Bluegrass Heads North
Dave Dennie | Manassas, Virginia | 05/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Newport Folk Festivals were wonderfully eclectic in their definition of "folk', exposing music from the electric blues and folk-rock of Paul Butterfield and Bob Dylan to the high-lonesome acoustic sound of bluegrass, as documented on this first-rate collection. Newport, R.I. was not exactly home turf for bluegrass, but most of the all-time greats are here, performing at or near the peak of their powers, from Bill Monroe (long before the decline of his voice in later years), to the Stanley Brothers (not so long before Carter Stanley's alcohol-fuelled death), to Flatt and Scruggs (shortly before their artistic-philosophy-fuelled split-up: Earl wanted to plug in, Lester didn't). Come to think of it, this could be, serendiptitiously, the single best representation of the early giants of bluegrass. And Flatt and Scruggs even do their smash-hit, the "Beverly Hillbillies" T.V. theme song(!!) Very highly recommended."
Very BEST of Bluegrass
07/25/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This three CD box does represent the best by several of the founders of Bluegrass, including its amazing Father - Bill Monroe. The well known Mr. Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Flatt and Scruggs and Jim and Jesse are here at their best. The suprise may be the band of the Lilly Brothers, Don Stover and Tex Logan. The music they play here further documents that their music was in a league with these other wonderful early bands. The music of the Lilly Brothers is a hidden gem - as was the music of Monroe and these other now prominent bluegrass bands for too long. Hylo Brown and Hazel and Alice give performances worthy of the title - Best of Bluegrass too. In fact, all the music in this set is truly beautiful!"