Bluegrass Music

Fifty songs on Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's two CD set, "A School of Bluegrass" is a must-have for every serious bluegrass fan. Interestingly, all cuts were pulled from home rehearsal and live performance tapes that Doyle Lawson had collected over the years. So don't expect perfect studio quality sound, but instead focus on the tightness, depth, passion and vitality that his bands represented. The Kingsport, Tn. native originally formed Quicksilver in 1979, and this release is an historical compilation of 25 years of exceptional bluegrass and gospel music. It just so happens that Doyle also turned the big 6-0 in 2004.
Known as one of the best mandolin players and band leaders in bluegrass, he actually started his professional career as a banjo player (replacing J.D. Crowe in Jimmy Martin's band in 1963).

Over the years since Quicksilver formed, there have been thirteen configurations of Lawson's band, and each and every one has always maintained the very high caliber of music that they have become known for. Some of Lawson's "school of bluegrass" members have included Shawn Lane, Lou Reid, Terry Baucom, Brad Campbell, Shelton Feazell, Mike Hartgrove, Jim Mills, Dale Perry, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton, Randy Graham, Jimmy Haley, Barry Scott, John Berry, Jr, Curtis Vestal, Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Doug Bartlett, Jimmy VanCleve, Russell Moore, and Hunter Berry.

They received a gold record representing a million dollars in sales for "Rock My Soul," their first all-gospel album. In 1998, they were the first bluegrass band invited to perform at the National Gospel Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Some of their other awards have included the 2000 IBMA Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year ("Winding Through Life") and the 2001 and 2002 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year Awards.

These are some of their more recent accomplishments, but one mustn't lose sight of their early achievements too. One must only listen to a few minutes of Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley and Doyle Lawson sharing breaks on "Train `45" to understand the power, fervor and intensity with which they approached their craft. This bluegrass with vigor is a mighty fine treat that will allow us all to participate in the silver anniversary of this group. Lawson wanted to do something special for the fans, and we're sure lucky. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Doyle Lawson shares 25 years of music in "A School of Bluegrass". This is a unique recording. This 2 disc CD set contains 50 songs. The more I listen to this recording, the more I like it. Be warned, this is not studio quality music. These songs were taken from rehearsal tapes and tapes of live recordings. What you get (Doyle Lawson fans)are many songs that have never been released. If you can get past the quality of the recording, you will find this set to be very entertaining and even surprising.

I LOVE Bluegrass music, especially when the artists aren't singing. This is a GREAT CD of wonderful instrumental Bluegrass music!

THis is a good instrumental bluegrass album. It is not as good as "ultimate Pickin'" . That was an amazing album but this isn't bad.

I love the bluegrass music style, but can't stand the singing, ever. This fits the bill. Popular songs that I can listen to over and over.

Bravo CMH - this is what we need. Bluegrass instrumentals are quite rare these days and the best of them were done in the 1970's. CMH have delivered a fine package for the bluegrasser who prefers not to listen to a bluegrass voice which often detracts from the fine acoustic music. Let us be honest and say that many singers have B-Awful voices and instrumentals like this terrific collection are wonderful to locate. Thank you CMH.

There are lots of wonderful Bluegrass albums around, but this one is really great. I recommend it very highly, and would give it more than five stars if possible. Every song is brilliant and it is impossible to single out any one track as better than the rest. Even non-bluegrass fans would enjoy this album if they like first-rate musicians plying their trade. A truly excellent album!

As the son of a British International Brigade veteran and a Spanish Republican refugee,I grew up with the pain of betrayal, defeat, and exile. Songs helped to sustain us during the long dark years of Franco's dictatorship. This record captures the emotion, joy, and beauty of many of those songs, as well as some new ones, and keeps alive the spirit which took thousands of volunteers from around the world to fight for justice and freedom in Spain.

Como hijo de exiliado español agradezco con el corazón que la música de la Guerra Civil Española siga viva dentro del canto del siglo XXI. Musicalmente me parece un trabajo muy completo, con conocimiento y aventura musicales, sin embargo, en lo que se refiere a las letras (lyrics) encuentro el punto débil del CD. Por lo que he podido investigar los textos utilizados son los llegados a los Estados Unidos, pero no los que se cantaban en España y, en ocasiones, la continuidad de las letras es inconexa.

