanish Fandango
22. Mississippi Rain
23. What Goes On

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band   Primary Artist
Jimmie Fadden   Vocals,Harmonica,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Bass,Drums,Guitar
Jimmy Ibbotson   Drums,Piano,Congas,Guitar,Vocals,Accordion,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Chris Darrow   Guitar,Violin,Vocals
John London   Bass
Russ Kunkel   Drums
Jeff Hanna   Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Washboard,Percussion,Lead Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Byron Berline   Violin
Mike Rubini   Piano
Les Thompson   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin,Bass (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
Woody Woodward   Director
Maurice Manceau   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Ralph Barr   Guitar,Vocals
Jim Gordon   Horn,Keyboards
John McEuen   Banjo,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin,Accordion,Guitar (Steel)

Technical Credits

Jimmie Fadden   Composer
Ruby Rakes   Composer
Randy Newman   Composer
Randy Scruggs   Composer
Norman Petty   Composer
Michael Nesmith   Composer
Dann Lottermoser   Composer
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Sonny West   Composer
Bill Tilghman   Composer
Kenny Loggins   Composer
Charlie Wilson   Composer
Stephen Foster   Composer
Earl Scruggs   Composer
Carter Stanley   Composer
Jeff Hanna   Composer
James Wayne   Composer
Jerry Jeff Walker   Composer
Richard Starkey   Composer
William E. McEuen   Producer
Les Thompson   Composer
Muzio Clementi   Composer
Leland Russell   Composer
Walter McEuen   Composer
Ruby Rokes   Composer
Walter H. McKuen   Composer
James Waynes   Composer
Ringo Starr   Composer
John McEuen   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Lou Reed   Composer