Birth of a legend... WOW.
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 12/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bluegrass fiddle prodigy Mark O'Connor blew everybody's minds back in the late 1970s and early '80s when one year after another he swept the prestigious National Old Time Fiddler's Contest, (which is held in Weisner, Idaho). In 1973, the first year he competed, the 11-year old O'Connor came in second, despite having only picked up the fiddle a few months before. After that, from 1975-84, he dominated the competition to such a remarkable extent that the judges kept changing the rules so that he would not be able to hold a lock on individual contests year after year. This generously-programmed album gathers together a few dozen of his best performances... admittedly, the sound quality isn't the greatest, but his performances are uniformly stunning. Anyone interested in O'Connor's early years, when he was more deeply rooted in traditional music than he later became, should definitely check this out. It will explain a lot about this guy's tremendous influence on the world of bluegrass fiddling."
Is he even human?
David Bahr | I exist | 03/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I cannot praise this album enough. I am a fiddle player and can play decently the second version of "Sally Gooden" but, believe me, it's not easy. This gives you a good idea of the sheer talent Mark has. If you love fiddle music at its best, pick this up. If you want to learn from arguably the best that has ever lived, pick this up. I've never heard anyone play like Mark, probably never will. Experience it for yourself if you like.
Peace,
Dave"