View Full Version : Top 3 Mandolin CDs?
Daijoki
Jul-20-2009, 9:56am
I have 50 free eMusic downloads and want to choose wisely. Any tips on three ESSENTIAL CDs?
Bluegrass, preferable, but I'll stay open!
Thanks!
Scott
Ken Olmstead
Jul-20-2009, 10:02am
My 3 essentials would be Tome Poems 1 & 2 and Tone Poets. My "desert island" entertainment!
sgarrity
Jul-20-2009, 10:06am
Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza would be at the top of my list. It's a 2 cd set so it may eat the lion's share of your downloads.
Travellers by Baldassari, Reischman, and Bullock is another great recording. A little more old timey than traditional bluegrass.
Anything by Bill Monroe.
Greg H.
Jul-20-2009, 11:29am
Well, three of my all time favorites are from back in the '70s. . . .
Manzanita from Tony Rice (with the mandolin parts done by Sam Bush and David Grisman)
Boone Creek in which I think Skaggs was at his best. In that era he was adding bits of jazz or swing along with his bluegrass.
David Grisman Rounder CD. . . . . .a killer CD with some of the best musicians in that generation.
Jim MacDaniel
Jul-20-2009, 11:45am
I'm not really into BG, but I listen to these three mando-centric CD's available at emusic a lot, and I think they might interest you:
Jimmy Ryan: Lost Diamond Angel (http://www.emusic.com/album/Jimmy-Ryan-Lost-Diamond-Angel-MP3-Download/11174442.html)
Bonepony: Jubilee (http://www.emusic.com/album/Bonepony-Jubilee-MP3-Download/10828090.html)
Emma Gibbs Band: Out to the Country (http://www.emusic.com/album/Emma-Gibbs-Band-Out-to-the-Country-MP3-Download/10975259.html)
Also, since you are open to other genres, the following Scottish-folk infused fusion CD has a lot of nice mandolin work on it:
Shooglenifty: Arms Dealers Daughter (http://www.emusic.com/album/Shooglenifty-The-Arms-Dealer-s-Daughter-MP3-Download/10861876.html)
Jkf_Alone
Jul-20-2009, 11:52am
Can't forget the first DGQ album, Stomp ( Compton and Long), and Into the Cauldron ( Thile & Marshall)
Jkf_Alone
Jul-20-2009, 11:53am
I usually buy mp3 cd's on amazon because of the savings, but you may be better off buying individual songs from artists you like.
Road Kill Boy
Jul-20-2009, 11:57am
The whites, Live at the Pickin Parlor, with Buck White playing Mandolin.
If You can find this LP, get a copy, it is worth it.
Patrick Market
Jul-20-2009, 1:08pm
Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza would be at the top of my list. It's a 2 cd set so it may eat the lion's share of your downloads.
Travellers by Baldassari, Reischman, and Bullock is another great recording. A little more old timey than traditional bluegrass.
Anything by Bill Monroe.
I'll second that, for what it's worth, especially the Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza.
mandolirius
Jul-20-2009, 1:20pm
Top Dog - Bobby Clark
Up In The Woods - John Reischman
Pale Rider - Emory Lester
man dough nollij
Jul-20-2009, 4:38pm
Doc and Dawg
Hold On, We're Strummin'
Hot Rize
Mandolirius and a couple of other posters gave suggestions on the mark with the OP's request: Top Mandolin CDs. Some of the answers, although having mandolin breaks, are not pure mando CDs.
