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New review coming - Fiddlin' Man - The Life and Times of Bob Wills. View Video
This DVD is not about bluegrass, but about country blues music of the southwest, which became known as Western Swing.  Bob Wills brought Western Swing and the culture of the west to the nation and the world, through his extensive touring and Hollywood movies.  Check back for a complete review of this DVD.

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Howdy.  These aren't the first bluegrass cd's I've bought, but I love the price.  Amazon has these for less than $10 each.  That makes these cd's ValuePicks.  KOP, Jon

• Stanley Brothers - 20 Bluegrass Originals Highland DCD-7907
• I'd always heard about them but had no recordings of the Stanley Brothers.  This cd is a great intro to the brothers high twangy harmonies, driving banjo and fundamental guitar playing.  Without liner notes, dates or songwriter info, it's impossible to learn about the history of the songs from this cd, but for pure listening pleasure, it can't be beat.

 

• Jimmy Martin's 20 Greatest Hits Highland DCD-7863
• Again, in Highland form, no liner notes or credits, but this cd has history burned in its tracks.  Songs like Pete, the Best Coon Dog in the State of tennessee & Run Pete Run are very similar to a song by local players, ie. Run Blue Run by the Leon Valley Boys (see Tom at Pearl), who came first???  This cd has many great songs such as Uncle Pen, Beautiful Brown Eyes, Rollin, Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die, Honey You Don't Know My Mind, Maggie, Sally Goodin, and more.  Jimmy had a reputation of roudy and this album shows it with its hard driving mix, more in the line of truckin' rather than railroading.  In fact the cd opens with Freeborn Man and Truck Driving Man and includes Widow Maker, a modern day version of Wreck of Ol 97.

 

• Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys - Live at the Grand Ole Opry - MCAD-42286
• This cd must be one of the best values of all times.  Beautiful pictures of Bill and the boys from the 40's and 1989 and a thoughtful story of Bill's history at the Opry.  The album opens with New Mule Skinner Blues from the "Prince Albert Show" at the Ryman (see Ryman pics) in 1948.  The album then cuts to the Opry 1989 serving up wonderful live renditions of Molly and Tenbrooks, Footprints, Rawhide, My Sweet Darlin', In the Pines, Love Please Come Home, and Pike County Breakdown.  Having stood on the same wood boards on stage as Bill at the Ryman, I treasure this album.  Excellent sound quality.

 

• Flatt & Scruggs - Complete Mercury Sessions - Mercury/Polygram 314 512 644-2
• You know you want them, the complete Mercury sessions.  In 1948 Lester and Earl left Bill Monroe to form their own act.  Bill never got over it but Earl and Lester went on to make history.  Recorded from 1948 through 1950, the Complete Mercury sessions brings to light such greats as Mac Wiseman, Art Wooten and Earl picking guitar on several gospel tunes.  These are the recordings that were released over the years and propelled Flatt & Scruggs to stardom.  28 songs for a song.  5 stars  Don't be fooled by imitators, $11.98 at Amazon

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