Search - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band :: Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

This Album Will Bring a Smile To Your Ears

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 04/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This makes the third time I've bought this wonderful album from the classic lineup of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I first bought it on vinyl when it was first released in 1970, then again on CD in the 90s, and now this definitive version with two bonus tracks added.For me, this album defines the Dirt Band and defies category. It's country and bluegrass and rock and the blend works perfectly. There are are only a couple original tunes: Jeff Hanna's rollicking "The Cure" and Jimmie Fadden's harmonica showpiece "Uncle Charlie." They cover a couple of ex-Monkee Mike Nesmith's best songs: "Some of Shelly's Blues" and "Propinquity." They also do four songs by a then relatively unknown songwriter, Kenny Loggins: "Prodigal's Return," "Yukon Railroad" (both co-written with Dann Lottermoser), "Santa Rosa" and "House at Pooh Corner." And then of course, there is their signature song, Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles," which became their first (and only) top ten pop hit. Then there are all the wonderful instrumental interludes, like Les Thompson's mandolin workout on "Billy in the Low Ground," Fadden's wonderful harmonica on "Swanee River," and John McEuen's banjo pyrotechnics on "Randy Lynn Rag." [In the liner notes, composer Earl Scruggs is quoted as saying McEuen's version is the way he always intended to do it.]In addition, there are two bonus tracks included on this newly remastered edition, both recorded during the UNCLE CHARLIE sessions. The first is Dann Lottermoser's "Mississippi Rain"; the second is a toe-tapping bluegrass treatment of Lennon-McCartney's "What Goes On," featuring a rare lead vocal by Les Thompson. All told, this is a joy to listen to from start to finish. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

One of Rock's 10-best American albums

Tom Tuerff | That there Phoenix place | 10/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Albums that change things, define genres and otherwise make profound statements don't come along too often. You're lucky if lightning strikes once. With the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, it hit twice -- with "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and before that with this incredible album, "Uncle Charlie."



From the first second of this album, as John McEuen's slammin' banjo kicks off Mike Nesmith's "Some of Shelley's Blues," you know you've discovered something special.



Producer Bill McEuen just turned on the machines and let the band cut loose, and when it was done he pieced together the songs in an order that at times seems almost poetic. I'm tempted here to say that this is a "concept" album but I'll be darned if I could state exactly what that concept is.



What you find is a band that could play literally anything from country to bluegrass to rock to blues to folk and yes, even classical. Plus, you get the band's most lasting hit, their take on Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles," which is still considered the standard take on this song.



The band also champions such songwriters here as Nesmith and Randy Newman, and in turn deliver what are probably considered the paramount versions of those songs, too. Their super-loud version of Buddy Holly's "Rave On" ( a song I saw them use more than once during encores to let the audience know that they were tired and it's time to go home now -- they'd crank the amps to ear-blistering levels for this one) is one that I'm sure would have made Mr. Holly think, "man, why didn't I play it like that?"



John McEuen does stuff on this CD that still drops my jaw when I listen to it. His banjo playing here rivals anything else he's ever done, even the great, good-as-Scruggs's stuff on "Circle."



I have never met anyone who didn't like this album and I probably never will. You'll like it, too. It's timeless. It's wonderful. And it's absolutely perfect."

Uncle Charlie and his dog Teddy

carlo zaccaro | Italy | 06/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Those who don't have this record simply don't know what they're missing. I mail-ordered it after checking some reviews: I was interested in the Country-rock phenomenon, I liked the Eagles but I knew there was more to the genre than that. I was rewarded with this magnificent album: each single player seems transfixed by the lightning of inspiration, the music is great and brilliantly executed, Hanna's singing captures the spirit of the whole project. This simply IS Country-rock: banjo, harmonica and accordion fluttering in and out between the dusty guitars and the rusty percussions. The rythmic patterns change from song to song, some instrumental afterthoughts thrown in here and there show to the full the extrordinary skills of the band, both as composers and performers. You just can't sit still as you play the record: you sing along, dance the fast-paced rockers, enjoy the soulful ballads. It's a wonderful record, everytime I listen to it I am moved beyond tears. Everybody who has a decent record collection absolutely has to have Uncle Charlie!"