best introduction to bluegrass?

[Mockingbird]

Okay, so the closest I've got to a bluegrass CD is the soundtrack to "O Brother Where Art Thou". Which I love. Anyways, I'd like to get into some bluegrass, and if it happens to have some good mando playing, i'm not complaining ;-) For the purposes of this post, i'm not looking for suggestions of good mandolin players in bluegrass, but rather, what to get as an introduction to the style of music in general.
Thanksabunch!!

[sunburst]

Bill Monroe's band, with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (1946 and 1947), was arguably the first band to play the music known as Bluegrass today, basically the way it's played today. It just sort of burst forth, fully formed.
The good thing is, it's not just the foundation of Bluegrass on old recordings that sound dated, it's music worth listening to as well as learn from.
I definitely recommend that as the place to find Bluegrass music as it began.

There are lots of other good old recordings of influential groups like Flatt and Scruggs, the older Jimmy Martin stuff,
and more modern things like the Country Gentlemen, Hot rise and Seldom Scene.

Some current groups that I recommend are Blue Highway, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Mountain Heart, and many, many more.

[kyblue]

Sammy Shelor Leading Roll, J. D. Crowe and the New South Live in Japan, The Lonesome River Band Carrying the Tradition

Paula

[tree]

The Stanley Brothers. For beagledy harmonies that go straight to the heart of this music, they were the real deal.

[Dan Cole]

I would suggest the following CDs a starting point:
1. Flatt & Scruggs at Carnigie Hall - A Must
2. Tony Rice Manzanita
3. Dillards, Live Almost and Backporch Bluegrass
4. Any Bill Monroe, but I like the 4 Cd set by MCA
5. Del McCoury (any of the new stuff)
6. Blue Highway (All is good stuff)

These will give in my opinion a good veiw of styles, singing, etc. I think any one that likes bluegrass would like these CDS.
Dan

Tha

[swampstomper]

For your needs I highly recommend the Rounder 25 Years of Bluegrass CD. You get two CD's with some great stuff (starting right off with one of the most influential cuts of the past 40 years, "Old Home Place" by the New South) and a wide variety of styles.

[Greg H.]

Add in the David Grisman Rounder CD, Boone Creek (only one CD there), and JD Crowe and the New South (w/ Rice, Skaggs, & Jerry Douglas.

[williebruce]

I have always loved bluegrass but lost interest in it at one point. #Probably 8 to 10 years ago I heard a Lonesome River Band Album entitled "One Step Forward" and it was just really good stuff, kind of traditional with a little contemporary twist. #Since then Ive returned to being a bluegrass nut.

Also, get the classics, Monroe, Stanleys, Country Gentlemen, JD Crowe......And stuff I really like is the Bluegrass Cardinals from the 70's as well as the Johnson Mountain Boys, Seldom Scene, and Larry Sparks.

[farmerjones]

i found a Smithsonian Folkways CD of Bill Monore that has around 25 cuts on it. If i had to have only one CD that'd be it. Sorry, but there is really only one man at the root/core of Bluegrass music. One man came up with the concept/genre. I think it's fine to listen to the rest for comparison and to listen to how they each adapted what they heard. Rightfully, people still study Bill Monroe then come away with their own interpretation. It can be and is deeply emotional. It can be and is technically valid as well. That's the coolest part. That's still what holds him up there at the top. I'll shut up now.

Steve

[AlanN]

5. Del McCoury (any of the new stuff)
And his 'old stuff' is top notch. too.

[mrbook]

Two of my favorites are:

David Grisman - Home is Where the Heart Is. Two CDs of bluegrass standards by Grisman and a lot of friends.

Butch Robbins - The Bluegrass Band: Once Again from the Top (Hay Holler). Two CDs with great standards, with Larry Stephenson and others on mandolin.

Besides the early pioneers, these are the ones I would take to a desert island, and they are the ones I loan people who want to learn about bluegrass. All songs you should want to learn, too.

[Dan Cole]

Alan, concur with the "old Stuff" I just couldn't think of any titles!

The Grisman, et al "Home is where the Heart Is" and the Rounder Cd are great too.

Decisions, Decisions, .........

[picksnbits]

When you get that J.D. Crowe and the New South CD, be sure and read the liner notes by John Hartford.

[Mockingbird]

wow...thatks for the response!!

I'd better start buying CDs :-P

[Brady Smith]

Lost and Found - Classic Bluegrass

[ronlane3]

J.D. Crowe, IIIrd Time Out or Doyle Lawsonwould be good ones to listen to.

[bluegrassplayer]

I second the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. They are about the best bluegrass around now'a days. Also try the Bluegrass Album Band.

[Joe Mangio]

Check your library for cds. My library network has a vast collection of Bluegrass. I can order on line and they call me when they are ready for pick up at no cost. Such a deal!...
My tax dollars at work.

[EggerRidgeBoy]

My attempt at "Bluegrass 101", trying to limit myself to 25 or so CDs.