Pongo un ejemplo: Joel & Jamaica Rafael cantan: 'Los cuatro generales, mamita mía, que se han alzado' y en seguida: 'Madrid que bien resistes, mamita mía, los bombardeos'. Esto, en el idioma español no tiene sentido. La letra original dice: 'Los cuatro generales, mamita mía, que se han alzado, para las navidades serán colgados' y la segunda parte: 'Madrid que bien resistes, mamita, los bombardeos, de las bombas se ríen, mamita mía, los madrileños' y de esta forma adquieren sentido pues a los cuatro generales alzados les espera la horca, mientras los madrileños resisten los bombardeos de las tropas franquistas.

Uxía, siendo española, llama 'Marineros' a la canción cuyo título original es 'Que será' y que viene de la canción infantil 'Arrión' y que ironiza sobre el hundimiento del crucero 'Baleares' por la Flota Republicana en la batalla del Cabo de Palos y Uxía no utiliza la letra que dice: 'Y han de ver, y lo van a ver como al 'Baleares', al 'Cervera' y 'Canarias' bajo los mares' lo que le daría el contexto del momento en que la canción surgió.

En fin hay muchas otras observaciones del mismo tipo.

En resumen, me parece que no se hizo una investigación profunda para encontrar las letras completas y correctas de todas estas canciones tan entrañables para todos los que descendemos de la República Española y eso demerita el trabajo del disco en su conjunto. Pareciera que es un disco para venta interna dentro de los Estados Unidos y a mi me hubiera gustado más que fuera para venta universal.

Recomiendo el CD de Oscar Chávez 'España 1936-1939-1975' editado durante 1999 en México por Discos Pentagrama, donde el trabajo curatorial de las letras y la música es sobresaliente.

Rodrigo de Oyarzabal, Ciudad de México.

One of those CDs I've listened to constantly over the years, and never tire of. If you like celtic instrumental music or fingerstyle guitar, you'll love this guy's deft touch and the gorgeous tones he gets out of his hybrid instruments. The fast music is played in appropriately traditional style, and the slow tunes are haunting and achingly beautiful. 'Farewell to Craigie Dhu' would have to be one of my favourite tunes of all time.

A terrific album, and one I'd search heaven and earth to find again if I lost it.

This seems to be a fairly difficult cd to find. Even on Amazon, when i typed in Robin Bullock's name, I didn't get this recording in the results. Fortunately, Amazon provides listening samples for the album. most of the songs are arrangements and medleys of traditional music, and the whole album is fantastic. if you're looking to get into celtic string music, this is probably a good place to start. there are both slow ballads and fast, upbeat jigs. The music's traditional nature and the fact that it's all based on classical music theory, plus the folk/bluegrass roots make a nice blend. It's not too simplistic and boring, but its not the kind of classical guitar playing that can often be recieved as 'dissonant' or 'off-sounding.' it's all very catchy and pretty. another thing about this kind of music is that although it's accessible right away and is instantly likeable, it seems to have staying power so that it's interesting after the second, fifth, tenth listen. it sounds like simple jamming with little melodies, but as a guitar player, having learned some of the material on this album, it's actually very advanced playing (ex. The Dunmore Lasses, track 3). Bullock proves himself to be a talented musician with a very polished technique. I would definitely recommend this cd.

This cd is amazing! Im a child who is almost always listening to alternative music or the pop princesses Britney or christina! I have a new found respect for Celtic music! It is graceful yet it makes you want to jump to your feet and dance. This cd was great the fiddle ceases to amaze me! I don't know what it is that makes me like the cd, but it extremly well done! I listened to many more celtic cd that I bought after this one, but this one is my favorite it's always in my cd player!! So let me tell you this an awsome cd and if it's you're style get it!

It's the entire first album (with a mixed-up track listing) coupled with 5 cuts each from the 2nd and 3rd albums...the first album is a classic, the 2nd & 3rd were confused releases, where he was chasing an elusive stardom which only came later. So the cd overall sounds great and is "remastered" -- I'm no audiophile but the whole thing sounds excellent to me. Basically nice to have the 1st record mixed with choice cuts from the lesser follow-ups, apparently made for the U.K. audience, where Crowell has a bit of recently-attained success, and who may not have had access to these tunes before. In the U.S., where a cd of the first album is available, and a cd combining the 2nd and 3rd is too, it's less useful, but still attractively priced and a good "package" for Crowell fans who may have only caught up with him during his 21st century, well-deserved Americana-resurgence...