Such a vast realm...my suggestions are:
Bobby and His Mandolin
DGQ #1
Doyle's Tennessee Dream
Jim MacDaniel
Jul-20-2009, 5:28pm
Uh oh, I didn't know our responses werre subject to audit. ;)
Rick Schmidlin
Jul-20-2009, 5:31pm
Back to Back, A best of early Monroe, and the one that grabs your attention.
re simmers
Jul-20-2009, 6:12pm
"Bounce Away" by Herschel
"Back in Business" by Herschel
"Bluegrass Rules" by Ricky somebody
"Best of Newgrass Revival" the 2-cd set
"Master of Bluegrass" by Bill
"Skaggs & Rice" by Tony Rice and Ricky somebody
"Shadow of Your Wings" by Forbes Family/Union Station...great Adam Steffey stuff
"Country Gentlemen" live in Japan
"JD Crowe & New South" the live one with Skaggs on mandolin and Rice
"Hot Rize, Live CD"
"Bluegrass Album Band" all 6
"The Kitchen Tapes" by Wakefield & Allen
"The Monroe Brothers" collection
"Howlin' at the Moon" by Sam
How many did you say?
Charles E.
Jul-20-2009, 6:16pm
Dave Apallon- The Man With The Mandolin
David Grisman- Early Dawg
anything by Sam Bush
Charles E.
Jul-20-2009, 6:18pm
Oh yeah, a bonus would be the complete Monroe Brothers on Bluebird, great stuff.
Marty Henrickson
Jul-20-2009, 7:51pm
Out of the choices that I know are available on e-music (I've subscribed since May '07), I suggest these:
1) Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys - Live Recordings 1956-1969: Off The Record Volume I
2) Mike Compton & David Long - Stomp
3) David Grisman & Doc Watson - Doc and Dawg
Highly Honorable Mentions:
Bill Monroe & Doc Watson - Live Recordings 1963-1980: Off The Record Volume II
Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
Bearfoot - Follow Me
Butch Baldassari - Several available on e-music, everythin I've heard is good
The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience - DGBX
Hot Buttered Rum - Well-Oiled Machine
David Grisman & Jerry Garcia - Shady Grove, Not For Kids Only, etc...
David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, & Tony Rice - The Pizza Tapes
Jimmy Gaudreau - 2:10 Train
The Lonesome River Band - Carrying The Tradition
Various Artists - The Legend Lives On: A Tribute to Bill Monroe
There's many more, but that shoud be a good start.:grin::mandosmiley:
JEStanek
Jul-20-2009, 8:04pm
I'll offer up 3 titles and an alternative where you actually have to buy the CD.
These are three excellent mandolin CDs but my favorites will vary by time. I'll surely think of others to add to the list as soon as I post my reply.
1) Tone Poets Various artists all on the same Loar and Martin Guitar. Different tones all. An amazing range of styles presenting what the mandolin can do.
2) Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile - Duets by two masters (its like the next generation to Uncommon Ritual- Meyer, Fleck and Mike Marshall) whimsical and fun and boatloads of improv/talent.
3) East Flatbush Waltz - Andy Statman. This is bluegrazz Jazz fusion genius for me.
I could go on and on...
The alternative title is The Road Home: A tribute to Butch Baldassari (http://www.soundartrecordings.com/TheRoadHome.shtml). This is a tribute CD to the late Butch made of tracks from his friends. Again, it spans many genres and is for a good cause (Butch's son's education). If it were me, I would get this over Tone Poets just beacause it won't be released for ever. Tone Poets you can pick up again sometime when you have some more ca$h.
Jamie
mandolirius
Jul-20-2009, 8:07pm
Uh oh, I didn't know our responses werre subject to audit. ;)
Of course they're not, but I think I know where Alan is coming from. Music with vocals, regardless of style, gets more support than instrumental music, for the most part. Have you ever wondered why some of these great mandolinists don't put out more instrumental albums? I have and I guess it's because they don't sell well. Of the three players I mentioned, only Emory Lester seems to put out instrumental stuff on a regular basis. John's album is over a decade old. It was, imho, a masterpiece and yet, no followup. Bobby Clark's two instrumental efforts were done in the 70's, with nothing since.
I think it's sad that so many of these brilliant recordings seem to languish in obscurity. This is highly sophisticated music on the level of jazz, yet even jazz gets more exposure. So yeah, I agree with Alan - let's promote these albums when we get a chance.