THE ORIGINATORS

"The Music of Bill Monroe, 1936-1994" (Might be a bit of overkill since it is a four-disc box set, but Bill's music is the foundation on which everything else was built.)

Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, "Off The Record: Live Recordings, 1956-1969"

"The Essential Flatt & Scruggs: Tis Sweet to be Remembered" (Two discs, Covering their work on Columbia, 1950-1967)

Flatt & Scruggs, "Live at Carnegie Hall"

Stanley Brothers, "The Complete Mercury Recordings" (Two discs, 1953-1958)

Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, "The King of Bluegrass" (1955-1975)

Jim & Jesse, "First Sounds: The Capitol Years"


THE SECOND GENERATION

The Country Gentlemen "On the Road (and More)"

The Osborne Brothers, "The Essential Osborne Brothers Collection"

The Kentucky Colonels, "Livin' in the Past: Legendary Live Performances"

Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, "Pioneering Women of Bluegrass"


THE PROGRESSIVE 70'S

The Seldom Scene, "Live at the Cellar Door"

"J.D. Crowe and the New South" (from 1975 - often referred to as 'Rounder 0044' to differentiate it from the 1973 album of the same name)

The Country Gentlemen, "The Complete Vanguard Recordings"

Newgrass Revival, "Best of Newgrass Revival"

Old & In The Way, "Old & In The Way"

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, "The Original Band" (one CD containing their first two albums)


THE 1980's & 90s

Johnson Mountain Boys, "Live at the Old School House"

Hot Rize, "Hot Rize, with Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers"

Bluegrass Album Band, "Bluegrass Compact Disc, Volume 1"

Alison Krauss, "Now That I've Found You: A Collection"

Lonesome River Band, "Old Country Town"


THE 21st CENTURY

Del McCoury Band, "Del and The Boys"

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, "Live at the Charleston Music Hall"

"Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, "Ragin' Live"

Larry Sparks, "40"

Mountain Heart, "No Other Way"

Cherryholmes, "Cherryholmes"

[evanreilly]

Blue Grass Music is the intensely personal music of William Smith Monroe.
Hard core???
Kind of like a single malt; needs be savored in small quantities. But that is the real deal!

[Mikey G]

Bill Monroe was the architect; the early recordings with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and Chubby Wise were the blueprint. I've never thought of Big Mon as hard core.

[EggerRidgeBoy]

Since you mentioned "O Brother", it might be worth pointing out that much of the music on that soundtrack wasn't exactly bluegrass, but more what might be termed old-time music - pre-war appalachian folk and early country music (or at least modern interpretations of those styles). Depending upon which tracks you most enjoyed, you might want to check out some old-time artists, in addition to all the bluegrass that has been listed. #Artists and albums such as (off the top of my head, not any kind of comprehensive list):

Uncle Earl, "She Waits for Night"
Mike Compton & David Long, "Stomp" (very mando-centric)
John Herrmann, Tim O'Brien, Dirk Powell, "Songs From the Mountain"
Dirk Powell, "Time Again"
Lonesome Sisters w/ Rayna Gellert, "Follow Me Down"
Ginny Hawker & Kay Justice, "Bristol"
Doc Watson, "The Watson Family"
Riley Baugus, "Long Steel Rail"
Trevor & Travis Stuart, "Mountaineer"
Norman & Nancy Blake, "Back Home in Sulphur Springs"

[EggerRidgeBoy]

As others have mentioned, compilations can be a great way to learn about the music. #Unfortunately there isn't a single box set that covers the whole sixty-year history of bluegrass. #One of the more recent attempts to do just that is "Can't You Hear Me Calling: Bluegrass - 80 Years of American Music", a four-disc box set released in 2004. #It definately has some great music on it, but I hesitate to recommend it as a comprehensive survey of bluegrass. It omits some of the most influential acts in bluegrass history: The Country Gentlemen, The Seldom Scene, the Lily Brothers, Doc Watson, Hazel Dickens, Tony Rice, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, J.D. Crowe and the New South, the Johnson Mountain Boys, etc., etc. If you are new to bluegrass, those names might not mean much to you, but they would all appear on almost anybody's list of the the top 25 bands from the first 50 years of bluegrass (mid 40's to mid 90's). And I don't think the box set necessarily picks the best tracks for artists like Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. Still, as long as you take it for what it is - a very selective compilation of bluegrass (and bluegrass-related) music - it's not a bad deal, and you will learn a lot about the bands and artists it does include.

The song selection for the vast majority of such multi-label box sets is guided by economics, not artistic or historical considerations - it's "How much will it cost to get the rights to this song", not "Is this the best song to use". That's not a criticism, just the reality of the business. So I'd suggest getting a few smaller compilations that together might cover most of the bases. Some recommendations:

"Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways"
"Hand Picked: 25 Years of Bluegrass on Rounder"
"Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics"

You might also want to check out the DVD "High Lonesome - the Story of Bluegrass Music".