Had never heard The Greencards live when I bought this CD, but was knocked out by some of the tunes on here. Was much more impressed with the covers than with the original tunes, but regardless the level of musicianship displayed on this CD is nothing short of astounding. For such relatively young pickers. these folks really have their chops down and sing and play with unique intensity and emotion. My favorite cuts are "Love's a Word I Never Throw Around", "Caleb Meyer", "Six White Horses", and "Victim to the Tomb". All just amazingly good and worth the price of the CD. Looking forward to hearing more of them.

This album was good. I liked how all the songs go together, but are sung by different people.

I liked this album when I first started playing it. I even planned on picking up another of their albums, but for whatever reason the CD has not made it back into my regular rotation and I have not listened to it recently.

That being said, I buy a lot of CDs that I listen to once and think I must have been crazy to purchase. There are no bad songs on this CD and I am glad I own it.

These guys have what it takes. Good country and bluegrass. Great song writing too. I give this cd 5 stars. If you love americana you must give a lisson. These guys are great to see live. They do a great show. I saw them in Atlanta and I bought this cd at the show. They are great.

This album is exactly what I've been searching for!! The music is so refreshingly honest and pure, and the musical talent in this trio is absolutely unbelievible....I love it! The Greencards somehow manage to make music that holds on to the traditional roots of the genre, and keep a contemporary sound at the same time. Terrific!!
---I Can't wait for the next one!!!---

I first started to listen to bluegrass almost 10 years ago and have run the gammut. A lot of the new 'jamgrass' bands that are popping up foresake the singing and songwriting so important to the genre. As strange as it sounds, I've been listening to more electronic music lately... but this album is absolutely a breath of fresh air. Beautiful melodies, harmonies, and fantastic playing. I'm almost afraid that Weather and Water will be a let down, but I can't wait to find out.

They are about to go on tour opening for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. I'm pretty sure they'll come out of that one with a legion of new fans, so be "cool" and buy this one today ;)

As an aside... I knew the fiddle player, Eamon, when I was living in Austin five years ago (yes, I paid for this album), and the reason for the name is that none of them were born American! Yet, they seem to have mastered this American artform... intriguing...


M@

That pretty much sums it up! It is wonderful. Stargunn is awesome. I'd never heard of them before this tribute album to Waylon, but they are terrific. Alison Krauss (You Asked Me To) is incredible, as always. Dwight Yoakam (Stop the World) has a lot of heart - just as Lukenback, Texas (Kenny Chesney and Kid Rock)! A must have for your Waylon Collection! (The Dream by Waylon is beautiful)! Must Check this Album Out!!!

I've Always Been Crazy is really a great tribute to Waylon Jennings. one of the best CW singers ever.

It is worth it just to hear 'Lonesome, On'ry and Mean' by the legendary Travis Tritt.

this tribute album is ok, there is some good tunes on here, but nothing as good as it need'ed to be after all waylon is the king of the outlaws' its a' should've could've kinda thing if you know what i mean? but i really do like travis tritt's version of lonesome onry and mean. he is alot like waylon was. the outlaw son of waylon so to speak. and then there is other great songs on here too. but that one stands out in my mind. yes the other tribute album is much better. man its time another one comes out, but hopefuly this time they will all do the songs they want to. a waylon fan.

Overall, it's a great album. Some of the songs are done much the way they were by Waylon himself, and some have a very modern spin put on them. I appreciated the artist's interpretations and especially loved Kenny Chesney/Kid Rock's version of "Luckenbach, Texas" and the girls singling "mamas". A few of the songs don't even sound like the orig. and definitely don't sound country...so if that bugs you, you may not want to buy this album.

waylon jennings wrote great songs and the performances on this tribute album all seem heartfelt and energetic. in particular, i liked the performances by ben harper, hank williams jr., and john mellencamp. If you like waylon jennings you should like most of this album. unfortunately, many of the recordings are way too nashville-slick (see travis tritt...) and this diminishes them and will be annoying to many waylon fans.

This gospel collection by Doyle Lawson is extremely powerful! If you do not want to get transformed, renewed, or filled with the Spirit do not listen to this album. The first track "My Lord Delivered Me" will have you dancing around the room with your hands in the air. This song is definitely an upbeat and powerful testimony of God's deliverance.

