Top Ten for 2004

[mandopete]

Every year at the radio station we are asked to pick our favorite recordings of the year. With that in mind, here are my favorites (in no particular order):

King Wilkie – Broke
Chris Stuart & Backcountry – Saints & Strangers
Skip Gorman – The Old Style Mandolin Vol. 2
Shawn Camp – Live From the Station Inn
Lost In The Fog – Not Far From The Tree
Vern Williams – Traditional Bluegrass
Jimmy Martin - Don't Cry To Me
David Davis & The Warrior River Boys - David Davis & The WRB
Bill Monroe – Live At Mechanics Hall
The Bluegrass Brothers – Church of Yesterday

[Chris Cantergiani]

Good list! I'd have to add:

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver - A School Of Bluegrass

Chris

[mandopete]

Anyone else?

[Scotti Adams]

..from what Ive heard of Josh Williams' new Cd....I like.

[JimRichter]

I like Josh's new CD, too. Along with his CD, I'd add Open Road's new album.

Jim

[sgarrity]

NBB's 20 Year Blues Mandolin pickin' just doesn't get any better IMHO

[Scotti Adams]

... I wasnt all that impressed with NBB's new one...very low key on the whole...Ive heard Mike do better....just my opinion so dont burn me for it..

[SternART]

SAM BUSH & DAVID GRISMAN !!!!
"Hold on we're strummin'"

[batman]

I like the NBB 20 year blues. Also check out David Longs, Midnight from Memphis. Don

[Jim Gallaher]

Here's mine, with release dates:
- 01/27/04 - "Side by Side" - Blueridge (Alan Bibey & Junior Sisk - YES!)
- 06/01/04 - "The Best Durn Ride" - IIIrd Tyme Out (Wayne Benson's last with the band)
- 08/10/04 - "Twenty Year Blues" - Nashville Bluegrass Band (Welcome back, Mike!)
- 00/00/04 - "Pickin' Up Steam" - Johnny Staats & Robert Shafer (Hot stuff!)

[mandopete]

You know, I thought long and hard about the new release from the Nashville Bluegrass Band and somehow it just doesn't do it for me. #What's funny is that I think this particular recording is a brilliant representation of Mike Compton. His singing along with with his songwriting and mastery of the mandolin would make this a great recording...if it was a Mike Compton release.

And that's where I have a problem. #Seems like the vocal powerhouses of Alan O'Bryant and Pat Enright are a bit lost in the mix. #The material they perform on this recording seems a little weak (IMHO). #Overall I think the recording is a bit stuck in the OBWAT mode and they need to bring in a great producer to get them headed in new direction.

Just my opinion - you mileage may vary.

[mandopete]

I'd add Open Road's new album.

## # (batman @ Oct. 29 2004, 7:36)
## # Also check out David Longs, Midnight from Memphis

Those were both on my list for 2003!

[mandopete]

Okay, here's what I aired yesterday:

Bill Monroe-Panhandle Country-Live At Mechanics Hall
Chris Stuart-Silver Quarter-Saints & Strangers
David Davis-The Lonesome Cry Of The Whippoorwill-David Davis & Warrior River Boys
Skip Gorman-Trombolin/Jack Across The Way-Monroesque
Lost In The Fog-Home In My Heart-Not Far From The Tree
Vern Williams-Roll On Buddy-Traditional Bluegrass
The Bluegrass Brothers-Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven-Church Of Yesterday
Jimmy Martin-Free Born Man-Don’t Cry To Me
Shawn Camp-The Tune Of A Twenty Dollar Bill-Live At The Station Inn
King Wilkie-It's Been A Long Time-Broke

[rhannon]

My picks for the Best of 2004 (no particular order):

Larry Stephenson - Clinch Mountain Mystery
King Wilkie - Broke
Kenny & Amanda Smith - House Down The Block
Blueridge - Side By Side
Gibson Brothers - Long Way Back Home
Open Road - ...In The Life
Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum - Guest House
David Davis & The Warrior River Boys -
IIIrd Tyme Out - Best Durn Ride
Nashville Bluegrass Band - Twenty Year Blues

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I'll second Open Road - I love that group they are the real deal! Although I haven't heard much of them I suspect King Wilke deserves to be there as I think do the Steep Canyon Rangers new CD with the song "Feelin Just a Little Like Dale". When a bluegrass band sings about Dale Earnhardt they should be there an they are flat out good to boot!

Also I'm amazed that we could leave out Ricky Scaggs Brand New Strings - Innovative straddlin the country/bluegrass/celtic borders - innovation in the spirit of the "other" (IBMA Speech from Ron ? thread) thread and no matter what you think of Ricky and his band you must admit they are good - real good!

JMO! Take Care! -Ed-

[ShaneJ]

Did Andy Leftwich record "Ride" in '04? Either way, it's my favorite for 2004 (I got it this year). I just got the King Wilkie CD -- very good! Another favorite that may or may not have been a 2004 release is Wayne Benson's "An Instrumental Anthalogy"

[mandopete]

Well, the CD says 2003, but hey, who's counting? #The Chris Stuart recording (Saints & Strangers) was also a 2003 release, but I only got to it in 2004.

These lists are always difficult to pair down to a mere 10 recordings. #I give honorable mention to the Ricky Skaggs and Nashville Bluegrass Band recordings as well. #These were just my favorite 10 recordings for the year.

I will say that that King Wilkie's Broke was my top pick overall. #I'm looking forward to hearing them at Wintergrass this comming February.