I didn't intend to come across as sanctimonious, apols if I did.
All I'm saying is the OP asked for 3 top mando CDs. I assumed he or she meant *mandolin* CDs - that is, recordings by mandolinists (under their leadership/name) which feature predominantly mandolin playing, and not band efforts with good mandolin breaks on them. As much as I dig most all of the listings above, there are many I would not call mando CDs - Manzanita, The BG Album Band, JD Crowe, to name a few.
If the OP had asked 'Which albums have good mandolin on them', then by all means. No biggie.
3 more:
Jerry Stuart 'Rocky Run'
John Reischman 'North of the Border'
Don Stiernberg 'Rosetta'
And in the spirit of accuracy: Bobby Clark's One-Legged Gypsy was released in 1979, his Top Dog in 1987. No matter, they are great, great recordings.
catmandu2
Jul-20-2009, 8:25pm
Led Zepplin III
Led Zepplin IV
Anything by Grisman...and Ry Cooder
*Not a BG guy (:redface:)
MnRoss
Jul-20-2009, 8:46pm
Vic Jordan "Pickaway" Buck White at his finest
Sam and Alan "Together for the 1st Time"
Bill Monroe " Masters of Bluegrass" or "Bluegrass Instrumentals"
So that's 4 but hey I could pick at least 20 off the top of my head. These did it for me many years back and still do.
jim_n_virginia
Jul-20-2009, 9:06pm
Man there are so many I like! LOL! Hard to pick only three but if I hafta ...
#1 Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
#2 Wires and Wood - Johnny Staats
#3 Lonesome Skynyrd Time - Larry Cordle
:mandosmiley:
OlderThanWillie
Jul-20-2009, 10:06pm
A great CD that hasn't been mentioned is The Old Style Mandolin Vol. Two / Monroesque by Skip Gorman. It's an instrumental compilation of Monroe tunes.
I'll second the motion on Bluegrass Extravaganza and Grisman's Tone Poems.
Steve Cantrell
Jul-21-2009, 6:30am
"Mandolin in the Cow Camp", also by Skip Gorman, is something you should add to your list. Two CDs, very minimal accompaniment, just very good. My other two would be "Stomp" by Compton and Long and "Home is Where the Heart Is" by David Grisman. While the Grisman CD is not mandolin-centric, it features both Grisman and Compton on various tracks and is almost a modern bluegrass how-to.
Dan Hoover
Jul-21-2009, 9:24am
tuff question....hmmm?? only 3??? hmmm? mandolin related?? hmmm???
1-David Grisman- Mondo Mando...
2-Marshall&Thile-into the cauldron...
3- Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon...
Jim MacDaniel
Jul-21-2009, 1:59pm
...I think I know where Alan is coming from. Music with vocals, regardless of style, gets more support than instrumental music, for the most part...
I think it's sad that so many of these brilliant recordings seem to languish in obscurity. This is highly sophisticated music on the level of jazz, yet even jazz gets more exposure. So yeah, I agree with Alan - let's promote these albums when we get a chance.
I didn't intend to come across as sanctimonious, apols if I did.
All I'm saying is the OP asked for 3 top mando CDs. I assumed he or she meant *mandolin* CDs - that is, recordings by mandolinists (under their leadership/name) which feature predominantly mandolin playing, and not band efforts with good mandolin breaks on them....
