The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 1
Artist: The Bluegrass Album Band

The debut from this superstar bluegrass band featuring Tony Rice, J. D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, Bobby Hicks, Todd Phillips, and Jerry Douglas. A superstar bluegrass band. ~ Chip Renner, All Music Guide Read More

Backwaters
Artist: The Tony Rice Unit

Is it jazz? Is it bluegrass? Is it early new age? At the time of Backwaters' release, Rounder Records was lumping it into a category called "new acoustic music." Call it whatever you choose, this is excellent music, impeccably played by a group of guys who are all virtuosos on their respective instruments. Even the most die-hard jazz cop would... Read More

Kentucky Colonels
Artist: The Kentucky Colonels
Community Score: 10.00

This is an expanded version of the group's debut album, Appalachian Swing, originally issued in England in this form after Clarence White's death in 1973 and reissued over there in 1997 by the Beat Goes On label. The original 12-song album (which was also available here as a ten-song LP at one point late in the 1970s) is here, newly remastered,... Read More

Traitor in Our Midst/Don't Give Up Your Day Job
Artist: The Country Gazette

The first two studio albums by pioneering bluegrass band Country Gazette (originally released by Liberty in the early '70s) were combined by BGO in the U.K. in the '90s. This is a great way to pick up these fine releases by one of the bands who helped inspire the newgrass movement. ~ Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide Read More

Church Street Blues
Artist: Tony Rice

Church Street Blues is essentially a solo album by Tony Rice, demonstrating his musical eclecticism -- the record features everything from contemporary folk to traditional country and blues -- as well as his nimble instrumental grace. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide Read More

Long Journey Home
Artist: The Kentucky Colonels

The Kentucky Colonels are heard at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival on this Vanguard CD. A quartet at the time, as fiddler Scotty Stoneman had not yet joined the band, their performances include both instrumentals and vocals, with bassist Roger Bush also serving as the MC. Guitarist Clarence White, mandolinist Roland White, banjo player Billy Ray... Read More

Appalachian Swing!
Artist: The Kentucky Colonels

Appalachian Swing! is one of the most influential albums in the whole of bluegrass music, primarily because of the stunning playing of Clarence White. With his vibrant, innovative flat-picking, White helped pioneer a new style in bluegrass; namely, he redefined the acoustic guitar as a solo instrument instead of confining it to just background... Read More

Radio Boogie
Artist: Hot Rize

No sophomore highjinks on this release. Solid album, highly recommended. ~ Chip Renner, All Music Guide Read More

King of the Dobro
Artist: Josh Graves

This "musical documentary" is sort of the audio equivalent of a PBS special about the legendary dobro player Josh Graves. Narrator Bob O'Donnell walks the listener through stories and historical accounts from Bill Monroe, Marty Stuart, Mac Wiseman, Jerry Douglas, and others, as well as presenting musical examples of Graves' crisp playing. While... Read More

Slide Rule
Artist: Jerry Douglas

On Slide Rule, Jerry Douglas moves away from the the jazz experiments of Plant Early, returning to the straightforward bluegrass of his early work. The result is a stunner, featuring not only a remarkable performance from Douglas, but also from an impressive list of guest musicians, including Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Maura O'Connell, Stuart... Read More

The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3: California Connection
Artist: The Bluegrass Album Band

On their third album, the Bluegrass Album Band adds some more country-rock to the mix, in the form of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Devil In Disguise," but they largely stick to bluegrass classics from the likes of Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs. Like the group's two previous albums, California Connection is filled with graceful, stunning... Read More

The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 2
Artist: The Bluegrass Album Band

The Bluegrass Album Band's second record reiterates all of the strong points of their debut -- the group's interaction and harmonies are so natural, they're breathtaking. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide Read More

Manzanita
Artist: The Tony Rice Unit

Comprised of both traditional songs and contemporary numbers, Manzanita was the third record in a row to demonstrate Tony Rice's considerable instrumental talent, and this album he is backed by a band featuring Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas, who give him incredibly sympathetic and nuanced support. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide Read More