[AlanN]

My attempt at "Bluegrass 101", trying to limit myself to 25 or so CDs.
Terrific categorization, have never seen (or thought about) it quite in those terms. Others may have different selections, of course, but you nailed the crux of the matter.

Man, do I feel old #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[EggerRidgeBoy]

My attempt at "Bluegrass 101", trying to limit myself to 25 or so CDs.
Terrific categorization, have never seen (or thought about) it quite in those terms. Others may have different selections, of course, but you nailed the crux of the matter.

Man, do I feel old #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Thanks for the thumbs up. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

It is an almost impossible task - I had to leave so much out (and I still went over my 25 CD limit). And as you say, everyone would make somewhat different choices - even my "101" list changes slightly every time I make it.

The catagories are, like all such divisions, rather artificial - it's not like the 70's produced only "progressive" bluegrass for instance. And I couldn't even come up with an adequate label for the the last 25 years or so. But I think a little imposed structure can help put things in context and make a long list of names easier to read through and remember, especially if the names are all new to the reader.

I know what you mean about feeling old - compiling such lists just reminds me of how long I've been listening to bluegrass music. Seems likes just yesterday it was "The Progressive 70's"! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[cgwilsonjr]

Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Stanley Bros are essential. For modern masters nothing is better (IMHO) than Tony Rice's Bluegrass Album Band and Hot Rize. Larry Keel and Natural Bridge are also pretty amazing. Have fun enlarging your bluegrass mind....Chuck

[cooper4205]

the bluegrass album band

[LateBloomer]

All good suggestions! Maybe Mockingbird needs to know where to find these tunes??? I buy lots of CD's from half.com (no, I don't sell anything there). Elderly is also a great place to find Bluegrass CD's. I don't know about you, but I have no local source of Bluegrass Cd's!

Another question... Mockingbird, are you looking for Bluegrass in general, or are you also looking for Gospel tunes? If you want gospel tunes let everyone know - you'll get more responses. (Just looking at your signature made me wonder which type of music you want.)
LateBloomer

[EggerRidgeBoy]

If Mockingbird doesn't have a good local bluegrass retail option, I'd heartily recommend Elderly ( http://elderly.com/ ) - I've ordered lots of CDs from them, and have been happy with the service. #All the bluegrass CDs I listed are available at Amazon, but I prefer to support a business that focuses on acoustic/roots music. #And many of the old-time CDs I suggested are not available on Amazon - Elderly is a great resource for such recordings. #County Sales ( http://www.countysales.com/ ) is another good internet source for bluegrass, folk, and old-time music.

[reely989]

I know this is an old topic, but a good guide for newcomers none the less. I would have to recommend Tony Rice-Manzanita, Ricky Skaggs-Live at the Charleston, Tony Rice-Cold on the Shoulder, Ricky Skaggs-Ancient Tones, Any Bluegrass Album Band Stuff, Bela Fleck-Drive is essential if you are even remotely interested in progressive bluegrass.

[EdSherry]

As a starting place, I strongly recommend the two Applachian Stomp compilations as a good overview: #all of the "classic" performers playing their best-known stuff: #

http://www.amazon.com/gp....ie=UTF8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000033GO/sr=8-1/qid=1156629636/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8)
http://www.amazon.com/gp....ie=UTF8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IMSA/sr=8-2/qid=1156629636/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8)

as well as the Rounder "Hand Picked" 2-CD set:

http://www.amazon.com/gp....ie=UTF8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000004DW/ref=pd_bxgy_text_b/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8)

This has less of the "classic" stuff, but is a great value and a good introduction to a lot of fine bands.

JSP (a British record company) has reissued a fine and value-packed (100+ cuts, $25) compilation of the "classic" Monroe Brothers and early Bluegrass Boys (with Flatt & Scruggs) stuff:

http://www.amazon.com/gp....ie=UTF8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008Y3UU/ref=sr_11_1/104-4437624-4166320?ie=UTF8)


I'm a big fan of the two "Bluegrass Album Band" compilation CDs:

http://www.amazon.com/gp....s=music (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000003LM/sr=1-3/qid=1156629827/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8&s=music)

and

http://www.amazon.com/gp....s=music (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000003M3/sr=1-8/qid=1156629827/ref=sr_1_8/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8&s=music)

Tony Rice's Manzanita is my all-time favorite single album: #

http://www.amazon.com/gp....ie=UTF8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000002DM/ref=sr_11_1/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8)

A close second is the first JD Crowe & The New South album, with Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas:

http://www.amazon.com/gp....s=music (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000002CW/sr=1-1/qid=1156629987/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4580847-5318414?ie=UTF8&s=music)

(PS -- I strongly recommend buying these from Elderly Instruments or Down Home Music, two shops that actively support acoustic music, rather than Amazon or their ilk. #The links to Amazon are for convenience only.)