Our country's most important Bush

[jaybp30]

Why it's Sam, of course. My point in bringing him up is I have listened to plenty Sam on YouTube, streaming services and on albums of other musicians. I've seen him live a few times and really, I've enjoyed his playing in any format I could, except I don't own any of his Sam Band albums. He's got a bunch so what's the must hear? Also what other Sam heavy albums are must have? Where do I start with New Grass Revival? I think the only Sam-full albums I've got is the Flecktones Live Art and Tales From the Acoustic Planet Bluegrass Sessions. I need more Sam in my life asap. Please advise. Thanks.

[mrmando]

Late as Usual!

[CarlM]

Laps in Seven.

The new Storyman cd is pretty good too.

[Mark Gunter]

Here's a really early one, available only on vinyl as far as I know, but you can hear the tunes here . . . I think Sam was 17 or so when he recorded his originals Poor Richard's Blues (mandolin) and Other Side Of Baker (fiddle) on this album http://www.markgunter.net/cool_stuff...chards-almanac

[Ivan Kelsall]

Do an I/net search for 'Sam Bush' recordings, or search 'County Sales' / 'CD Baby' for his recordings & you should come up with a bunch,
Ivan

[jaybp30]

Thanks for the suggestions. He's been at it a long time so the bet search was a little overwhelming. Was just hoping for some direction as to where to start.

[Eric C.]

The Sam Bush/David Grisman album has some (obviously) superb playing!

[Drew Egerton]

Laps in Seven.

Definitely agree on Laps in Seven. Probably my favorite as far as a complete record would go.
I also really like Circles Around Me.

[jesserules]

Wonderful player. In addition to his records as a leader, I think his work as a backup musician is very much worth listening to, and for that I'd especially recommend listening to Emmylou Harris' At the Ryman.

[MediumMando5722]

Strength in Numbers is a must have.

[Steve VandeWater]

Slightly off point, but I'm going to see him for the first time on May 19-20 at the River Roots Festival in Madison, IN. Also Ricky Skaggs and Peter Rowan. Can't wait!

[sblock]

Gotta listen to the original Newgrass Revival album on Starday Records, if you can find it: "The Arrival of the Newgrass Revival" (1972).

[fentonjames]

All of Sam's music is a must have. ALL of it!

[Bonniej]

I've got Sam's 2 disk DVD "Mandolin Method" Homespun instructional set. I haven't been through both Dvd's yet but what I've watched so far is excellent. I would like to see him some time. I saw Bella Fleck in St Louis a long time ago but can't remember if he was with them at that time. Those guys were amazing to watch.

[Reid Morsi]

For some good instrumental Sam listen to some of the earlier Bela Fleck solo albums; such as Drive, Tales from the Acoustic Planet Vol 2, and Deviation which Bela did with rest New Grass Revival along with Jerry Douglas and Mark O'Connor. Speaking of Jerry Douglas, Sam plays some great mandolin on his album Under the Wire (Also with Fleck and O'Connor) and there is a cool CD recorded at Telluride in 1994 from Peter Rowan called Crucial Country, that features a lot of Sam and Jerry.

A couple of other good Newgrass Revival CD's are Commonwealth, Fly through The Country/The Storm is Over which are pre Bela Fleck (along with the Self titled), and I really love the Live at the Toulouse bluegrass Festival in 83'. It is a short album, but the almost 20 minute Sapporo is incredible, especially Bela's solo and then Sam's.

As far as Sam's solo album's, I love them all. A few have been mentioned already, and they are all well worth listening to in my opinion. Some good ones that weren't mentioned are Glamour and Grits, Howlin' at the Moon, and of course his Ice Caps Peaks of Telluride live album.

[Marcus CA]

I'd go with

NGR's Too Late to Turn Back Now, which was live at Telluride in 1978
Late as Usual
Hold On, We're Strummin', which Eric C. mentioned
Storyman, which came out last year and is excellent!

[stevedenver]

Laps in seven.....mmmmmm.....Rivers gonna run with Emmylou.....!!!Dolphin song...
Sam and Dave....Hold on we're Strumming......wide range of sheer brilliance and fun.