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Critic's Review
Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Following the unexpected death of guitar great Clarence White in 1973 at the age of only 29, Rounder proceeded to judiciously examine a number of live recordings made during his years with the Kentucky Colonels. This LP collects performances from 1964, 1965, and also 1967. His brother Roland White accompanies him throughout the disc, while Eric White (another brother) or Roger Bush handles the bass, along with a pair of different banjo players (Billy Ray Latham or Bob Worford). The guitarist is phenomenal in "Alabama Jubilee," though Roland is clearly no slouch on mandolin. One particular surprise is Clarence's solo interpretation of the old standard "When You're Smiling," which is hardly a typical song on a bluegrass album. By the time the selections on side two were taped, White had switched to electric guitar after joining the rock group the Byrds. He sticks to acoustic throughout these tracks, though one can definitely hear a more aggressive, experimental approach in his playing, which is especially apparent with his unusual changes in "Listen to the Mockingbird." Like most of the live recordings by the Kentucky Colonels, these tapes suffer from occasional overmodulation in spots, though the overall sound is very good, considering they weren't made with the idea of making an album. But it is very puzzling why Rounder has failed to reissue this valuable music on CD.