No offense taken, but I think we may be all guilty of coloring Scott's request with our own personal definitions of "mandolin album" -- since my defintion makes sense to me (a CD with quality mandolin content), but now your shared viewpoint does as well
NB, hopefully most of the fine CD's listed above by everyone are in emusic.com's inventory -- but if not, it looks like Scott may still need to boost his monthly membership in order to get caught up with them. ;)
BTW, here are a few emusic recordings that seem to satisfy both our definitions:
Andy Statman: East Flatbush Blues (http://www.emusic.com/album/Andy-Statman-East-Flatbush-Blues-MP3-Download/11204911.html)
Butch Baldasarri, Robin Bullock, John Reischman: Travellers (http://www.emusic.com/album/Butch-Baldassari-Travellers-MP3-Download/10591351.html)
Kerman Mandolin Quartet (http://www.emusic.com/album/Kerman-Mandolin-Quartet-Shmuel-Elbaz-Mandolin-Artist-MP3-Download/10915088.html)
And certainly one CD fits the bill, which I don't think has been mentioned: Young Mando Monsters, produced by Count Jimmy Gaudreau on the Vamp label. The durn thing is probably 10 years old by now. It has a bg slant to it, but Radim Z has a couple of entries on it. Great recording, with some scintillating tracks, like machine man Adam Steffey on Big Mon, Ronnie McCoury on a terrific Dusty Miller, Wayne-boy Benson on a neat Jay Ungar tune, Dan the man Tyminski on a couple, the marvelous Canadian Ray Legere, Emory Lester, also.
The liner notes say Volume 1.
re simmers
Jul-21-2009, 4:49pm
Yes, I had forgotten Ray Legere. Also, The Gaudreau album from about 30 years ago, but it's probably not available on any download site.
Ivan Kelsall
Jul-22-2009, 12:15am
John Reischman - "Up In The Woods"
Herschel Sizemore - "Back In Business"
Ricky Skaggs - "Instrumentals" - These 3 would be my choice as 'starters',i'd just go on from there,
Ivan
Yes, I had forgotten Ray Legere. Also, The Gaudreau album from about 30 years ago, but it's probably not available on any download site.
Ray is so the man. He plays all the instruments, absolutely shines on mandolin. In recent times, he has put a lot of effort into something called Bowfire, sort of a travelling fiddle circus.
Has done many solo recordings (check his homepage), including Bluegrass In The Backwoods. I suppose mostly a fiddle album, he plays mandolin on many tracks. One break on Fiddler's Dream is killer, with a descending triplet run that knocks me out. Another is Common Denominator, he plays all the instruments on this all-instrumental thing. Just great. He played mandolin on Wyatt Rice's New Market Gap, takes some awesome breaks throughout. His entries on the Mando Monsters are Cruisin The Autobahn and (maybe) Squirrely Moves.
The Jimmy Gaudreau Mandolin Album is indeed great. Recorded in 1978 on the Puritan label, I remember needing to hunt it down, and finally found a copy from Dave Freeman. All-instrumental, has very good playing on a variety of tunes and styles. His version of New Camptown Races is still one of my faves. Don't think it ever made it to CD.
Dan Margolis
Jul-22-2009, 7:10am
Available from eMusic: Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe (Bill is on the recording). Bye Bye Blues by Jethro Burns.
luckylarue
Jul-22-2009, 11:40am
I'll add: Dave Peters' - Art In America
Monroe/Watson Live Duets on Smithsonian
and of course, Coltrane's A Love Supreme
re simmers
Jul-25-2009, 8:02pm
One more. I just listened to "Climbing the Walls" cd by David Grier. Excellent mandolin by Compton.
Dawg 90 - lots of mandolin, lots of styles
Thiles "All who wander are not lost" also different styles
All of the others mentioned here.
JimRichter
Jul-25-2009, 8:53pm
Jethro Burns (Homer and Jethro): It Ain't Necessarily Square
Sam Bush: Late as Usual
Norman Blake and the Rising Fawn Ensemble: Original Underground Music from the Mysterious South
Honorable Mentions:
Norman Blake/Peter Ostrushko: Meeting on Southern Soil
DGQ: 1st album and Hot Dawg
Mike Marshall: Gator Strut
Johnny Young: I Can't Keep My Foot from Jumpin
Compton/Long: Stomp
Compton/Grier: Climbing the Walls
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Instrumentals
Monroe: Master of Bluegrass
Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe
Thile: All Who Wander
Rich DelGrosso: Get Your Nose Out of My Bizness