Another beautiful song is "Touch the Hem of His garment", while not quite as good as my exegetical paper on this passage from Mark's gospel this song really does bring this healing account to life with the bands voices and timing. The harmonies on this cd are really tight and impressive. A few of the songs on this album do not stand out, but most everything is enjoyable and really really powerful gospel music. It must be noted again the harmonies and vocal timing are really outstanding. "Let us Travel On" and "Happy on My Way" are also fun and dynamic. This is a really happy and upbeat album, and it is an awesome listening experience when you are in the mood for some serious gospel praise!

I am an old time gospel fan and enjoy this music very much

Uplifting songs with messages of Jesus Christ's healing. This music helped sustain me as I fought cancer and won!

Buy a Jim Reeves CD and you're almost certain of a very satisfying listening. His International/Country CD is certainly one of these. My only (slight) regret is the tendency to over-orchestrate Jim's voice.

I have really enjoyed listening to this double album. It is truly a lover's treat. As a teenager several decades ago, I was and still am an ardent Jim Reeves fan. My spouse Patricia and I spent most of our courtship times listening to the the sweet mellow voice of Jim,late on many nights, in this most memorable collection.We are particularly fond of Heartbreak In Silhouette, Guilty, You Are My Darling,The Hawaiian Wedding Song, Golden Memories and Silver Tears,Don't Let me Crossover,I Have Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand, Lonely Music,Little Old Dime, The Talking Walls and Before I Die.
The musical orchestrations by the celebrated Chet Atkins in all of Jim Reeves Songs are beautiful beyond description. This is a magnificent double country album which every collector of Jim Reeves songs should have and will, I am certain , treasure forever. Enjoy!

Grier is a wonderful guitarist. A must have for anyone who enjoys bluegrass or country guitar.

I have this feeling that this Album was an attempt to respond to what other flatpickers were doing at the time, mainly Kenny Smith. Don't get me wrong Grier's technique is flawless, unique, improvisational and a go anywhere style. However, in my opinion, his previous albums and play had lacked feeling. Despite his originality and unparalleled play, his music was sort of matter of fact and flat when it came to the emotional/feel good component- the likes of Me and My Farmall by Smith. In this album, Grier changes this perception. His play on tracks Cheathum, I've got the house, Sally Goodin are remarkable and full of what had been lacking in previous albums. He makes it clear that he is one of the top if not clear cut frontrunner in today's bluegrass scene.

As other reviewers have mentioned; many cuts on this album are one solo flatpicked guitar. Some have some accompaniment or harmony overdubs (so far, I've only noticed this on the title track). All tracks are played by Mr. Grier with his Nashville Guitar College acoustic guitar. The tone of this guitar, when played by Grier, is wonderful.
The arrangements are wonderful. Tasteful, interesting, and marvellously executed. This is one of the very best, if not THE best, flatpicked guitar albums I've ever heard. (And I've heard a great many.)

There are several ways to approach this extraordinary album. One is to frame it as a bluegrass guitar extravaganza from a guy with chops out the yin yang. The other is to imagine what John Fahey or Bela Bartok or Philip Glass might do if they were dreadnought bearing bluegrass guitarists. The music goes beyond the realm of incredible soloing into flights of improvisational (sounding) fancy where country melodies spin out and rise like gorgeous plumes of notes. (Sorry, that was my phone ringing: looks like I have to get back to Earth.) Seriously, if there just isn't enough Clarence White (may his soul be forever blessed) or Tony Rice work available for you, and even if there is, David Grier is a treat to be savored.

I don't mean to quibble or diminish what Grier has served up, but it should be said for potential buyers: many tracks on this album are not just a single guitar (I didn't realize it myself until I listened with headphones). Some tunes include subtle rhythm chords and occasional unison and octave doublings that create an almost twelve-string feel. I don't think there's any intent to deceive here, the music is wonderful and ultimately who cares how its constructed. In my younger "guitar freak" phase I was more into the idealistic "one person, one guitar" purity thing and this record would have bugged me a bit (which shows where I was at). Just in case there's anyone out there who feels that way.

Even though Grier's coming out of the White/Rice school in terms of touch and phrasing, this record put me in mind of Blake's "Whiskey Before Breakfast", another great "solo guitar" recording that's a got more going on.